Bio

Peter Twist is an adjunct instructor and Enrollment Experience Manager at the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies, where he has been helping adult learners navigate their academic and professional journeys since 2019.

Peter specializes in making connections between past and present—especially in areas related to imperialism, the Atlantic World, and social change. His background in enrollment management gives him an insider’s perspective on the kinds of classroom experiences that help adult learners thrive. Peter is passionate about building meaningful relationships, fostering inclusive and transparent learning environments, and supporting students as they work toward their goals.

Education

Peter holds a B.A. in Education from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in History from Temple University.

Bio

Nina Sharma’s career has focused on expanding access and equity to underserved populations, and she has held leadership roles in private, academic, and nonprofit organizations.

Most recently, Nina was the Head of Programs at VC Include, a nonprofit organization that supports emerging fund managers. Previously, she served as an Operating Partner at Chloe Capital, a women-led VC firm. She built and implemented Project X-ITE at the University of Denver, a groundbreaking innovation and entrepreneurship hub. Much of her career has been at organizations focused on economic development and community empowerment, including the Greater Washington Partnership, the Millennium Villages Project, the New York Public Library, Carnegie Hall, Yale University, and the Ad Council.

Education

Nina earned her B.A. from Hamilton College (where she is on the Executive Committee), her MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, and Executive MBA from DU. She is a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40, and was recognized by the Stanford d.school for her use of design-thinking in business.

Bio

Heather Beasley is a playwright, director, dramaturg, and teaching artist. She currently serves as Director of Education at Miners Alley Playhouse, where she designs and manages the company’s education programs for students of all ages. She also writes and directs for the mainstage and theatre for young audiences (TYA) production seasons. At Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado (BETC), she runs the BETC Writers Group, a collaborative of Colorado playwrights developing ten-minute, full-length, and TYA plays.

Heather’s experience in new play development and professional production includes work on ten world premiere productions and dozens of new plays with writers from across the country. She designed the innovative Generations residency program, the first residency program in the country specifically for parent playwrights. Heather created the Science Shorts program, which paired playwrights with environmental science researchers to create an original education event incorporating short plays, science talks, and hands-on experiments and creative activities.

Heather’s original plays include Bone Records, The Gentle Life-Changing Magic of Burning it All Down to the Ground, and the TYA musical Amelia’s Big Idea (co-written with Richie Cannaday and Edie Carey).

Education

Heather holds a B.A. in Creative Writing/Theatre from Creighton University, an M.A. in Theatre with Dramaturgy focus from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in Theatre from University of Colorado Boulder.

Motivation for Teaching 

Heather brings her arts administrative experience and artistic creativity into her teaching approach. She loves working with students who are breaking disciplinary boundaries and re-envisioning arts organizations as places to build satisfying lives as well as prominent creative careers. Previously, she taught at the University of Colorado Boulder and for the MFA Performance Program at Naropa University, where she won the 2020 Faculty Involvement Award.

Bio

Aaron Rottman is a seasoned business and technology leader with over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of technology, data analytics, and business strategy. He teaches technology leadership and project management at the College of Professional Studies, where he brings a strong practitioner perspective grounded in extensive industry experience.

Professional Background

Aaron’s wide variety of industry expertise includes software companies, construction management, telecommunications, and customer support. Aaron has led several complex initiatives including ERP and BI implementations, data-driven decision management systems, multiple custom business applications, and large-scale project and program management efforts. He enjoys mentoring and helping individuals become part of effective, productive teams that know how to have fun along the way. For the past ten years, as a Senior Consulting Manager at RevGen Partners, he was responsible for end-to-end client delivery / satisfaction, financial forecasting, resource planning, budgeting, and training other consulting professionals.

Education

Aaron holds an M.Ed. with a specialization in Learning, Design, and Training, which formed his learner-centered and experiential teaching philosophy, as well as a B.S. in Finance from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Teaching Philosophy

In the classroom, Aaron intentionally bridges academic theory with real-world application through case-based learning, applied projects, and reflective practice. He emphasizes ethical leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking, creating inclusive learning environments that prepare students to confidently apply concepts in complex, professional settings.