When I first started as an assistant professor at CU Boulder, I couldn't imagine how dramatically my work would change over the course of my career.
One of the biggest technological developments in my early years on the faculty was the advent of typewriters that erased automatically — a remarkable development that saved clumsy typists like me a lot of time.
In 2022, my primary work tools are a laptop, email and Zoom, none of which I could have easily envisioned at the beginning of my career.
Technological progress, the global pandemic, new laws and policy, evolving workplace dynamics, changing expectations about work-life balance and myriad other uncertainties are ushering in a new era for the modern worker. The very definition of “work” is changing at a pace not seen in decades.
It’s up to all of us to ensure the future of work supports human dignity, encourages equity and achievement for all, and marries innovation with ethics.
I’m proud to see CU Boulder faculty, staff and students helping to create the future. Their research, teaching, curiosity and exploration will define how work takes shape for generations to come.
What hasn’t changed in the world of work is the need for teams of individuals who engage around common goals. Opportunities for the free exchange of ideas, reasoned debate and shared decision-making are at the core of the public university experience, preparing students not only for successful personal careers but also to lead change on a societal scale.
Solving complex problems while honoring our humanity is at the heart of the university’s mission. These values are guideposts for our work and daily lives — especially in times of uncertainty such as the ongoing pandemic and the aftermath of wildfires like the Marshall Fire.
We can’t predict uncertainty — when a technological miracle, social movement or natural disaster will again transform our notions of work.
When I think about workplaces of the future, I remember how groundbreaking that simple typewriter enhancement felt at the time and how each incremental advance has brought us to where we are today.
I’m also reminded what a monumental gift it is to be able to correct our mistakes, revise and move forward.
Philip P. DiStefano is the 11th chancellor of CU Boulder. He is the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership, overseeing CU Boulder leadership programs.
Photo by Glenn Asakawa
