Kerry Tipper, vice president of University Counsel and chief legal officer at the University of Colorado (CU), discussed her background, leadership approach, and role at the university in a recent interview.
Tipper was raised in Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States. She said that growing up bilingual and bicultural influenced her perspective on identity and opportunity. “I was born in Denver, but my childhood was spent largely in Costa Rica and Mexico, where my mother attended graduate school. Growing up bilingual and bicultural opened my eyes to how identity and experience shape opportunity,” she said.
She explained that her early experiences motivated her to pursue law as a way to help others. “I always saw lawyers in books and on TV as people with agency and a voice, people who could help others, and that resonated with me from a young age,” Tipper said. Her first job as a Spanish translator at an immigration law firm exposed her to the realities faced by immigrant families: “Seeing people risk everything to cross a desert for a chance at a better life solidified my desire to become a lawyer, not for prestige, but to advocate for those who need it most.”
Tipper joined CU after serving as city attorney for Denver. She cited CU’s broad impact as one reason for taking on the role: “We are the third-largest employer in Colorado with a mission that directly transforms lives.” She added that education had changed her family’s trajectory within one generation: “Being part of an institution like CU, whose purpose is to create that kind of generational change, was irresistible. I’m living proof of what access to education can do, and working at CU means I get to help ensure that opportunity exists for thousands of others.”
Regarding her leadership style, Tipper described herself as collaborative: “I’m deeply collaborative and inquisitive. I want to understand the ‘why’ behind people’s perspectives and create space for honest insights… If we don’t surface concerns, we can’t solve problems.” She emphasized helping team members achieve their goals by meeting them where they are.
Tipper also addressed misconceptions about her position: “Yes, I’m the top lawyer for CU, but legal expertise is only part of what this job requires. I serve as a sounding board and strategic adviser.” She compared some aspects of her work to triage medicine—assessing situations quickly before passing them along—and highlighted the importance of providing information so leaders can make informed decisions: “My responsibility isn’t just to identify legal risks, but to help leaders understand operational, political and optical implications so they can make fully informed decisions.”
Outside work hours Tipper enjoys spending time outdoors with her family: “If it’s Friday afternoon, I’m probably trying to get out of Denver with my 1- and 5-year-old in tow. Camping has become our reset button… Getting my kids outdoors…that’s my joy.”
