While juggling academics, jobs, family obligations, and the myriad demands of life in general, students at CU Denver are grateful for a convenient place to head between classes and grab a bite, take a break, or socialize with friends. The Posner Family Kitchen, which is just off the entrance to the Lola & Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center, has provided such a space and enriched student life at CU Denver since opening in 2018. This dynamic corner of campus serves as a hub for healthy breaks, social connection, and hands-on learning, reinforcing CU Denver’s commitment to promoting holistic well-being and a deep sense of belonging, which are essential ingredients of student success.

Creating a greater sense of community on campus was exactly what the students behind the center’s construction were seeking when Student Government Association leaders asked CU Denver’s administration to evaluate the feasibility of a new wellness center, to be funded by student fees. This spring marks 10 years since CU Denver students voted emphatically to fund the center and the CU Board of Regents approved the project. 

The Heart of the Home

A kitchen is often considered the heart of a home, and the Posner Family Kitchen is no exception, serving as a welcoming venue for events and activities that allow students to take a break from their studies, learn new skills, and create community. Over the years, the kitchen has hosted events that promote multiple dimensions of wellness, including healthy eating, stress reduction, drug abuse prevention, and financial wellness. At other times the kitchen has served as a venue for festive campus activities, including Grad Fair, LynxFest, and even an ugly sweater making contest. Most often, though, the Posner Family Kitchen provides students a much-needed space to unwind, develop life skills, and engage with peers in a supportive environment.

Thanks to the continued support of donors and the CU Denver Student Wellness Center Fund, the Posner Family Kitchen is poised to expand its programming, ensuring that even more students benefit. Future initiatives aim to further deepen the sense of community on campus, which can help students stay focused, motivated, and on track during turbulent times.

A Gift Rooted in Community

The Posner Family Kitchen was made possible by a generous gift from Joanne Posner-Mayer, a first-generation student who graduated from the University of Colorado in 1973 with a degree in physical therapy. Immigrants from Poland, the Posner family operated a hardware store in the Auraria neighborhood, which was first located at 1040 Larimer Street then at 9th and Larimer, just blocks from where the Posner Family Kitchen now stands. Before opening the store, Joanne’s grandmother, Kate Posner, was a cook and her father, Jerry, was a baker—family history that inspired Joanne’s support of this space. After World War II, Jerry married Joanne’s mother, Hanna Kruger, a holocaust survivor from Germany. (Jerry is pictured at left in his WWII uniform with his mother and sister in front of the Posner store in the Auraria neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Joanne Posner-Mayer).

Having earned her degree from CU, Joanne worked for a number of years in Switzerland where she encountered exercise balls known as “Swiss Balls” used in physical therapy. After returning to the U.S., she went on to build a successful business pioneering exercise ball techniques for physical therapists, health clubs, and sports training programs worldwide. Today, Joanne continues to be highly engaged with CU Denver, as a donor, member of the advisory board for the Jake Jabs Entrepreneurship Center in the Business School, CU Foundation Trustee, and close friend of the campus.  

The CU Denver community remains grateful to Joanne (pictured at right) for her support of the Posner Family Kitchen, which will continue to nourish both bodies and minds for years to come, all while honoring the legacy of the Posner family and the enduring spirit of the Auraria community.