Tony Gherardini has been appointed as the new vice president and chief human resources officer for the University of Colorado (CU) system. He is set to begin his tenure on April 13, 2026.
Gherardini previously served as executive director of the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration. In that role, he managed a 500-person agency with a $450 million budget and oversaw the statewide personnel system supporting over 30,000 employees. His responsibilities included human resources strategy, classification and compensation, labor relations, workforce planning, benefits, payroll, and employee development throughout Colorado’s state government.
“We are thrilled Tony is joining our team,” said CU President Todd Saliman. “He has a long track record as a public servant, deep expertise and has demonstrated that he is a thoughtful leader. And the added bonus, that he is a CU Denver alumnus, make him the perfect fit for our team in the CU system office. Tony is taking on a critical role and I have no doubt that his skill set makes him perfect for the university.”
While leading the Department of Personnel & Administration, Gherardini was responsible for implementing a skills-based hiring system. This initiative increased skills-based hires across state government and modernized recruitment practices to expand access to qualified candidates.
His prior experience also includes serving as chief operations officer for the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, where he oversaw administrative, financial, and operational functions. He was also director of state operations and cabinet affairs in the Governor’s Office, overseeing performance management for Colorado’s executive branch.
Earlier in his career, Gherardini worked as an agent with the Lakewood Police Department for seven years—two years as a detective investigating crimes against children. He also served in the Colorado Army National Guard from 2004 until 2017 and is a veteran of Afghanistan.
“Tony has spent his career serving others, from his time in the military to his service in state government,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “His leadership at the Department of Personnel & Administration will be very missed, but we wish him all the best in this next chapter. During his time at DPA, Colorado has made important progress on skills-based hiring, strengthening our state workforce, expanding our electric vehicle fleet and more.”
Gherardini holds a master’s degree in public administration from CU Denver and returns to the university after more than two decades working in public service.
“After more than 20 years in public service, returning to CU as an alumnus in this role is truly a dream come true,” Gherardini said. “The university helped shape my journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back. I look forward to ensuring our HR operations are strong, responsive and seamless in support of our faculty and staff.”
As vice president of human resources at CU, Gherardini will lead strategic efforts related to talent acquisition and retention, labor relations, compensation strategy, leadership development, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness across all campuses.
