Hannah Wilks

Hannah is originally from Colorado. She grew up in eastern Colorado on a farm. As a first-generation undergraduate student, she attended the University of Northern Colorado and became active in social justice advocacy. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in women’s studies. She received her master’s degree from the University of Colorado Denver in political science, focusing on local government administration and leadership. She has always had a desire to change systems to serve people more equitably and had that opportunity in her roles at the University of Colorado Boulder. First in the Women’s Resource Center managing volunteers and budgets, and eventually, as the associate director managing outreach and programming centered on gender equity and inclusion.

Hannah has been the director of the Volunteer Resource Center since 2014. She has led the department in strategic planning, budgeting and program development while focusing on creating a culture of volunteerism on the CU Boulder campus. Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are central to student learning and engagement practices in our communities has been important to advancing the VRC under her leadership. With her team, she has grown the staff, space and reach of the VRC during her tenure. 

With 15 years of experience on the CU Boulder campus, the creation of the first campus food pantry and new Basic Needs Center has developed under Hannah’s leadership. She hopes these services will support the current and future generations of students at CU to have their basic needs met so success is within reach while they are on campus. In her new role, as director of Service Learning and Basic Needs, she will oversee the creation and implementation of the Basic Needs Center as well as continued oversight of the Volunteer Resource Center.  

In her free time, Hannah serves the state through an appointment by Governor Polis to the Colorado Agriculture Development Board, and the Value-Added Agriculture Development Board. As the vice-chair of both boards, she helps oversee $10 million in agriculture improvement grants and beginning farming loans in the state. She also enjoys yoga, getting outside, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and spending time with her family.