[3] In April 2005, Brown was named to succeed Elizabeth Hoffman, as the president of the University of Colorado on an interim basis.

Upon taking this role, he inherited a system weakened by sharply decreasing state appropriations, and scandals that included allegations of misuse of foundation funds, instances of sexual assault by members of the football team, waning public confidence, and sharp criticism in the state newspapers.

[4] During his interim tenure, Brown also led the university through the controversy surrounding Ethnic Studies professor Ward Churchill.

[5] Brown urged the Board of Regents to dismiss Churchill, which it did in March 2006, overriding a tenure committee recommendation for one-year suspension.

Those in favor applauded the decision based on the findings of academic fraud, while those opposed believe the firing was simply a smokescreen to silence his views.

[9] In 2007, CU set a fundraising record of $133 million, with some donors "credit[ing] Brown with restoring their confidence in the university."