Colorado State University (also referred to as Colorado State and CSU) is a public research university located in Fort Collins, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.

The current enrollment is approximately 30,700 students, including resident and non-resident instruction students. The university has approximately 1,540 faculty in eight colleges and 55 academic departments. Bachelor's degrees are offered in 65 fields of study, with Master's degrees in 55 fields. Colorado State confers doctoral degrees in 40 fields of study, in addition to a professional degree in veterinary medicine.

Colorado State offers 150 programs of study across 8 colleges and 55 departments. In addition to its notable programs in biomedical sciences, engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and human health and nutrition, CSU offers professional programs in disciplines including business, journalism, and construction management as well as in the liberal and performing arts, humanities, and social sciences. CSU also offers 5 of its bachelor's degrees and 34 of its graduate degrees online through OnlinePlus, formally named the Division of Continuing Education.

Mark Brown obtained his bachelor of science in resource management from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and had a short career as a field biologist before returning to graduate school. He obtained a masters in biochemistry and molecular biology from Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he also conducted a fellowship at the Lombardi Cancer Center. He subsequently earned his PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Texas in Austin before entering the pharmaceutical industry.In 2008, he returned to Fort Collins, Colorado and joined the faculty of Colorado State University (CSU). He is currently on faculty as an Assistant Professor of Molecular Oncology at CSU’s Cancer Center. Dr. Brown is also the Director of CSU’s Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry and he has joint faculty appointments in CSU’s Honors Program, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, and the Department of Ethnic Studies.