With a new $100,000 endowed scholarship, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority honors the leadership and service of Regis alumnus Cris White

For Cris White, the opportunity to serve others has never been a side note to his career, it has been the central theme. Over nearly four decades at the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), including 15 years as CEO, White helped expand access to affordable housing across Colorado. Under his leadership, CHFA became a vital resource for individuals, families, and small businesses seeking stability and opportunity.

But beyond the numbers and the financing models, White’s story is one of values – values he credits, in large part, to his Regis education. As a student in Regis University’s business program, White discovered a path that combined his aptitude for finance with a deepening desire to serve the common good. Through a Regis-sponsored internship at CHFA, he was introduced to the world of mission-driven finance – and just weeks after graduation, he joined the organization full time. He never looked back.

“I got to do capital markets and real estate finance every day,” White said. “But I also got to go home every night knowing I had helped put people in housing they could afford. That made all the difference.”

In recognition of his 30 years of service, CHFA made a $100,000 gift to Regis University to establish the Cris A. White Student Scholar Athlete Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will support a current student-athlete on the men’s or women’s soccer team, a meaningful tribute to a formative part of White’s own experience. A standout soccer player in high school, he continued the sport at Regis, and credits those years with helping shape his approach to teamwork, discipline, and excellence – values that remained central throughout his career.

Reflecting on his time at Regis, White shared: “My experience at Regis reinforced the idea of 'servant leadership,' as well as the idea of building community, community participation, giving back, and doing positive things for those that are maybe less advantaged.”

I am deeply grateful to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for their gift and support of Regis alumnus and benefactor, Cris White. Cris remains deeply engaged in the mission that first took root during his time on campus. His life’s work, and the scholarship now bearing his name, are both reflections of a simple but powerful truth: that a Jesuit education doesn’t just prepare students for a career. It calls them to help build a better world.

Kindly,