Business Officer I Darlene Squires – Queen of All Trades
Darlene Squires, CAHSS Business Officer I. Photo by Hannah Fulk.
When asked whether she considers herself a “jack of all trades,” Darlene Squires accepted the title and, with a smile, suggested “Queen of All Trades” instead. After nearly five years of employment at the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS), she has certainly earned it.
Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Squires attended the University of Arizona for her undergraduate degree in sociology and later earned a master’s degree in psychology from Chapman University in California.
“I draw people into safe spaces and want them to feel welcome,” Squires said. “I’ve always wanted to uplift and support people.”
Before coming to the University of Denver (DU), Squires spent a decade managing a restaurant and various hotels. She began at DU in October 2020 as an assistant to the chair in the Department of Political Science and, as of January 2025, transitioned to her current role as Business Officer I on the CAHSS Business and Operations team.
During the academic year, Squires supervises nearly three dozen CAHSS student employees. Growing up, she dreamed of becoming a college counselor, and now she advises and mentors students in a different but equally meaningful capacity. During the summer when students are not on campus, her days consist of filing journal entries, ensuring the college’s funds are properly allocated and balanced, and finalizing fiscal year reports.
When asked about her favorite aspects of her role, Squires shared her love for the diversity of knowledge within CAHSS: “We all bring different ranges of experience and expertise, and when you interact with our colleagues, you find out all the different ways they can help,” she said. “I always want to team up and brainstorm.”
Outside of work, music is Squires’ happy place. She played violin from fourth grade through college and also plays piano and acoustic guitar; she considers herself equally at home on stage and in the audience. Earlier this summer, Squires attended Colorado’s Country Jam Music Festival, and she plans to see the Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas - a band she’s seen six times in recent years and still finds herself as giddy about their upcoming show as she was the first time she saw them perform.
Squires met her husband in Tucson while he was on rest and recovery from his Army tour in Iraq. He later served in Afghanistan and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado, which brought Squires to Colorado as well. Now married for almost 15 years, the couple has two children, Deegan (11) and Charlotte (7). This summer, Squires is staying busy by taking her children on all kinds of adventures: going to the movies, visiting splash pads, hanging out at Skate City and getting frozen yogurt.
As the CAHSS “Queen of All Trades,” Squires is as skilled at reading music as she is at managing student employees and making others feel comfortable and supported in her role in CAHSS. Whether you need assistance with financial paperwork or are simply looking for an empathetic listener, stop by her office on Sturm Hall’s third floor. Honest and open dialogue isn’t just something Squires welcomes; it embodies who she is and always will be.
