These goodr shades come with a side of MSU Denver pride

Stephen Lease, who built a performance eyewear empire on the foundation of a Metropolitan State University of Denver degree in Marketing, will return to his alma mater May 15 to deliver the keynote Commencement addresses to the Class of 2026 graduates.

Lease, co-founder and CEO of goodr, is doing more than just celebrating grads from behind the lectern. The company has created sunglasses designed especially for MSU Denver students. The shades, called Get Rowdy, come in MSU Denver’s red and blue and feature a custom design. Starting June 10, Get Rowdy sunglasses will be available at the campus Bookstore and wherever goodr sunglasses are sold, and, starting June 17, online as part of goodr’s Collegiate Collection.

“MSU Denver was foundational in helping me become a great marketer. As I’ll talk about in my Commencement speech, the world belongs to people who build things,” Lease said. “I was able to take what I learned at the College of Business and immediately apply it to the first company I started… and start figuring it out in real time.”

The fun is about to start for about 1,500 MSU Denver students, who will collect their diplomas May 15.

Lease is a perfect choice to inspire those graduates as they embark on their careers, said Ethan Waples, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business at MSU Denver. “Stephen Lease embodies the Roadrunner spirit and our values. His approach to doing business and life sets a bold example for all MSU Denver graduates for how to overcome any obstacle and lead the way into the future.”

Lease’s road to the boardroom included a few bumps. The entrepreneur had five failed ventures before building goodr into one of the world’s leading athletic eyewear brands. According to the company, his secret is being unafraid to do things differently.

Lease has said his focus as CEO is not just on growth, but on building a culture rooted in creativity, professionalism and the courage to move forward without all the answers.

That’s the ethos he plans to share with MSU Denver’s graduates.

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“This collaboration represents the very best of the Roadrunner network,” said Brandi Rideout, executive director of alumni engagement at MSU Denver. “These custom sunglasses are more than a product, they’re a celebration of alumni success, school pride and what’s possible when our community continues to show up for each other.”