A graduate of Colorado State University (bachelor's in sociology-anthropology) and the University of Colorado (master's in journalism), Roger Lipker has also taught at both institutions over the years. He was named "best professor" by student voting at CSU in the late 1990s before re-entering the business world. A former newspaper owner/publisher, he spent most of his professional career in public relations, promotions, marketing and advertising as both a client and agency executive, most recently in New York City and Los Angeles. While director of communications at McDonald's Corporation, Lipker guest-lectured at universities all over the country on the chain's communications campaigns. Now semi-retired and living in Denver, he runs his own consulting firm and serves on the faculty of the Department of Journalism and Media Communication.