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WEEK OF JUNE 12, 2025
VOLUME 98 | ISSUE 28
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Mayor names Brad Buchanan to serve as interim planning director BY ERIC HEINZ ERIC@COTLN.ORG
Deveyn and Ashlynn Hainey at their graduation from the University of Colorado Denver in May 2025.
COURTESY OF PAUL WEDLAKE
CU Denver grads create phishing safety software Ashlynn and Deveyn Hainey are twins, business partners BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In May, twin sisters Ashlynn and Deveyn Hainey graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with degrees in computer science. And along with their diplomas, the sisters walked away with an innovative solution to one of today’s most popular digital threats: phishing emails. For their senior capstone project, the sisters created PhishSense, which is an AI-powered Gmail add-on that not only detects phishing attempts, but also teaches users how to recognize them.
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12
“What makes it unique is the focus on both detection and user education,” Ashlynn Hainey said. “Instead of just flagging emails, it provides clear, bullet-pointed reasons, which are generated by a large language model and explains why an email might be phishing. This empowers users to recognize red flags themselves, increasing long-term security awareness.” CU Denver Director of Public Relations Jennifer Woodruff said that in 2024, phishing scams affected 94% of organizations and cost Americans over $16 million. While large companies often have cybersecurity teams in place, the average person is frequently left without the tools or knowledge to spot these threats. That’s exactly the gap the Hainey sisters aim to fill.
“Most tools rely on a security team to review suspicious emails,” Ashlynn Hainey said. “The goal was to create something that not only detects threats, but also teaches users how to identify them, making email security more transparent and accessible.” Deveyn Hainey added that she and sister wanted to address the growing issue of email phishing, especially as AI-generated scams become more sophisticated. “The idea stemmed from combining our interest in cybersecurity and learning to create something more user-friendly and educational,” Deveyn Hainey said. PhishSense is currently a prototype, but the twins are working to finalize its features and hope to explore a full launch soon. SEE SISTERS, P2
To quickly but temporarily fill the role that leads Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development, Mayor Mike Johnston has named Brad Buchanan, the CEO of the National Western Center Authority, as the interim director. “We are thrilled Brad is willing to return to lead CPD in an interim capacity,” Johnston said in a press release. “Having served as executive director from 2014 to 2018, Brad knows the agency and the team extremely well. His deep expertise in Denver’s permitting and development processes gives me full confidence in his ability to guide CPD forward as we continue overhauling our permitting processes and delivering services to our community.” Buchanan will begin his dual roles on June 10. The National Western Center Authority is a nonprofit that programs, operates and maintains the National Western Complex. The authority has a 13-person board of directors. The authority was approved by the Denver City Council on a 9-4 vote to receive up to $812 million to further develop the National Western Center, which will include a new equestrian center, hotel, community center and other projects in an effort to enhance the experience of the site that hosts the annual National Western Stock Show. The city council approved spending $23.3 million through bond funding over the next 35 years with an assumed interest rate of 4.92%. “I’ve got a fantastic team in both places,” Buchanan said. “I know the teams at the National Western Center and Community Planning and Development. I’m working with some amazing individuals, and I’ve had some conversations with the board and my team about this possibility, and everyone was very supportive. Every manager manages scope and SEE BUCHANAN, P6
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