UW Presidential Search Committee Appointed; Listening Sessions Scheduled

Seventeen people representing a wide range of interests have been named to the committee that will help select the next president of the University of Wyoming. And a survey has been posted, along with listening sessions Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 6-7, for the UW community and the public to provide input on the desired qualifications and characteristics of a new president.

The search committee was announced at the conclusion of last week's board meeting. Trustee Carol Linton, of Alpine, was chosen to chair the search committee. The board's intent is to have a president selected to succeed President Ed Seidel when he steps down June 30, 2026.

In addition to being an opportunity to provide input on the desired qualifications and characteristics of the next president, the survey and listening sessions are intended to seek input on the challenges and opportunities UW's next leader will face. The survey is posted at www.uwyo.edu/presidential-search , which will be updated regularly as the search unfolds. The survey is open through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Parker Executive Search has been selected as the firm to assist in the search process and will facilitate the Oct. 6-7 listening sessions.

The first is Monday, Oct. 6, from 5-6 p.m., in person at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center and online at https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/98211573472.

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, online-only sessions are scheduled:

-- 1-2 p.m. for UW staff members (https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/97172882587)

-- 3-4 p.m. for UW faculty members (https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/98577859672)

-- 4-5 p.m. for UW students (https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/97596828171)

-- 5-6 p.m. for members of the public (https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/94651072568)

In addition to Linton, UW trustees who'll serve on the search committee are Mike Greear, of Worland; Michelle Sullivan, of Sheridan; and Tom Walters, of Casper.

Members of the committee from the UW community are Rob Godby, the Faculty Senate chair and an associate professor in the Department of Economics; Julie Hill, dean of the College of Law; Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Institute; Chad Baldwin, associate vice president for marketing and communications; Paula Medina, of Cody, president of the Associated Students of UW; and Doug Stark, of Converse County, president of the UW Foundation Board of Directors.

Other members of the committee are Paige Fenton-Hughes, of Cheyenne, interim executive director of the Wyoming Community College Commission; Jim Neiman, of Hulett, president of Neiman Enterprises Inc.; Diane Shober, of Cheyenne, executive director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism; Sue Sommers, of Pinedale, a painter, book artist and printmaker; Marissa Taylor, of Uinta County, business manager of the Lonetree Ranch; Dave True, of Casper, executive partner of True Companies; and Peter Wold, of Casper, owner of Wold Oil Properties Inc.

From a candidate pool vetted and assembled by the search firm, the search committee will be expected to identify the top dozen or so candidates, likely in January; conduct Zoom interviews with those individuals; and recommend the top four to six candidates for in-person interviews by the trustees. Following those interviews, trustees will select three candidates for further interviews, on-campus meetings and public presentations, likely in March. A vote of the full board is expected to name UW's next president in late March or early April.