University of Wyoming Leadership Academy celebrates inaugural cohort
The inaugural University of Wyoming (UW) Leadership Academy has come to a successful conclusion, with participating students delivering final presentations addressing key industries and challenges pivotal to Wyoming’s economy.
The event culminated in a graduation ceremony celebrating the 20 students who completed this transformative experience.
Representing eight colleges across the UW campus, including two students from UW’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, these undergraduate students have laid the foundation for future cohorts of this groundbreaking initiative.
Immersive leadership program
The UW Leadership Academy is a collaborative effort between the College of Business and Leadership Wyoming.
This immersive, co-curricular program is designed to prepare high-achieving students with prior leadership experience to become Wyoming’s future economic and civic leaders.
Through industry exploration, direct engagement with civic and business leaders and a focus on systems leadership, the academy equips participants to advance economic development through innovation and collaboration.
“It has been inspiring to watch these students dive into Wyoming’s industries and embrace the challenges with such enthusiasm and creativity,” says Mandy Fabel, executive director of Leadership Wyoming. “This partnership with UW highlights the power of connecting young leaders with opportunities to drive real change in our state.”
The UW Leadership Academy’s curriculum spanned five sessions over the fall semester, focusing on some of Wyoming’s key industries – energy, manufacturing and tourism – and concluded with students presenting innovative solutions to real-world challenges in each of these industries.
The sessions were hosted in Casper, Lander, Laramie and Sheridan, providing participants with firsthand exposure to the state’s diverse economic landscape.
“The UW Leadership Academy is about creating transformational leaders who understand Wyoming’s unique opportunities and challenges,” says Chris Haller, director of UW’s Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics and lead instructor for the academy. “This first cohort has set an incredible standard for leadership and collaboration, and I have no doubt they will make a lasting impact on our state.”
Inaugural members
Fourteen of the UW Leadership Academy’s 20 inaugural members hailed from the state of Wyoming.
These include Thaddaeus Christensen of Buford, a junior in mechanical engineering with a minor in honors; Daljit Kaur of Burns, a sophomore in accounting and economics with a minor in honors; Brett Lane, a senior at UW-Casper in organizational leadership with minors in health leadership, organizational leadership and agricultural leadership and Marie Scott, who just finished a Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership with a health leadership certificate, both of Casper; Brooklyn Lebeda of Cheyenne, a junior in management and professional sales with a minor in leadership; Grace Dorrell of Laramie, a junior in marketing and professional sales and Shane Dawson of Lander, who earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and economics.
Other Wyoming members include Jacob Grant of Lovell, a junior in economics; Owen Fink of Powell, a sophomore in economics, finance and management; Korbin DeWitt of Shoshoni, a sophomore in entrepreneurship with a minor in leadership; Tanner Jenkins of Ten Sleep, a senior in management and marketing with a minor in leadership; Chloe Palmer of Wheatland, a senior in elementary education; Ivan Martin of Worland, a sophomore in computer science and economics with a minor in honors and mathematics and Shelby Smith of Wright, a sophomore in management, marketing and professional sales.
Members of the inaugural class from outside of the state include Kaelin Goss of Bailey, Colo., a junior in animal and veterinary science with a minor in leadership; Zoe VandenBrink-Lemley of Bozeman, Mont., a senior in secondary English education with a minor in photography; John Pappas of Bridgeport, Neb., a sophomore in psychology with a minor in entrepreneurship; Jessimine Jewett of Brighton, Colo., a junior in management, marketing and professional sales with a minor in leadership; Connor Fleming of Huntersville, N.C., a junior in energy resource management and development and Josh Buchholz of Keenesburg, Colo., a junior in secondary English education.
The UW Leadership Academy will continue next year, with sessions scheduled from August to December.
The program invites applications from high-achieving students with a passion for leadership and economic development. Faculty and staff members are encouraged to nominate students for this competitive opportunity starting at the beginning of the spring semester.
This article was originally published by UW News on Dec. 19. 2024
