Published August 16, 2023
By Christine Reed
The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) welcomes Randall Violett as the Program Director for the Energy and Environmental Systems (EES) Concentration in the Energy Resource Management and Development (ERMD) degree program.
The ERMD program prepares students for essential roles in industries such as oil and natural gas, renewable energy, and mining. Students take a core curriculum focusing in business, natural resources, law and policy, project management, and rangeland ecology and watershed management. The program offers two concentrations for specialization, Professional Land Management (PLM) or Energy and Environmental Systems (EES).
While both concentrations in the ERMD degree program have a significant focus on practical training, experiential learning, and dynamic relationships between students and employers, the PLM concentration has benefitted from separate leadership due to its accrediting requirement through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL).
“We have been extremely fortunate with our PLM program to have such an engaged director and Advisory Board,” says Academic Director Kami Danaei. “Through targeted leadership efforts, networking opportunities and strategic programmatic planning, we have seen substantial growth and employment prospects come out of that guidance for our PLM students and we want to emulate that successful model for our EES students.”
Originally from Gunnison, Colo., Violett joined UW in November of 2022 as associate director of the newly launched Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources (CALSNR). In his capacity in CALSNR, he works to integrate multidisciplinary classroom learning with practical experience, connecting students with producers and industry professionals.
An experienced ag educator and researcher, Violett has taught at Northwest College in Powell, Southern Utah University and Utah State University as well as in secondary and adult education programs in Montana. As a research scientist at UW’s Powell Research and Extension Center, he earned a doctorate in agronomy from UW.
As EES director – which is an additional, part-time administrative position – Violett will be tasked with providing administrative support to students in the concentration, and to facilitate connections between students, professional organizations, and potential employers in the field.
“I am excited to be able to collaborate between the SER and CALSNR to benefit the students of the EES program, says Violett.”
“Randall is such a natural fit for this position,” adds Danaei. “He is already so experienced with the skills and leadership abilities we were hoping for in this area of our degree program and his background in agriculture and natural resources complement our curriculum nicely. We are so excited to have him onboard as we launch into a new academic year.”
