Published September 26, 2023
By Christine Reed
The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) is pleased to announce Kristen Pritchett as the director of Professional Land Management (PLM) program.
As the director of an accredited program through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), Pritchett is responsible for communicating regularly with the organization to ensure that the program meets the standards set forth for accreditation, and to guide students within the program to broaden the role and bandwidth of land professionals and their development within the industry.
“We are very fortunate to have a land professional with the experience and caliber of Kristen within our midst,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “Our students will benefit immensely from her diverse professional background and her exceptional leadership abilities. We are looking forward to seeing her integrate further into the program – challenging our students to think outside of the box and to adapt within the ever-changing energy landscape.”
A native of Casper, Pritchett earned a Master of Positive Psychology and Coaching from the University of Missouri in 2016, a Master of Real Estate Finance in 2010 from Texas A&M, and a bachelor’s in finance from Texas A&M in 2009.
Pritchett is an accomplished swimmer with extensive experience coaching and mentoring students in higher education. During her collegiate career, Pritchett was an Olympic hopeful, placing 5th at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200-meter backstroke.
While earning her master’s degree in Missouri, Pritchett spent three years as an assistant swim coach before returning to Wyoming. There she spent two years as an assistant swim coach for the UW Swimming and Diving team.
In addition to coaching, Pritchett has amassed over a decade of experience working as a landman. She has worked for several independent oil and gas companies, providing both preliminary and curative title work, leasing, and oil and gas asset management. Additionally, she works regularly with attorneys on title needs.
Returning to UW in an academic role, Pritchett will teach Introduction to Land Management, a foundational course that teaches students the fundamentals of the esteemed land profession, as well as an energy field study summer course. Outside the classroom, she will work to bridge the gap between higher education and the versitle community of energy industry professionals. Leveraging her background in coaching, she will help students to develop and refine the core skills necessary to embark on a successful career.
“I am thrilled to be back at the University of Wyoming with the opportunity to work with students, whose enthusiasm for life is contagious,” says Pritchett. “It is thrilling to be a part of a profession that I love while also getting to make a difference in the lives of the people who will be shaping our communities and workforces.”
