Five UW Employees Selected for Latest Leadership Wyoming Class

Five University of Wyoming employees throughout the state are among 40 residents selected for the Leadership Wyoming class of 2021. The statewide program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The UW employees selected for the latest class are:

-- Cecilia Aragon, professor of theater and dance, and Latina/o studies, and Wyoming Latina Youth Conference executive director.

-- Stacy Buchholz, UW Extension 4-H youth development educator, based in Wheatland.

-- Danny Dale, College of Arts and Sciences interim dean, and physics and astronomy professor.

-- Eric Schlidt, IMPACT 307 (formerly Wyoming Technology Business Center) Casper director.

-- Teal Wyckoff, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center associate research scientist.

Formed in 1999, Leadership Wyoming provides opportunities for a diverse group of approximately 40 Wyoming citizens to participate in a challenging and thought-provoking nine-month educational and professional development experience.

Training sessions provide a practical, nonpartisan, hands-on understanding of a broad spectrum of public policy issues, and participants develop an appreciation for civil discourse, with lasting commitments to involvement at the state and local levels. This year’s class may look different depending on public health precautions, but the group of leaders will continue to tackle the issues facing Wyoming in whatever format is needed, says Mandy Fabel, Leadership Wyoming executive director.

Leadership Wyoming gives participants an opportunity to better understand general public policy issues, economic and social diversity, and the challenges facing the state. The experience prepares them, through shared mutual interests and the leadership skills developed, to be active in leading Wyoming, Fabel adds.

An orientation session for the latest class is Aug. 6-7 in Jackson, followed by an education session at UW Sept. 2-4. Additional sessions and topics include natural resources in Gillette Oct. 14-16; health care in Casper Jan. 7-9; government in Cheyenne Feb. 10-13; manufacturing and technology in Rock Springs March 10-13; cultural and economic diversity in Lander April 7-10; and graduation/philanthropy in Sheridan May 5-7.

An alumni summit also is scheduled Nov. 17-18 in Cheyenne.

Since 2001, 850 class members from throughout the state have graduated from Leadership Wyoming, including Gov. Matt Mead; former first lady and federal judge Nancy Freudenthal; U.S. Sen. John Barrasso; Adjutant General Greg Porter; and nearly 20 state legislators.

Thanks to the strong partnership between Leadership Wyoming and UW, more than 30 current faculty and staff members are graduates of the program, Fabel says.

For more information about the program, call (307) 577-8000 or visit the website at www.leadershipwyoming.org.