A Message from the Provost: Week of 3.02.26

March 5 | 2026
 

Dear Colleagues,

 

As we move through the middle of the semester, I want to share a couple of opportunities and a note of appreciation for the many ways our faculty and staff continue to contribute to the life of the university and the broader Wyoming community.

 

I’d like to highlight an upcoming event that will be part of the University of Wyoming’s America 250 celebration and the second annual Humanities Summit. On Friday, March 27 at 4:00 p.m. in the College of Arts & Sciences Auditorium, UW will host Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and author Edward Larson, who will discuss his book Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters. The talk will be followed by a book signing and a celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend, and the President’s Office has approved a one-hour work release for employees who would like to participate. This event is part of a broader series of programs commemorating America’s 250th anniversary and offers a wonderful opportunity for our campus community to engage with history, scholarship, and civic dialogue. You can find more information about the event here. 

 

I also encourage you to consider nominating a colleague, staff member, or student for this year’s Excellence in Global Engagement Awards. These awards recognize individuals who have advanced global learning, international partnerships, study abroad, research with global impact, or meaningful cross-cultural engagement. Nominations are due March 13, 2026, and recipients will be honored later this spring. The nomination form can be found here. 

 

In another example of the remarkable talent within our university community, I want to recognize the beautiful artwork featured in the recent Leadership Wyoming Annual Report, created by UW faculty member and Leadership Wyoming alum Dr. Renee Laegreid. Renee’s work brings a distinctive visual voice to the report and reflects the creativity and depth of our faculty artists. I have had the honor of being engaged with Leadership Wyoming for many years and deeply value the program’s role in developing leaders across our state. It is especially meaningful to see UW faculty contributing to that work through both artistic expression and community partnership. You can see one of my favorites of Renee's work on the cover here, and below: 

 

 

Finally, while it is always good to share the many positive accomplishments and opportunities across our campus, we also recognize that this academic year has included moments of loss for members of our community. We have seen communications about the passing of colleagues and students, and many of us have also experienced the loss of family members and friends outside of the university. These moments remind us how important it is to take care of one another. Please take time to check in with your colleagues, support those who may be grieving, and seek support yourself when you need it. Our community is strongest when we look out for each other.

 

As Ram Dass once said, "We're all just walking each other home".

 

Warm regards,

Anne 
 

 
 

Email: provost@uwyo.edu | Phone: (307) 766-6476 
 
 

University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue Laramie, WY, 82071