CEPS Advising Center
Laurie Bonini grew up in Rock Springs, Wyo., and is a UW alumna (B.A. English – 1988).
After working for 10 years in the hospitality industry, Bonini returned to the University
of Wyoming, working in Academic Affairs as the University Studies Program Manager
and the Freshman Interest Group (FIG) coordinator, then as the Recruiting and Retention
Coordinator for the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, and finally landing
at home in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences as the Student Advising
Manager.
Bonini has two sons – one is a recent UW graduate in Chemical Engineering, and the
other is current UW student. She also has a soft spot for dogs, and currently has
two pups from Black Dog Rescue. Laurie does yoga year round, and eagerly looks forward
to baseball season every year.
Bonini generally has an open-door policy, so if her door is open (and she’s not on
the phone), come in and say hello! Popcorn Tuesdays are her favorite days, following
closely by Coffee Fridays.
Philosophy
As a Professional Advisor in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEAS)
at the University of Wyoming (UW), my job is to help students navigate successfully
through their academic careers. It is a job in which I take great joy. Nothing is
more rewarding than knowing I played a small part in helping a student overcome a
challenge to achieve a goal. I follow a philosophy of “Appreciate Advising,” encouraging
students to reflect on their skills, abilities and values in order to optimize their
experience at UW and achieve their fullest potential post-graduation.
It is my responsibility to have knowledge about UW and CEAS programs, policies and
procedures, the University Catalog, and resources available on campus, and to communicate
accurate and timely information to students in a mentoring setting. I work with other
staff and faculty across campus to support student success, and work to provide students
with tools and information they need to take full advantage of the opportunities and
resources available to them.
I wish to provide all students with a welcoming, non-threatening, and non-judgmental
environment in the Student Success Office and my personal office, where students know
that their goals are supported and their concerns are respected. I endeavor to treat
each student as an individual, and encourage students to be open to new opportunities.
I challenge students to discover who they are and who they wish to become, and to
think critically about their professional and personal goals and objectives. I help
them explore options to design a plan to attain their dreams, and encourage them to
take the steps necessary to achieve those dreams.
