Teton County

Wendy Martinez

Homeowner services manager, Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area

UW degrees: Bachelor’s in political science (2015), Master of Public Administration (2018)

Wendy is a member of the Teton County Library Foundation Board, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Collective, the 2019-20 Womentum cohort, and a free income tax preparation volunteer.

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How did your experience at UW prepare you for your career and role in your community?

“During my time at UW, seven years to be exact, I involved myself in many different student groups. One of my most memorable experiences was as a mentor for GEAR UP freshman students. GEAR UP is a college readiness program for low-income, first-generation middle school and high school students. As a GEAR UP alumna, I had the opportunity to mentor college freshman students who had very similar experiences to mine on their pathway to higher education. Later on, as a graduate student, I was a graduate assistant for the Social Justice Research Center. My work with the director, Dr. Kate Welsh, gave me the work experience that helped me land my first job with a nonprofit shortly after graduating. My experience at UW also taught me the power of networking. My various roles and jobs at UW connected me to people who inspired me to do more for my community through social justice initiatives. For instance, I was co-chair for MEChA and was part of the planning committee for the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice for a few years. Now, I continue to collaborate with a variety of organizations that work to support my community.”

 

Why should Wyoming students attend their state’s university?

“UW is a very unique place, because there are many opportunities to expand your social circle, and you are constantly meeting new people, all while having a feel of a close-knit community.”

 

What does it mean to you to be a UW Cowboy?

“A UW Cowboy is resilient. A UW Cowboy has a strong individualistic work ethic with the ultimate goal of supporting their community.”

 

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