Chandan Shilpakar has a 12-hour time difference between him and his loved ones. Thanks to UW’s engaged Nepali community, he’s been able to thrive. Originally from Nepal, Chandan is pursuing a Ph.D. in plant sciences with a specialization in forage agronomy. 

“Before 2018, I didn’t even know about Wyoming, to be honest,” says Chandan. “When I went to the department website, I saw a lot of Nepali community pursuing their degree over here and thought it would be a good fit.” 

Chandan also received a graduate assistant position to help him start his degree. Today, he works with ranchers, the Bureau of Land Management, and other stakeholders across the state to further research and development within the field of agronomy. 

Chandan adds, “I can see in real time what impact my learning in forage science has. And because of the community here, I never feel like I’m too far from home.”