Tara Evans is a Wyoming native. She has a bachelor's degree in molecular biology
from the University of Wyoming and a law degree from the University of Wyoming College
of Law.
Tara joined the legal staff at the University of Wyoming as an Associate General Counsel
in 2008, then held the position of Deputy General Counsel until August 2016, when
she began her duties as Interim General Counsel. In February 2017 Tara was named General
Counsel and in 2019 was named Vice President. Prior to working for the University,
Tara was a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and an associate
attorney general in the Water and Natural Resources Division of the Wyoming Attorney
General’s Office.
Tara's duties include:
- Serving as Chief legal advisor for the University, Board of Trustees, President, and
University officers on governance matters
- Overall responsibility for the vision and leadership of the University of Wyoming’s
legal and enterprise risk management strategies
- Partnering with the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office
- Serving as a strategic thought partner and advisor to the Board of Trustees, President,
and Senior Leadership on institutional objectives and priorities
- Overseeing the Equal Opportunity Report and Response Unit, Title IX Coordinator, and
Risk Management Office and providing guidance as needed as it relates to compliance
and risk matters
- Providing strategic and ethical leadership and direction for legal and risk matters
involving the University, including student, faculty and staff affairs; regulatory
and compliance issues; athletics; research and financial concerns; and other matters
that uniquely impact a public institution of higher education
- Leading, managing, and overseeing legal matters pertaining to the operation of the
University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Programs
- Managing litigation matters involving the University
- Reviewing, advising, and assisting with legal matters pertaining to the University
of Wyoming Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Reviewing, advising, and assisting with legal documents, contracts, policies, procedures
or any legal matter pertaining to the management and operation of the University
- Overseeing, monitoring, and housing UW Regulations and Standard Administrative Policies
and Procedures (SAPs)
- Facilitating external administrative procedures, including Wyoming Fair Employment,
U.S. Equal Employment Commission, Office for Civil Rights, unemployment, and workers
compensation
- Reviewing judicial decisions, legislative, or governmental regulatory developments,
and recommending compliance procedures or strategies
- Reviewing, advising, and assisting with property acquisitions, leases, construction
matters, employee relations and personnel matters, insurance matters, patent, trademark
and copyright matters, discrimination and harassment complaints and reports, ethics
and conflict of interest, intellectual property and technology transfer, public records
and open meetings, student education records (FERPA), constitutional law, and freedom
of expression
- Advising and assisting with compliance reviews by governmental agencies, higher education
regulatory agencies and internal audits
- Serving as the chief liaison regarding legal matters with University affiliated organizations,
such as the UW Foundation, UW Alumni Association, Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute,
etc.
