UW Student Turns Love of Bighorn River into Environmental Law Career Path

Growing up in Thermopolis, Brody Sorensen spent his days on the Bighorn River, one of Wyoming’s most fished and floated waterways. Those experiences shaped his understanding of environmental protection.

“The Bighorn River gave us a strong outdoor community and a lot of opportunities to just be with the environment,” Sorensen says. “It showed me what there was to lose if we aren’t careful. It made me realize that there have to be people doing work to fix our environment.”

Now a freshman studying at the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Sorensen plans to pursue the joint Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in environment and natural resources degree program after completing his undergraduate studies.

“I want to do something that is protecting the environment and working for a better future,” he explains.

Finishing his first semester, Sorensen was surprised by the program’s hands-on approach.

“We weren’t in the classroom very much. We actually got to go around Laramie looking at different projects,” he says. “We went to Pilot Hill and learned about the Casper Aquifer and how that helps supply water to everyone.”

That field-based learning has deepened his connection to the work.

“You get to see these beautiful landscapes and learn about the biology and biodiversity, what’s going on in the area and why that area is important to the state,” he says.

What inspires him most?

“Being able to step out my front door and see this beautiful landscape,” Sorensen says. “UW is one of the most outdoor schools there is. It gives me hope for the future.”

Three Decades of Impact

UW’s Haub School prepares the next generation of natural resource professionals while serving Wyoming’s wild and working lands and communities. With 1,275 alumni (1996-2025), many working across the state in government, private industry, nonprofits and education, the school offers six undergraduate and seven graduate programs integrating science, policy, law, economics and community engagement.

The school brings about $2 million annually in research funding to Wyoming while supporting communities through four dedicated centers and institutes. Recent milestones include a $5 million gift from Jay and Karen Kemmerer in 2025 to establish the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute, supporting the state’s second-largest industry.

Haub School programs, including the Wyoming Conservation Corps, have trained more than 150 young adults and veterans since 2021, while the Biodiversity Institute connects people of all ages to Wyoming’s wildlife through 40-plus annual programs reaching over 3,500 participants statewide. The school’s Ruckelshaus Institute facilitates collaborative, long-term solutions to natural resource challenges, offers professional workforce development, and publishes the award-winning Western Confluence magazine, reaching nearly 4,000 readers across the state. Learn more at www.uwyo.edu/haub.

Additionally, the Haub School’s Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program -- established in 2021 through a major gift from UW alumni Carol and Ramon Tomé -- provides exceptional students with full-ride, four-year scholarships and experiential learning opportunities to address complex environmental challenges. Recent expanded support from the Tomé Foundation has doubled the number of scholars on campus. Learn more at www.bit.ly/tomescholars.