UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

UW’s Holly Krutka, School of Energy Resources executive director, and Fred McLaughlin, director of the Center for Economic Geology Research, were both interviewed for a Cowboy State Daily piece that focused on President Donald Trump’s proclamation to increase the nation’s production of rare earth elements that could be a major boon for Wyoming to become a leader in that energy sector.

Coal Zoom included comments from Parag Chitnis, UW’s vice president for research and economic development, in an article that focused on bipartisan legislation to bolster America’s mining workforce and energy security by strengthening opportunities in mining education. U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) are the bill’s main sponsors.

A Cowboy State Daily News article that focused on power plants burning more Wyoming coal nationwide so far this year included comments from UW economist Rob Godby. He says one factor in the rise in coal-fired electricity this past winter is that power plants nationwide turned to coal because they had plenty stockpiled to burn.

Sheridan Media and The Laramie Boomerang published UW’s release noting that the university’s spring semester enrollment increased 1.4 percent over last year. The 10,388 students enrolled on the 15th day of classes are up from 10,246 at the same time last year, reflecting increases in first-time and transfer students. Wyo4News, GoCo Now and Wyoming News Now also published the updates.

UW alumnus Dimitrios Smyrnios’ major gift has created the Smyrnios Family Sales Professorship, which will boost the university’s ability to recruit and retain exceptional faculty members in the Center for Professional Selling. Philanthropy News Digest published UW’s media release.

SVI.news, in Afton, interviewed Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for marketing and communications, who provided various university updates, such as the significant advancements in nuclear energy research at UW and the announcement that six innovative nuclear-related research proposals have been selected for funding by UW’s School of Energy Resources.

UW will host the 2025 Native American Scholarship and Awards Ceremony Wednesday, April 9, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. According to UW’s media release, published by WyoToday Media, the event will honor Native American students at UW and recognize the donors supporting their educational journeys.

UW Nordic ski team co-head Coaches Christi Boggs and Rachel Watson were interviewed by Wyoming News Now about the club’s recent success at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Collegiate Championships. The Cowboys captured the USCSA national title, the team’s seventh overall, while the Cowgirls were the national runners-up.

The Sheridan Press and Powell Tribune published UW’s release announcing that a new three-session ranch management program offered by UW Extension -- Rancher’$ E.D.G.E. (Excellence in Development, Grazing and Economics) -- will be offered. The program will provide a multi-season perspective on the ranching production cycle.

About two dozen students from across Wyoming will have an opportunity this summer to explore the interdisciplinary sciences as they relate to a mission to Mars during the Teton STEM Academy June 15-22 on UW’s campus. WyoToday Media published UW’s release.

The Laramie Boomerang published UW’s release announcing that films, a live talk about dark matter and a “Dome After Dark” audiovisual/musical performance are on tap at UW’s Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium in April.

UW’s Ruckelshaus Institute is accepting registrations for the 2025 Emerging Issue Forum on the role of state trust land in Wyoming’s present and future. The conference is Tuesday-Wednesday, April 22-23, according to High Plains Journal.

Farm Progress published UW’s release announcing registrations are being taken for UW Extension’s fifth annual Wyoming Ranch Camp Monday-Friday, June 9-13, at Ladder Ranch in Carbon County.

E.G. “Gerry” Meyer’s gift, coupled with state matching funds, will create an endowed fund -- the E.G. Meyer Family Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department Head at UW. Sheridan Media published UW’s release.