Milward L. Simpson Fund

portrait of Milward L. Simpson at desk SPPAIS

The Simpson Fund Mission

The general-purpose to be served by the Milward L. Simpson Fund is to “further, foster and advance education and learning in the field of political science at the University of Wyoming." To further this mission, the Simpson Fund will support a vibrant series of professional exchanges, thought-provoking lectures, student scholarships, and graduate fellowships during the academic year in coordination with the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies at the University of Wyoming.
 
 

History of the Milward L. Simpson Fund

The fund was created on October 17, 1969, to honor Milward L. Simpson (1897-1993). Simpson, a Wyoming native, was governor of Wyoming from 1955-1959. He was also the first University of Wyoming graduate to be elected governor. He served as a US Senator from 1963-1967. Prior to holding elective office, Simpson was a member of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees and was the board's president for several years.
 
Application Forms:
 
 
 
 

 

    Financial Assistance from the Milward Simpson Fund

In the current academic year, the Simpson Committee and the School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies will welcome requests for financial assistance from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and Campus Partner Organizations at the University of Wyoming to provide funding to further, foster and advance education and learning in the field of political science by supporting initiatives in five main focus areas:

  1. To help enrich the educational experience of meritorious undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies related to the fields of political science, public administration, and/or international studies at the University of Wyoming by providing financial support for student-led research, professional or scholarly development, and/or other related learning experience opportunities
  2. To help fund or defray the costs of bringing to the University of Wyoming distinguished lecture-scholars in the field of political science or related disciplines whose presence will serve to foster and advance undergraduate and graduate education, learning, and enrichment for SPPAIS students
  3. To help provide financial assistance for students and faculty to support collaborative research Seminars, Symposia, Conferences or Workshops related to the fields of political science, public administration, and/or international studies that will foster and advance education and learning at the University of Wyoming
  4. To provide financial assistance to faculty to support curricular enhancement and/or innovation for new or existing courses (or other related student-focused learning activities) that will directly serve to advance undergraduate or graduate student education and enrichment in the fields of political science, public administration, and/or international studies at the University of Wyoming
  5. To help acquire for the benefit of the School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies reference and research materials and/or equipment not otherwise available from Departmental or University funds


Undergraduate and graduate students in SPPAIS and related disciplines enrolled at the University of Wyoming are encouraged to apply to the Milward L. Simpson Fund for assistance to support student-led research activities, professional or scholarly development, and/or other student-focused learning experience opportunities.

 

    SIMPSON SPEAKERS

Speaker Series

As part of its mission to further, foster and advance education and learning in the fields of political science, public administration, and/or international studies at the University of Wyoming, during the current academic year the Milward L. Simpson Fund will sponsor a series of public research talks led by distinguished visiting scholars and professionals as well as university faculty and graduate students working in political science, public administration, and/or international studies and related disciplines. A particular focus of the Simpson Speaker series is to bring to the University of Wyoming distinguished lecture-scholars whose presence will serve to foster and advance undergraduate and graduate education, learning, and enrichment for SPPAIS students.

 

Lecture Series

Each year the Milward L. Simpson Fund helps to bring to campus eminent political figures and practitioners in political science, public administration, and/or international studies and related disciplines as part of the prestigious Simpson Lecture Series. Previous Simpson Lecturers have come from a wide variety of backgrounds, ideologies and disciplines and frequently draw large audiences from across campus and the surrounding Wyoming community.
Previous guest speakers invited to campus as part of the Milward L. Simpson Lecture Series have included:

  • Chris Matthews, MSNBC's Hardball Host and Host of the syndicated Chris Matthews Show
  • James A. Baker, U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, White House Chief of Staff
  • Dave Freudenthal, Governor of Wyoming
  • George Mitchell, U.S. Senator
  • Alan K. Simpson, U.S. Senator
  • Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, U.S. Supreme Court
  • Sam Donaldson, ABC News Correspondent
  • George Mitchell, U.S. Senator
  • Donald Kendall, Chairman of PepsiCo
  • Sam Western, Western Identity Author
  • Casper Weinberger, U.S. Secretary of Defense
  • Lawrence Eagleburger, U.S. Secretary of State
  • James G. Watt, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
  • William S. Cohen, U.S. Senator
  • Gerald Ford, President of The United States
  • George H. W. Bush, President of The United States
  • Jim Geringer, Governor of Wyoming
  • Michael Sullivan, Governor of Wyoming & Ambassador to Ireland
  • George McGovern, U.S. SenatorDavis Broder, Washington Post
  • Paul Simon, U.S. Senator
  • General George Joulwin, U.S. Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO)
  • Kathy Karpan, Wyoming Secretary of State
  • Karen Deike, Western Governors Association
  • Charles Bartlett, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist
  • Thomas Strook, Ambassador to Guatemala
  • Ann Compton, ABC News White House Correspondent
  • Patricia Limerick, Center of the West - University of Colorado
  • Charles Levendosky, Editor Casper Star Tribune
  • Ambassador Richard Schifter, Special Assistant to the President
  • Boyd Eddins, Wyoming Senate President
  • April Brimmer Kunz, Wyoming Senate President
  • Speaker John Marton, Wyoming House of Representatives
  • Speaker Fred Parady, Wyoming House of Representatives