Two UW Professors Earn Stewardship Awards

Two University of Wyoming faculty members have earned the prestigious UW Foundation Stewardship Award. They are Cindy Price Schultz, head of the Department of Communication and Journalism, and John Kaszuba, the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy.

“It is such an honor to receive this award, but it is even more of an honor to be able to work with our donors and alumni,” Price Schultz says. “I enjoy being able to help the donors accomplish their goals, like supporting graduate student research or endowing a chair in photojournalism. And I love to see the students when they hear alumni talk about what they can achieve after they graduate from the University of Wyoming.”

“I am honored to be recognized for this award. I really enjoy the work that I do and the incredibly talented students I mentor,” Kaszuba says. “The Wold family and the Wold Foundation share my vision for energy excellence in Wyoming, and it has been an honor and a pleasure to work with them.”

The UW Foundation Stewardship Award recognizes the leadership of UW faculty members who excel in the relationship-building and stewardship of alumni and donors through effective use of private gifts, engaging former students in the activities of the university and a commitment to strong external relationships for the betterment of UW.

“Cindy and John exemplify the value and importance of faculty engagement with the stewardship of gifts that support UW people and programs,” says UW Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman. “They help donors appreciate the value and impact of their philanthropy and, in doing so, encourage even greater support.”

Price Schultz was nominated by Assistant Department Head Justin Stewart; UW Alumni Association Executive Director Jack Tennant; Matt Liu, director of forensics in the Department of Communication and Journalism; Denver-based Linhart PR founder Sharon Haley Linhart; and Department of Communication and Journalism Professor Michael Brown.

Price Schultz is being recognized specifically for building a donor and alumni network that supports her department and her dedication to donor relations.

“Cindy has done a tremendous job working with donors and alumni,” Stewart says. “Her work has helped create a funded professorship in photojournalism, supported our debate team and furthered our international mission, among other goals.”

Price Schultz is being recognized for her work in the Bobby Model Photojournalism Professorship; the Muhlberg Study Abroad Award; the Department of Communication and Journalism newsletter; and attracting prominent guest lecturers.

Additionally, Price Schultz has built strong partnerships among the areas she represents, the UW Foundation and the UW Alumni Association, helping strategize and raise funds.

“Dr. Schultz has continued to be an important advocate for the importance of external relations at the university,” Tennant says. “Her commitment to stewardship and fundraising has had a profound impact on the University of Wyoming and the wider UW community.”

Price Schultz is being recognized for overseeing a revolution in donor relationships through her work with the UW debate team. She has been heavily involved in the establishment of two new funds that support this program -- the Barbara Keener Debate Fund and the Mack Kramer Excellence Fund.

“It is through Dr. Price Schultz’s excellent engagement with our supporters that UW Debate is one of the most prolific fundraisers on campus,” Liu says.

Price Schultz’s work with the Bristol Fellowship for Photojournalism and her involvement in the annual selection of the fellow are some examples of her dedication to students and the donors who invest in them. Linhart is one of these donors.

“I’m encouraged and grateful Cindy is so passionate and committed to teaching and that the University of Wyoming is a place where students are learning honest practical skills and essential professions such as writing, photography and journalism,” Linhart says.

Price Schultz’s stewardship efforts for the Four Mile Fund and its partnership with Kazakhstan National University’s journalism department also were recognized. Brown, former director of graduate studies in the Department of Communication and Journalism, is the designated representative for this fund.

“Dr. Cindy Price Schultz has kept me well informed and involved in decisions made for the use of the fund, and I can’t be more pleased,” Brown says. “She is the reason we have continued to contribute.”

Kaszuba, meanwhile, was nominated by UW School of Energy Resources Executive Director Holly Krutka and School of Energy Resources Academic Director Kami Danaei. Kaszuba is being recognized specifically for his leadership in relationship-building and stewardship for the betterment of the university through his interactions with the Wold family and their foundation.

“John Kaszuba is setting the bar on stewardship,” Krutka says. “Given that this chair is focused on students and requires that the faculty member holding the chair have a strong focus on students, this is a wonderful example of stewardship. John is deserving. He has helped rebuild a strong relationship with the Wolds, and they are now reengaged at UW.”

Created in 1985 by John and Jane Wold and the Wold family, the Wold Foundation exists to assist, encourage and promote charitable, scientific, literary and educational endeavors. The foundation supports institutions and programs that promote traditional values and free enterprise and gives preference to projects benefiting Wyoming citizens and Wyoming youth.

Kaszuba was named the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy in 2020. His stewardship efforts include donor visits, building a wall display that pays tribute to John and Jane Wold, and holding a joint symposium with the School of Energy Resources and the Wold Foundation that focused on Wyoming’s energy future.

“I am humbled by Dr. Kaszuba’s accomplishments as the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy,” Danaei says. “It is clear that he has demonstrated impact with students, faculty and the community through the donor’s philanthropy; has offered meaningful and personalized interactions with the donor; has continued to strengthen the relationship between UW and the Wold Foundation and family; and, lastly, shows his persistence, commitment and high-quality stewardship efforts. Dr. Kaszuba is a natural leader whose intellect, curiosity and compassionate nature make him stand out from his peers. I’m privileged to have worked with him and, by extension, the Wold Foundation and family.”

The UW Foundation Stewardship Award recognizes the pivotal role faculty members play in donor philanthropy. Stewardship is critical for the university, as it connects donors with the mission of campus and inspires private funding for areas that need it most. It also builds lasting relationships that promote loyalty and generosity.

“Creating a culture of philanthropy at UW really starts with the creation of a culture of stewardship,” says UW Foundation President/CEO John Stark. “When it comes to stewarding our donors and demonstrating the impact that private support can have on our university, our faculty can be our most effective ambassadors. Both Cindy and John set the standard.”

Recipients of the UW Foundation Stewardship Award personally receive $5,000. Their colleges and departments each receive $2,500, with another $2,500 that the recipient can direct to a separate university area or unit. The UW Foundation funds the awards.