Meet the Coaches!

UW’s Cowboy Coach peer mentors help new students thrive.  

By Micaela Myers 

Often it’s easier for new students to talk to fellow students about what they’re going through. Several years ago, the University of Wyoming launched its Cowboy Coach peer mentoring program that pairs experienced highly trained UW students with newer students to help them navigate university life and thrive. The program is a huge success and continues to grow.

For this special student issue of UWyo Magazine, we interviewed several current coaches for their advice, which you can read throughout the magazine. Meet them here, and find out what they love about UW. 

Growing up in Wyoming, it was destined that I become a Cowboy. UW offers a lot. With in-state tuition, there’s no way I could ever pass that up. I love the support and community that UW provides to all of its students. It’s hard to not feel at home here.
— Avery O’Brien, Rock Springs, Wyo., sophomore, finance major (blockchain and real estate minors)

I love UW because it feels like both a large university and a tight-knit community. There are always new people to meet, and at the same time you’re always running into people you know.
— Grant Dillivan, Powell, Wyo., junior, psychology and criminal justice major (honors and sociology minors)

I chose UW because of the community it immediately created for me. Here at UW, they make us feel like individuals who are human rather than merely numbers, and it shows!
— Peyton O’Dougherty, Littleton, Colo., senior, elementary education and special education major (Spanish minor)

I plan to go to medical school, and UW is part of the WWAMI medical education program. Aside from the variety of courses offered, I fell in love with the campus and overall atmosphere of the university. The campus is relatively large, but Laramie has a hometown feel. Students are able to get involved around the community and volunteer through UW to give back.
— Sarah Griner, Casper, Wyo., senior, physiology and Spanish major

I only applied to UW in high school because, after visiting the campus, I knew that this was where I wanted to go to school. The campus was gorgeous, and I love the smaller town feel!
— Emily Powell, Windsor, Colo., pharmacy graduate student

I love UW because everyone is committed to student success.
— Abigail Fry, Afton, Wyo., pharmacy graduate student (biology minor)

Having a family that is almost entirely comprised of UW graduates, I felt that by choosing UW I was writing my own name in my family’s legacy. Wyoming is so much a part of who I am and where I come from that it would have felt wrong to not embrace my own roots. UW is a place of community, spirit and drive that pushes me to be my best and continue growing as a person, student, friend and mentor every day.
— Karissa Kiser, Littleton, Colo., junior, physiology major ((professional writing minor)