Lifelong Connections

Martha Wyrsch followed in her father’s footsteps, giving her time and talent to UW.

When people have successful and high-powered careers, what makes them decide to give their valuable time to their alma mater? For Martha Wyrsch, giving back to the University of Wyoming is a way to ensure future students get the same amazing opportunities she received. 

“I’m a person who believes in gratitude as a way of life,” says Wyrsch, who currently serves as secretary of the UW Foundation Board of Directors and previously served on the UW Energy Resources Council, the Haub School Advisory Board and the UW Art Museum National Advisory Board.

Wyrsch grew up in Laramie. Her parents, Dick and Marty Brown, along with two of her siblings also attended UW. For them, supporting UW is a family affair.

“My dad was the first alumni director, and he served on the UW Board of Trustees and on the UW Foundation Board — so giving back to the institution that did so much to inform my thinking is quite natural for me,” Wyrsch says.

Her service began as a student. In addition to being one of the earliest members of the Honors College program, Wyrsch was a member of Tri Delta sorority and Mortar Board honor society. She served as an Associated Students of UW senator, then as president, again following in her father’s footsteps — the first father and daughter to serve as student body president.

“ASUW gave me access and insight to leadership at the university and to the Board of Trustees,” she says. “I was involved in serious and weighty discussions, and there was a great deal of respect paid to the student body president, so I felt like I had a voice and could make a difference. That experience was foundational as I moved into business leadership roles.”

After graduating with her degree in English (1980), Wyrsch found her way to Washington, D.C., to work with U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson in his first term. She earned her law degree from George Washington University and went on to a career in the energy industry. Wyrsch served as president and CEO of two large divisions of global energy companies — Spectra Energy Transmission and Vestas Wind Systems North America. She also served as general counsel for three different public utilities. Wyrsch is currently serving on the boards of directors of three public companies along with her work on the UW Foundation Board.

Wyrsch won UW’s Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri outstanding senior award. Her impressive career accomplishments earned her distinguished alumna honors from the UW College of Arts and Sciences and the UW Alumni Association. Martha and her late husband, Gerry, have two children, and she currently lives in Snowmass, Colo. Before Gerry’s passing, the couple made an endowed gift of $1 million in support of the Honors College, which established the Martha and Gerry Wyrsch Student Enrichment Fund in Honors.

In her current role on the UW Foundation Board, Wyrsch is helping with the planning for a potential comprehensive campaign for the university.

“We have an obligation to the people of Wyoming and the future students to ensure that we have sufficient resources to continue to grow and build,” Wyrsch says. “I believe the people of Wyoming and alumni want to give back — we just need to give them the opportunity. We’re creating a dynamic framework that allows people to give in areas they care about and that will bring so much vitality to the university.”