The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program (MWCEP) offers an opportunity to build upon the legacy of U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop’s distinguished career as a public servant, as well as the generosity of his friends and supporters, to enhance public service programming at UW and around the state. The program provides support for student internships, research and service and faculty service-research projects in civic engagement and public affairs topics that address local, national, and international problems. These programs are funded through a variety of sources including the Byra Kite Internship Fund and the Stewart Family Public Service Initiative.
As part of the focus on providing public service opportunities for students, the Byra Kite Internship Fund was started to support student internships in public service from the local to the national and international levels. The fund is named in honor of Byra Kite who had a 20-year career in Wyoming politics including working as Senator Malcolm Wallop’s State Director. This internship fund has been made possible by friends of Byra Kite and Wallop Program supporters who are committed to help level the playing field for UW students who often cannot afford to take advantage of public sector internship opportunities that are mostly unpaid. In 2025, the Byra Kite Internship fund became a permanent endowment at the UW Foundation, which will continue to support student internships into the future.
2025 Byra Kite Internship Award Recipient
- Kendra Sollars, from Steamboat Springs, CO, a senior majoring in Political Science, who worked for the Wyoming Department of Education serving in a variety of policy support roles.
2024 Byra Kite Internship Award Recipients
- Reese Davies, from San Diego, California, a junior majoring in Political Science and International Studies, who worked with the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program assisting its efforts with K-12 educators in the summer professional development workshop and civic engagement efforts with Wyoming stakeholders in civics education.
- Kimika Hinoshita, a second-year graduate student in International Studies from Suita, Japan, served as a legislative aide at the Wyoming State Legislature for Representative Dan Zwonitzer. Her work focused on labor, health, and social services issues.
- America Martinez Carillo, a senior in International Studies from Jackson, worked with International Volunteers HQ in Amman, Jordan assisting underserved Jordanian students. The internship enhanced her expertise in international education and the non-profit sector, thus furthering her goal to pursue a career with an international organization.
- Cindy Wiley, a first-year master's student in Political Science from Laramie, served with the Governor’s Office Public Policy Division, which helped her develop her thesis on mental health policy.
- Jessica Yang, a senior majoring in Political Science and International Studies from Casper, interned for Senator Cynthia Lummis in Washington D.C. Her plans include pursuing law school and a legal career.
2025 Stewart-Wallop Research Fellowship Recipient
- Lauren Howard, from Boston, MA, completed archival work for a joint project with Dr. Jean Garrison focusing on Senator Malcolm Wallop’s work on strategic missile defense programs in the 1970s and 1980s.
Lauren recently graduated with an M.A. in international studies from the University of Wyoming. Her thesis investigated the geopolitics of Cold War population control politics and policies. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Lauren graduated with a BA in history and political science from Simmons University and worked in state government before coming to Laramie. She hopes to pursue a PhD in political science or a research career at a foreign policy think tank. Her research interests include American foreign policy, political history, and archival and qualitative methods.
Want to learn more? Click here to see past awardees!
Faculty Fellowship Program
- Starting in 2020-21 the Wallop Program supported a faculty fellow to work with the Office of Engagement and Outreach to develop civic engagement programming. Dr. Jason McConnell, who later served as the Wallop Program co-director from 2021-25, was the first recipient of this fellowship. This program will be renewed in 2026 to support faculty to work directly with students on projects that address a civic engagement topic focused on issue(s) of significant public concern in partnership with Wyoming communities that enhance scholarship, teaching, and/or student service. More information will be forthcoming.
