Are you Ready to work with the Worth Institute?
The Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute invites University of Wyoming faculty to apply for the Kemmerer Faculty Fellowship Program, a new initiative designed to support applied research, workforce development, and statewide engagement that strengthen Wyoming’s outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality economy. Fellows gain access to the full resources of the WORTH Institute, including research expertise, stakeholder networks, and extension support, to advance high-impact projects that serve Wyoming’s communities and industries. Applications are open to tenure-track, tenured, and non-tenure-track faculty, with proposals due April 17 for the 2026–2027 fellowship cycle.
Program Details
Please interact with the drop-down menus below to learn more about the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute's Faculty Fellowship Program.
Applicants should align their proposed fellowship activities with one or more of the following focus areas:
- Applied Research and Economic Analysis
- Workforce Development and Curriculum Innovation
- Statewide Engagement and Extension
- Interdisciplinary Innovation and Partnership Development
The Faculty Fellowship is centered on providing fellows with access to the full resources of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. Kemmerer Faculty Fellows receive a stipend. Depending on project needs and availability, fellows may also receive:
- Strategic project development support from WORTH leadership
- Access to WORTH research, economic analysis, and survey expertise
- Collaboration with WORTH extension and statewide engagement staff
- Support for stakeholder convenings, workshops, and trainings
- Assistance with communications, dissemination, and policy translation
- Opportunities to engage students through research, workforce, or experiential learning activities
Other financial resources may be used in support of fellowship activities when appropriate; however, the primary benefit of the fellowship is integration with and capacity support from the Institute’s infrastructure, networks, and partnerships.
Faculty Fellows are expected to produce tangible outcomes that advance WORTH’s mission. Deliverables may include, but are not limited to:
- Applied research reports, policy briefs, or technical products
- Peer-reviewed publications or scholarly outputs
- Workforce training modules, curricula, or certification materials
- Statewide workshops, extension programs, or community-based initiatives
- Grant proposals, contracts, or partnership agreements
Fellows are expected to present outcomes through WORTH-sponsored events, briefings, or communications channels.
Proposals will be evaluated based on one or more of the following:
- Alignment with the mission and strategic priorities of the WORTH Institute
- Potential for meaningful statewide, student, or industry impact
- One or more areas: research, workforce development, or statewide engagement
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and partnership development
- Feasibility, innovation, and sustainability of the proposed work
- Opportunities for student involvement and professional development
Faculty Fellows will submit a brief mid-period progress update and a final summary describing activities, outcomes, and impacts. Fellows are also expected to remain engaged with WORTH through meetings, events, or advisory activities as appropriate. Funding for travel will be included.
The Faculty Fellowship Program is administered by the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute, in consultation with relevant deans and university leadership as appropriate. Faculty Fellows receive WORTH Institute Affiliated Faculty status.
The Faculty Fellowship Program operates on an annual cycle. Specific timelines for calls for participation, selection, and fellowship periods will be communicated by the WORTH Institute.
INaUgural Fellows
Bonnie Johnson
Bonnie Johnson is an assistant lecturer and degree coordinator in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM) program at the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Her professional background is rooted in outdoor leadership, and she brings extensive field experience to the classroom. As an inaugural fellow, she has embraced opportunities to grow both professionally and programmatically, spreading the word about UW's ORTM program to a broader audience and building relationships with community colleges across the state.
Read more about Bonnie Johnson
Sara Ghezzi
Having many years of industry experience in food and beverage management, Dr. Sara Ghezzi has been a Professor of Practice of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM) at the University of Wyoming since 2021. She teaches courses focused on the hospitality and tourism industries in the ORTM program and the Hospitality Business Minor in the College of Business. She continues to stay up-to-date on current trends in the hospitality and tourism industries, bringing passion into her work while she enjoys mentoring the future leaders of the profession.
