Fostering Student Success

As an associate dean for the Student Success and Graduation Hub, Abby Markley helps students make the most of college.

By Micaela Myers

In 2020, the University of Wyoming launched the Student Success and Graduation Hub to provide a robust support system for students. Since then, the hub has grown in programming and personnel. Last year, Associate Dean for Student Success and Graduation Abby Markley joined the team, bringing with her extensive experience from the K–12 system.

“I see it as a privilege to be able to aid students on this part of their journey,” Markley says. “There are few times in life as transformative as your college years. I feel like it’s an honor to share in that growth and development. I want to do anything I can to help.”

Cowboy Coaching is one of the key programs the hub oversees. Cowboy Coaches are trained upperclassmen who mentor incoming students and serve as Poke Pack leaders during UW’s premier Saddle Up program. Each fall, Saddle Up introduces freshman and transfer students to the demands of university life and coursework, helping them develop critical thinking, time management and study skills while making friends and learning about UW.

The Student Success and Graduation Hub also serves as a central place for students to get connected with university resources. “We want to help students wherever they are on their journey,” Markley says. “No problem or challenge is too big or small. We want to see them succeed and to feel like they have the support they need. We’re here to help from the first moment of Saddle Up until they walk across the stage at commencement.”

Recently, the hub relocated to the first floor of Old Main. The team encourages students to call, email or stop by with questions and concerns or to learn more.

Markley doesn’t just work with students — she’s a UW student herself, giving her a unique perspective. She earned her master’s degree at William Paterson University and worked for many years as a teacher and instructional facilitator in Laramie before pursuing her Ph.D.

in curriculum and instruction.

“What I’ve learned as a student at UW is that everybody on campus is so willing to help,” she says. “We have so many wonderful opportunities on campus.”