Ellbogen Foundation Supports Faculty of UW Leadership and Ethics Center

A $600,000 gift from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation will support the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics at the University of Wyoming.

“The Ellbogen Foundation is excited to support the students of Wyoming through the mission of the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics,” says Ellbogen Foundation President Mary Ellbogen Garland. “Promoting and developing strong leadership and ethics have far-reaching impacts for not only University of Wyoming students, but also the communities they serve. It will set the stage for success in their future careers. The work being done by the center aligns with the Ellbogen Foundation’s commitment to the people of Wyoming.”

The Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics (CPBLE), which will reside in UW’s College of Business, will be the university’s central source for supporting and connecting leadership and ethics efforts on campus and throughout the state. Specifically, the gift will be used for the recruitment and retention of two positions within the center -- a faculty position and a director position.

CPBLE’s objective is to contribute to a broad foundation of principle-based ethical leadership and decision-making in Wyoming and beyond by creating a transformative experience for students and other stakeholders. The generous support of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation will help CPBLE realize this vision by making possible unique programming for the development of principle-based, ethical leaders.

“At a time when it is increasingly needed, CPBLE will help UW graduate ethical leaders and support regional institutions in their development of ethical leadership,” says Chase Thiel, a UW associate professor and CPBLE founding faculty member. “I am confident that, through the planned initiatives of CPBLE and other ongoing campus programming, UW will be an exemplar to other institutions looking to rethink the concept of developing the whole individual and hoping to prepare students to be model citizens. Considering their mission, I am not surprised that the John P. Ellbogen Foundation believes in CPBLE’s vision, and we are incredibly grateful for their generous support.”

Through the center, students will use a principle-based framework for organizational decision-making and learn foundational leadership skills and tenets -- including earning their ethical leadership certification through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. The program also will provide Wyoming students with a broad range of experiential learning opportunities.

Learning objectives include developing self-knowledge and a personal leadership style; understanding ethical principles; adopting a stakeholder perspective; building an ethical culture; and identifying a higher purpose for an organization.

The John P. Ellbogen Foundation empowers the people of Wyoming to lead healthy lives in thriving communities. The foundation’s benefactor, John P. “Jack” Ellbogen, was a Wyoming native, born and raised in Worland. He had a great love for and commitment to his home state.

Ellbogen attended UW and earned a bachelor’s degree in history, a law degree and an honorary doctorate from the College of Business. He started his career as a landman for Carter Oil Co. (Exxon) and went on to become an independent oil producer, forming several oil and gas companies. He attributed his success in business to his education and the outstanding teachers who encouraged him to work to his fullest potential.