UW in the News

October 3, 2022

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

UW is launching a new program focused on boosting enrollment and graduation rates among rural students in the state. Inside Higher Ed reported that UW’s High Altitude Pathway program is a partnership between the university and College for Every Student Brilliant Pathways, an organization that runs college-access and career-readiness programming focused on low-income K-12 students in rural areas. Scott Thomas, the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean of the UW College of Education, was interviewed for the article.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) published an article focusing on how Jackson Hole’s housing market has never been so expensive. UW economist Rob Godby offered insights, saying there is so much wealth in the valley that it is almost immune to cycles in the way that the oil and gas boom-and-bust economy would not be. Godby also commented in a CS-T article about Jackson’s housing shortage.

In an article published by The Leader-Telegram, in Eau Claire, Wis., Anne Alexander, a UW economist and vice provost for strategic planning and initiatives, was interviewed about how bars and restaurants have been affected by the down economy. She discussed how some breweries may have found improved paths related to inflation and supply chain glitches that have confronted the broader economy.

Salon featured research -- led by former UW doctoral student Lauren Stanton -- on the adaptive abilities of urban raccoons that were tracked in Laramie over a four-year period. The new study was recently released in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Bitcoin Lightning Network leader Strike recently raised an $80 million funding round to revolutionize payments for merchants and consumers globally. Business Wire noted that UW was among several contributors to the funding project. Axios, Yahoo! Finance, Bitcoin Magazine, Fortune Crypto, Nasdaq and SiliconANGLE published similar articles.

The CS-T published an article that focused on Wyoming’s wind energy development that has doubled the past two years. The article cited a UW report from June that noted that, between 2019 and 2021, the state doubled its wind capacity and rose from a capacity ranking of No. 17 to No. 14 among U.S. states.

Last week, The Sheridan Press reported that Gov. Mark Gordon touted the launch of CONNEX Wyoming, an online platform that allows manufacturers to connect with one another, find local suppliers, discover new business opportunities and manage their supply chains. UW is a supporter of the program.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide interviewed playwright Gregory Hinton about his one-man performance of “A Sissy in Wyoming,” a play about Larry “Sissy” Goodwin, from Douglas, which will be performed in Jackson this week. UW’s American Heritage Center is among sponsors of Hinton’s nine-city tour in Wyoming.

Fredrick Douglass Dixon, UW’s Black Studies Center director, discussed with Wyoming Public Radio this month’s three-part series that focuses on the historical significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final book titled “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”

Sheridan Media interviewed Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for communications and marketing, about UW molecular biologist Thomas Boothby’s research grant to study the effects of water loss on tardigrades. In 2020 and 2021, tardigrades from Boothby’s UW lab were part of an experiment on the International Space Station.

Steve Lupien, director of UW’s Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation, was among experts who provided testimony on the importance of investing in emerging technologies across the country before a U.S. Senate committee last week, according to Business Fast.

Cap City News published UW’s release announcing that two more turkey vultures on UW’s main campus have recently tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Wyoming Public Radio carried a related story.

The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program at UW is expanding its partnership with Wyoming teachers and launching a community resilience conversations program. The Sheridan Press noted that a listening session about the program was held at the local library last week.

The Laramie Boomerang noted that Kelsey Kyne will become a special assistant to UW President Ed Seidel later this month.

Laramie Live reported that the UW Homecoming parade will take place Saturday, Oct. 22.