Helen Saulnier 
July 25, 2022
Mike Smith
An legal professional with substantial legislative and community relations working experience has been appointed as the University of Wyoming’s vice president for governmental affairs and group engagement.
Mike Smith, who grew up in Laramie and holds two degrees from UW, is scheduled to assume the position Aug. 15. His appointment was accepted by the UW Board of Trustees during its latest meeting in Pinedale.
“We’re excited that Mike is signing up for our group to direct our engagement with authorities policymakers and boost UW to our various constituencies to improve our potential to satisfy the university’s mission and targets,” UW President Ed Seidel states. “His working experience doing work with the Wyoming Legislature, his legal experience, his understanding of the point out and his enthusiasm for the university are a good blend that will help us proceed relocating ahead.”
From 2000-07 and from 2019 to existing, Smith has been a working towards lawyer in various regulation corporations, together with two stints at the business of Holland & Hart in Cheyenne. His knowledge contains representing customers right before the Wyoming Legislature. From 2007-2019, he was the director of regulatory policy and then the supervisor of regulatory affairs for the Large Plains Division of QEP Resources Inc., an independent oil and gas firm that had a substantial presence in Wyoming at the time.
“I am honored and humbled by this chance to return to the university I have liked my full existence. UW has performed a pivotal job in the improvement and successes of Wyoming from in advance of we ended up a state and ought to carry on to support Wyoming’s citizens, industries and elected leaders meet up with the difficulties of the future head-on,” Smith claims. “I am fired up to perform with President Seidel and his workforce to facilitate that collaborative work between the persons of Wyoming and their university.”
Smith, who grew up in Laramie when his father worked for UW, gained a bachelor’s degree in secondary training from UW in 1991. While at UW, he invested a semester operating as an intern for U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas in Washington, D.C. He then turned a legislative assistant for the senator on education and learning and environmental challenges — a place Smith held for 5 several years — prior to returning to UW for law school. He been given his legislation degree in 1999.
A resident of Cheyenne given that 1999, Smith chairs the General public Relations Committee for Cheyenne Frontier Days, major 300 volunteers responsible for web hosting media, distinctive company, sponsors and the community coordinating internal and exterior messaging and performing as a spokesperson for the world’s greatest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration.
In his new part at UW — in addition to serving as the university’s main liaison to local, point out and federal governments through the Workplace of Governmental Relations — Smith will oversee Institutional Internet marketing and Communications, and the Office of Engagement and Outreach. The unit, as a full, is named the Division of Governmental Affairs and Local community Engagement.
