Alec Schaffer
aschaff3@uwyo.edu
The University of Wyoming announced three Presidential finalists for the ongoing presidential search Friday.
The finalists chosen by the UW search committees are Duane Nellis, president of Texas Tech University; Laurie Nichols, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at South Dakota State University and Jeremy Haefner, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Open forums to meet with presidential finalists are being held throughout the week geared toward students, faculty and staff.
The first meeting with Nellis, was held Monday.
For those unable to attend the meetings recordings are available through WyoCast, which can be found on the ASUW website. Surveys for students to provide their thoughts on the finalists can also be found on the ASUW website.
“We encourage students to watch that,” Brain Schueler, president of ASUW, said.
The next meeting for students will be with Nichols on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. in the art’s and science’s auditorium.
The Monday meeting with Haefner and students will be held at 10:45 a.m. in the art’s and science’s building, as well.
Nellis expressed enthusiasm about “the unique opportunity” of becoming the next UW President.
“I would love to come here. I see it as a great opportunity,” Nellis said. “I would work with trustees to build up the university”
Nellis said he believes the structure of UW will provide a great opportunity to work with the board of trustees, the Wyoming Governor’s Office and student government. Nellis has a proven history of building up Texas Tech to a top tier national public research university, according to Texas Tech’s website.
Nellis said he has expansive experience working with students at Texas Tech.
“I met regularly with student government,” Nellis said.
Students asked Nellis questions about the importance of diversity on campus.
“It’s important that those voices are heard,” Nellis said
Nellis added that while he was president of Texas Tech the university received numerous diversity awards he is proud of.
