Listening Sessions Scheduled for Vice President of Student Affairs Search

The University of Wyoming has scheduled listening sessions for Thursday, Feb. 9, for a 14-member committee to gather input on the search for a new UW vice president for student affairs.

The committee is conducting a national search to find a successor to Sara Axelson, who will retire at the end of the fiscal year after serving at UW for 18 years, the last 11 as vice president for student affairs.

The search committee is co-chaired by Paula Lutz, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Robert Aylward, vice president for information technology, according to a UW news release.

“Input from these sessions is vital as UW selects a new vice president for one of the university’s most important areas. We strongly encourage everyone to attend and provide input,” Aylward says.

“We look forward to hearing from students, faculty and staff from across campus. We value your perspective,” Lutz says.

Finalists for the job selected by the committee are expected to come to campus for interviews and campus meetings. The committee’s recommendations will go to President Laurie Nichols who, in turn, will give her recommendation to the UW Board of Trustees. The objective is to have a new vice president in place by Aug. 1.

All sessions will be held at the Energy Innovation Center, Room 209, or the BP Collaboration Room. The eight sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include a student open forum beginning at 11:30 a.m. and campus open forum starting at 3:45 p.m.

The vice president for student affairs oversees UW units focused on student life, including Residence Life and Dining Services, the Dean of Students Office, Campus Recreation, Student Health Service, the University Counseling Center and the Wyoming Union.