University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan Announces Retirement

University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan will retire from his position at the end of next summer. The announcement during his annual State of the University address in Laramie on Thursday. He was given a standing ovation.

Buchanan made the announcement at the end of his annual State of the University Address on Thursday.  Buchanan's speech was largely positive, discussing several accomplishments the University has made in the past few years.  Also discussed were plans for the University in the near future and the direction the institution is taking.  It was after a list of accomplishments by the University, that President Buchanan said that his list of things to do will be "all but complete" by the end of the year.

His relationship with the university goes back over 35 years when he earned his master's of science at UW in 1975.  He was appointed the 23rd president of UW on July 1, 2005.

The president noted that exactly 125 years ago -- on Sept. 6, 1887 -- UW opened its doors to its first class of students.

“I admit that I stand here a bit in awe when I think of all that has been achieved in those 125 years -- so much in just the past 10 years,” he said. “But I also know that the future is UW’s to build, and from what I’ve seen, I know we have the horsepower to succeed.”

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead was quoted in an official release from the University of Wyoming, sent out just minutes after Buchanan's announcement.  Mead said that President Buchanan has left his mark.

“As alumni, my wife Carol and I are proud supporters of the University of Wyoming. We appreciate Dr. Buchanan’s efforts to shape and enhance the university and build on its stature within Wyoming and across the globe,” the governor said. “The public in general continues to benefit from the research and academic excellence at UW, and most importantly, under Tom’s leadership students have continued to receive a high-quality education -- one that prepares them as thinkers and leaders and makes them sought after by employers.”