The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees hired from within the university to fill leadership roles at UW on Friday during their monthly meeting.

The trustees appointed James Ahern to the position of associate vice provost for graduate education and Donal Skinner as the UW Honors College Dean, UW says.

Ahern, who UW says is an accomplished anthropologist, professor and graduate mentor, began his responsibilities this week. Ahern, who will report to Provost Kate Miller, will be responsible for creating new graduate degree initiatives and providing guidance and support for graduate faculty mentors and graduate students. Ahern will continue to serve as the head of the UW Department of Anthropology until Oct. 17.

Skinner has been the head of the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology since 2013, but has been teaching at UW since 2002. He helped create the physiology bachelor’s degree at UW and collaborated with community colleges to create plans to help students transferring to UW.

The UW honors program was converted into the Honors College earlier this year by the trustees, as part of an effort to recruit more high-achieving high school graduates and to enrich its undergraduate experience.

If all goes according to plan the Honors College will be in place by 2020 and will be located in the Guthrie House, which formerly housed the UW Foundation.

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