Mike Smith has been appointed as a commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
BOULDER, Colorado – Mike Smith, vice president for governmental affairs and community engagement at the University of Wyoming, has been appointed as a commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a regional interstate compact serving the higher education and education needs of 15 Western states and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States.
Smith joins Fred Baldwin, a physician assistant in Kemmerer and retired Wyoming State senator, and Joseph Schaffer, president of Laramie County Community College, representing the state of Wyoming on the WICHE Commission. The Commission’s 48 commissioners are appointed by the state’s governors or, in the case of the freely associated states, the leader of those three sovereign nations. The Commission guides WICHE’s direction and assures the Western Regional Education Compact is carried out for the benefit of the West, as it has done since 1953.
“Joining the WICHE Commission is an exciting opportunity to act as the liaison between higher education, government, and access for students,” Smith said. “I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate across all sectors and improve access to and success in postsecondary education for all students.”
Prior to joining the University of Wyoming (UW) in 2022, Smith was an attorney in several Western regional law firms where his practice included representing clients before the Wyoming Legislature in addition to regulatory and litigation matters. He also spent 12 years in the oil and gas sector as the manager of regulatory affairs at QEP Resources, working mostly in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and North Dakota. He began his career in politics as a college intern for U.S. Rep. Craig Thomas of Wyoming in Washington, D.C. and later spent five years on Thomas’ staff in the U.S. House and Senate.
“Commissioner Mike Smith brings extensive experience with the Wyoming Legislature, as well as a deep connection — both personal and professional — to postsecondary education. This combination uniquely positions him to help align WICHE’s work with the emerging educational and workforce needs of residents and policymakers in the state of Wyoming and collaborate with others across the West,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau.
Smith received both a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a law degree in 1991 and 1999, respectively, from UW. Both his parents received degrees from UW, his father worked in the financial aid office for 25 years, and his youngest daughter is currently attending UW. His community service includes over 20 years as a volunteer with Cheyenne Frontier Days, a 10-day outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Media Contact:
Melanie Sidwell, Director of Communications
Mobile: 303.834.5278 | msidwell@wiche.edu
About WICHE
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) works collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all residents of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy, WICHE strengthens higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life. Visit www.wiche.edu.
Want to see your release on the EWA site? Promote it with EWA.
Your post will be on the website shortly.
We will get back to you shortly