The University of Wyoming has been navigating a period of significant upheaval following the faculty senate’s 43–11 vote of no confidence in President Ed Seidel’s leadership. The move was largely prompted by the controversial demotion of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dean Cameron Wright. Faculty members have expressed several concerns over what they perceive as a pattern of murky decision-making and a disregard for shared governance principles.
The Branding Iron was able to secure an exclusive interview with President Seidel to get his side of the story, and he was able to shed light on several issues that have been troubling many at the University over the past couple of weeks.
First, when asked about what he planned to do based on the concerns that have been raised by the faculty, and generally what he thought of shared governance, Seidel stated, “With shared governance, you have voices from all different levels of the organization… If we’re able to make it work, so that we are able to get those perspectives out, and people feel comfortable describing what they think… we make much better decisions.”
Seidel acknowledged the faculty’s concerns and outlined steps being taken to rebuild trust. “We quickly pulled together all the deans… and I made sure that every single dean spoke up and had a real heartfelt discussion with us,” he said. “We’re going to do another [meeting] next week. And we may add a dean to the cabinet as well.”
Addressing the pause in grants from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, Seidel remarked, “It’s a big deal. The Ellbogen Foundation has been incredibly generous. For example, in my first year, they gave a gift to fund the first deanship at UW $5 million for the College of Education. That gift catalyzed others. Now we have deanships in business, engineering, and more. Donor support is critical, we raise over $60 million a year. We’re planning a long-term campaign. But when a crisis hits, people ask: is the university okay? I respect that. I’m confident we’ll move forward, but I understand if donors want reassurance first.”
Regarding the university’s relationship with the state legislature, particularly in light of contentious bills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and campus firearms policies, Seidel noted, “We are Wyoming’s university. It creates sometimes inherent tensions between faculty… and then the state of Wyoming. I fully respect that tension, and I’ve been working very hard to navigate it.”
When asked about potential changes to his leadership style in response to recent events, Seidel reflected, “It’s hard to change your style once you’re 67 years old. But I’m listening… We’re going to find every way we can [to act on what we hear].”
Despite the challenges, Seidel affirmed his intention to continue leading the university. “I’m staying. I believe in this university. I love what it stands for,” he said. “This is a time to steady the ship.”
The full interview delved into additional topics, including hiring challenges, academic freedom, and the future of the School of Computing. Seidel consistently returned to the importance of engagement and dialogue. “Shared governance doesn’t mean everybody gets what they want,” he said. “But at least they feel like they can speak up. That’s our freedom of expression effort, and we have more work to do.”
If you wish to watch the full interview, make sure to head over to the Branding Iron’s Facebook page.
