Events Held For Departing President
Spring Convocation, held on Apr 15, featured a variety of farewell speeches for President Seidel, who will be leaving his position as president over the summer. Brigadier General Reeves will be stepping into the role on July 1. A farewell party was held that evening in Pokes Pub.
In addition to Seidel, highlights of the last year at UW were discussed including accomplishments with the Staff and ASUW.
Speakers included Governor Mark Gordon, ASUW president Paula Medina, Staff Senate President Gwen Dailey, Faculty senate Chair Robert Godby and Provost Anne Alexander.
Seidel spoke for nearly an hour about his time at the University and student success and accomplishment.
Seidel has served as UW’s 28th president since July 1, 2020. On July 21, 2025, he announced he was stepping down from his role when his contract ends on June 30, 2025.
Serving as president of the University of Wyoming has been a tremendous honor for me,” Seidel said in the address released from the Institutional Communications Department in which Seidel announced he was leaving his position. “It has been a great privilege to work on behalf of our students, our university community and our state. I’m deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished together during the past five years.”
Seidel was the first president to hold the position for more than three years since Thomas Buchannon, who was president of UW from 2005 to 2013.
Seidel holds a Bachelor’s in mathematics and physics from the College of William & Mary. This physics degree was continued into a Master of Science in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in relativistic astrophysics from Yale University.
He held positions in numerous universities and institutions, including the University of Illinois, Albert Einstein Institute, LSU, and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
At the University of Illinois, he was the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation and the Founder Professor in the Department of Physics, and a professor in the Department of Astronomy.
During his tenure as UW president, Sidel established the School of Computing and helped UW achieve R1 research institution status.
2025 was a controversial time in Seidel’s tenure, with a vote of no confidence from the faculty senate after the demotion of the former Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Cameron Wright, and an investigation into conflicts of interest regarding his handling of funds towards the School of Computing. The investigation concluded that no conflict-of-interest agreement was violated.
Still, following the controversy, Seidel said he would not be continuing his role as president.
The era of Seidel has come to a close as Brigadier General Reeves enters the position.
