Mike Smith, vice president for governmental affairs and community engagement at the University of Wyoming (UW), has been named as a commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), Oil City News reports.
This regional compact focuses on improving access to higher education and addressing education-related needs across 15 Western states, the US Pacific territories, and freely associated states.
Smith will join two other Wyoming representatives on the 48-member commission: Fred Baldwin, a retired state senator and physician assistant from Kemmerer, and Joe Schaffer, president of Laramie County Community College. The commissioners are appointed by state governors or the leaders of associated territories and nations, ensuring the Western Regional Education Compact’s objectives are effectively carried out.
“Joining the WICHE Commission is an exciting opportunity to act as the liaison between higher education, government, and access for students,” Smith stated. “I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate across all sectors and improve access to and success in postsecondary education for all students.”
Smith, who joined UW in 2022, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before his current position, he worked as an attorney at multiple Western regional law firms, representing clients before the Wyoming Legislature and handling regulatory and litigation matters. Smith also spent over a decade in the oil and gas industry, managing regulatory affairs at QEP Resources across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and North Dakota.
Smith began his career in politics as an intern for US Rep. Craig Thomas and later served on Thomas’s staff in both the US House and Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a law degree from UW, earned in 1991 and 1999, respectively. His ties to UW run deep: both of his parents are alumni, his father worked in the university’s financial aid office for 25 years, and his youngest daughter is currently a UW student.
WICHE President Demarée Michelau praised Smith’s appointment, highlighting his legislative expertise and strong connections to higher education.
“Commissioner Mike Smith brings extensive experience with the Wyoming Legislature, as well as a deep connection — both personal and professional — to postsecondary education,” Michelau said. “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.”
