LARAMIE, Wyo. — 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, a regional interstate compact serving the higher education and education needs of 15 Western states, the U.S. Pacific territories and freely associated states.

Smith joins Fred Baldwin, a physician assistant in Kemmerer and retired Wyoming state senator, and Joe 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 says. “I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate across all sectors and improve access to and success in postsecondary education for all students.”

Before joining 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 and worked for Thomas’s 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,” WICHE President Demarée 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.”

Smith received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a law degree in 1991 and 1999, respectively, from UW. Both of 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 more than 20 years as a volunteer with Cheyenne Frontier Days, a 10-day outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in Cheyenne.

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