University of Wyoming Trustees Retain President Seidel, Create Committee to Address Campus Tensions

Amid rising tensions at the University of Wyoming (UW), the Board of Trustees has decided to retain President Ed Seidel, despite a recent vote of no confidence from the Faculty Senate.

The controversy stems from the demotion of Cameron Wright, the acting dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, which has sparked widespread criticism over university governance.

The demotion of Wright, which followed his refusal to approve the reallocation of $500,000 from the engineering college to the new School of Computing, led to accusations of retaliatory actions. Critics pointed to the fact that the School of Computing is headed by Seidel’s romantic partner, further fueling concerns about transparency and leadership practices at UW.

Twelve college deans expressed their deep concerns about the university’s direction in a letter, while the Faculty Senate passed a resolution with a 43 to 11 vote, stating that Seidel’s leadership was “unacceptable.” The resolution, however, stopped short of calling for Seidel’s removal and instead urged the administration to work toward rebuilding trust and respect within the university community.

In response to the growing unrest, Seidel acknowledged the severity of the situation and emphasized the importance of navigating this “pivotal moment” carefully. During a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, the board announced it would establish a committee to address the ongoing issues. The committee, which will likely include two trustees, a faculty member, a staff member, a student government representative, Seidel, and the provost, will focus on improving communications and engaging in more effective shared governance at the university.

Board Chairman Kermit Brown did not provide details on the committee’s timeline or specific authority but indicated that a formal statement would be issued after further consultation with the university’s legal department.

Seidel, whose contract runs through the summer of 2026, was not directly held accountable for the turmoil during the meeting, and no immediate consequences for his leadership were discussed. This has raised concerns among some faculty members, who feel that the response from the Board of Trustees lacks urgency and that the committee might be skewed toward administrative interests. Former faculty members and lawmakers, including Democratic Representative Karlee Provenza, have voiced dissatisfaction with the trustees’ approach, fearing it may result in watered-down recommendations that fail to address the underlying issues.

The university’s current challenges, including the controversial demotion and the no-confidence vote, have placed Seidel’s leadership under intense scrutiny. Despite this, Seidel has expressed a commitment to working with faculty and staff to restore trust, emphasizing that he is opposed to any form of retaliation for those voicing concerns.

With input from Wyoming News Now and Bigfoot99.