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 (WICHE). WICHE is a regional interstate compact that addresses higher education needs across 15 Western states and U.S. Pacific Territories.
Smith will join Fred Baldwin, a physician assistant and retired Wyoming State senator, and Joseph Schaffer, president of Laramie County Community College, in representing Wyoming on the WICHE Commission. The commission comprises 48 commissioners appointed by state governors or leaders of freely associated states. Their role is to guide WICHE’s direction and ensure the execution of the Western Regional Education Compact.
“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.”
Before his tenure at the University of Wyoming starting in 2022, Smith was an attorney with various law firms in the Western region. His practice involved representing clients before the Wyoming Legislature along with regulatory and litigation matters. He also spent over a decade in regulatory affairs within the oil and gas sector at QEP Resources.
WICHE President Demarée Michelau commented on Smith’s appointment: “Commissioner Mike Smith brings extensive experience with the Wyoming Legislature, as well as a deep connection — both personal and professional — to postsecondary education. This combination uniquely positions him to help align WICHE’s work with emerging educational and workforce needs.”
Smith holds both bachelor’s and law degrees from UW, obtained in 1991 and 1999 respectively. His family has strong ties to UW; his parents are alumni, his father worked there for 25 years, and his youngest daughter currently attends. Additionally, he has been actively involved in community service through Cheyenne Frontier Days for over two decades.
