Directory
Board of Trustees
Tara Kuipers
Board Presidenttarakuipers@gmail.com
Cody
Term expires: 2024
Tara Kuipers is an independent consultant for planning and leadership development, serving businesses and nonprofits across the United States. After being raised in South Dakota and earning an M.S. in Counseling and an M.S. in Postsecondary/Adult Education from the University of Wyoming, she has called Cody home since 2009. Tara’s hobbies include hiking, cycling, skiing, rafting, and traveling with her husband, Jarren.
Denise Laursen
Board Vice President/Secretarydllaursen@tctwest.net
Powell
Term expires: 2026
After earning an associate degree from NWC, Denise earned a BS degree from the University of Wyoming in Family and Consumer Science and later completed a MS in science. In 1985, she started her long teaching career in her hometown of Powell, teaching FACS in the middle school, later teaching at PHS. Denise enjoys gardening, sewing, weaving, baking, camping, and most of all, learning new ideas and techniques. Together with her husband Dan, they take pleasure in going on new adventures with their two children and their families.
Bob Newsome
Board Treasurernewsome@codyice.com
Cody
Term expires: 2024
Born in Cody, Bob attended NWC in the late ’60s. He followed his life-long passion for outdoor adventure by starting Sunlight Sports, which he ran for nearly 40 years. His volunteerism led to five decades of community involvement, including Search and Rescue, teaching climbing classes for youth groups and rescue skills at the Cody Fire School, Sleeping Giant Ski Patrol and The Yellowstone Recreations Foundation. Bob has traveled world-wide to pursue outdoor adventures. A life-long learner, Bob takes NWC welding classes and believes the college offers excellent learning opportunities. He and his wife, Sandy, and son, Wiley, live in Cody.
John Housel
Trusteehousellaw@tctwest.net
Cody
Term expires: 2026
With a long and varied legal career, Cody native John Housel is a devout proponent of higher learning. He is a strong advocate for greater presence of NWC in Cody and for increased enrollment of Cody students. He is an outdoor enthusiast with interests in civic betterment, history, geology and Shakespeare. He has two children.
Lawrence Todd
Trusteelawrence.todd@colostate.edu
Meeteetse
Term expires: 2024
Larry Todd (BA, University of Wyoming, MA, PhD, University of New Mexico) is Professor Emeritus in Anthropology at Colorado State University and a Research Fellow in Anthropology at the University of Texas, Austin. A native of Meeteetse (K-12), Larry taught Anthropology/Archaeology at Denver University, Boston University, University of Wyoming, Colorado State University, and ΑρΑ«Φ±²₯. Since 2009 when he returned home with his wife Becky, he splits his retirement time between researching early human paleoecology in NW Ethiopia and investigating prehistoric montane/alpine landuse in NW Wyoming. He’s passionate about teaching, learning, and Wyoming’s future.
Mark Wurzel
Trusteemwurzel@PVHC.ORG
Powell
Term expires: 2024
Born and raised in California, but educated in Indiana and Arizona, Mark has now called Wyoming home for 30+ years. He and his wife Patty have three college-age daughters. He’s been a family physician in Powell since 1989, first in his own practice and then in ExpressCare since it opened in 2004. He helped bring education of medical students to Powell in the late ’90s and since that time has annually taught medical students.
RJ Kost
Trusteerjkostsenate@gmail.com
Powell
Term expires: 2024
Born in Greybull, Kost is a near lifelong resident of the Bighorn Basin with a decades long career serving the citizens of Park County, first as a high school educator and later as Wyoming State Senator for District 19 from 2019-22. He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical education/health from Rocky Mountain College, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming. He began his educational career in 1975, teaching math and coaching multiple sports in Dubois before moving to Powell in 1982, where he continued as a math teacher and football and wrestling coach. Kost later served as Curriculum Coordinator for Park County School District #1 from 2006-18.