As the University of Wyoming works to right its course after budget cuts and restructuring, President Laurie Nichols has been busy. Dan Maxey has come on board to help run the ship as the president’s chief of staff. This is a new position at the university.
Maxey comes to Wyoming from Santa Clara University — a private Jesuit college in California’s Silicon Valley — where he worked in the provost’s office on academic policy and communications. He said he was also part of a major STEM initiative at the university and in the region.
At UW, he said his focus is supporting the president. “My job is to facilitate the operations, to make sure that the president has all of the information and resources that she needs to make her decisions,” said Maxey. “But the presidents, trustees and vice presidents are the ones making decisions.”
Maxey said he was drawn to the job because of Nichol’s vision. “The work that President Laurie Nichols is doing to bring the university along was very attractive to me,” Maxey said. “I believe in her vision for the university, and I’m happy to be here to be able to support her, and the university faculty, staff and employees.”
Maxey also said that as an outdoor enthusiast he’s excited to explore Wyoming.