A second major donor to the University of Wyoming told WyoFile he will reconsider giving to the school out of consternation over the demotion of the engineering college’s dean.
On April 2, the day the university announced Dean Cameron Wright’s demotion, engineer and inventor Alan “Gene” Humphrey wrote the trustees and UW President Ed Seidel, asking them to reverse course. Describing himself as a donor of more than $2 million through direct contributions, scholarships and support to UW students through his 9H Research Foundation, Humphrey is an alumni and owner of a sprawling ranch in Albany and Goshen counties that shares its name with the foundation.
“It is with this deep investment that I must express my strong disagreement with the decision to relieve Dr. Cameron Wright — or as he is known to everyone, Cam — of his role as Dean,” Humphrey wrote in his letter. In the letter, he did not announce any pause on his philanthropy.
In response to a question from WyoFile this week, however, Humphrey said his giving was now in question.
“Cam’s leadership made us comfortable in our philanthropy, and future funding is being reevaluated in light of this questionable demotion decision,” he wrote. His statement came Wednesday, a day after the board of trustees announced it would establish a committee to respond to a week of turmoil in the campus community that followed Wright’s demotion.
In that announcement, the board also doubled down on its argument that Wright was fired because of performance issues in advancing a long-held university goal to push the engineering college into the top tier of such schools nationally. Critics of the decision have argued Wright was in fact demoted for his opposition to a plan by Seidel to push funding toward the School of Computing, a program that has been one of the president’s flagship initiatives and is directed by his romantic partner, Gabrielle Allen.
“We reiterate that the decision to remove the dean was based solely on his performance — not on the dean’s objections to a possible, relatively minor proposed funding shift,” the trustees said in a Tuesday statement.
Wright felt so strongly that the funding shift would violate the intent of the Wyoming Legislature that he brought a personal attorney to a meeting to discuss it. His supporters have argued that until this month, when Wright was sharply questioned at a board of trustees meeting, that trustees had not taken issue with his progress toward the “Tier 1” goal.
Minutes from prior trustee meetings show Wright updated the board as recently as this past November on progress toward that goal, and he does not appear to have been met with questions or criticisms then.
At a meeting the year before, a trustee commended Wright’s progress and his stewardship of state funding. “Trustee John McKinley thanked Wright for the report and commended the appropriate use of state funding to move the Tier I Engineering Initiative in the direction initially envisioned,” the minutes from the November 2023 meeting read.
The 9H Research Foundation’s reevaluation follows a pause in funding announced last week by the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, another major donor to the engineering college and other components of the university. That foundation said it would not consider any applications for new grants from the school until it sees signs that restore its confidence in leadership.
“The manner and lack of transparency in which business was conducted diminishes the confidence and trust that are foundational to our commitments as a donor,” a letter signed by the Ellbogen Foundation’s board read.
On Thursday, the Ellbogen Foundation’s president told WyoFile the trustees’ response had not altered the organization’s position. “We’re not changing any plans at this time,” Mary Ellbogen Garland said.
“We just want to know that there’s transparency and we want to feel confidence and trust in our grant making,” she told WyoFile in a previous interview.
(The John P. Ellbogen Foundation is a funder of WyoFile. Funders are not involved in WyoFile’s editorial decisions.)
Wright’s demotion sparked a furor on campus that could take some time to abate. It drew an outraged response from other college deans, who expressed “deep concern for the trajectory of the university.” And, for the first time in recent memory, the dissatisfaction sparked a vote of no confidence in Seidel’s leadership by an overwhelming majority of the faculty senate.
The board has not backed down. In their statement Thursday, the trustees cemented their support of Seidel, saying he had their “unanimous support.”
University of Wyoming spokesperson Chad Baldwin told WyoFile the administration could not state whether other donors or foundations had pulled back over the last week. “At this time, we’re not able to provide details on the considerations of specific donors,” he said.
“We know that changes in leadership can sometimes lead to reflection and dialogue among UW’s philanthropic partners,” Baldwin said. “While we don’t speak on behalf of individual donors or foundations, the university remains committed to maintaining open lines of communication and working constructively through any questions or concerns that may arise.”
Yes! Withdraw that funding and redirect it toward community colleges that respect those values. Start using some of that funding to encourage trades and practical skills in public and private schools.
If UW wants to play bedfellows politics, let them do it at financial peril.
Maybe they’re need to dump the University President who was trying to push money into his wife’s program. Bring the Dean.
Maybe the trustees won’t fire Seidel because they know that after this third world nonsense about his girlfriend’s computing department getting the engineering Dean’s money gets around good future applicants for the president’s position won’t want the job.
Loyalty to U W is so undervalued and unrecognized by all from Cowboy Joe to Board of Trustees. Would love to see some influence based on the Pride and Devotion of generations of attendants instead of just the almighty $$$.
It is truly unfortunate that UW donors feel that they need to reevaluate their contributions but they do have that right to do so. The UW president should show any and all evidence he has in removing Cam from his post. It is very strange that the Trustees showed no indication of dissatisfaction in Cam’s performance prior to this decision!
Great article. Ever since whoever came up with the idea of UW becoming a tier one engineering school had their heads in the clouds. We live in a wonderful state and UW is a wonderful school but we can’t pay or offer amenities schools in larger settings can. How many very qualified people have come to tour UW for a job and looked around and they and their families said no thank you. Thanks again for great articl.
One gets fired for trying to improve the school? Better pull the plug on school now. DISBAND it and sell the property.
At least the changes weren’t involving men playing in women’s sports.
These philanthropist at least don’t push their personal agenda ,just question the direction of the university boards !
This article had nothing to do with trans athletes. Please stop being worried about the private of others and focus on the issue at hand. Thank you
Although we are not a major donor to UW, we have donated a steer for the Steer-A-Year program since its inception, our concern of the direction UW is going has caused us to reconsider our support. .
So you are “demoting” a respected faculty member for not advancing the engineering program while simultaneously taking action to reduce access to programs for women? Removing reference to programs directed to encourage young women in STEM!
Well, if he won’t give voluntarily, tax it from him!
Right?
I mean look at the picture, how rich is the guy?
He earned it, don’t worry. He has paid far more taxes that you could imagine.
UW is now a toxic brand. Breaks the heart. Reap what has been sown.
Coy virtually all universities and schools of “higher learning” are cesspools of leftism/communism thoughts. Pull all FEDERAL MONEY from them. They all have millions in endowments sitting in slush funds to use up. Cut all federal money from all