UW VP of government, community affairs to retire

Boswell has acted as a liaison and lobbyist to the Legislature, pushing for the university’s interests in Cheyenne. While others at the university praised his accomplishments, Boswell said the job of advocating for UW is never done.

“You always want to be able to move things forward a little bit more than you might be able to,” he said. “In other words, you should never be satisfied in a position like this. So, you always hope for increased interaction between the university and Legislature, between the university and the state as a whole, between the university and the state’s leaders and its economy. It’s just a continuing push that will proceed long after anyone’s retirement.”

As one of many administrators at UW, Boswell said he feels no individual sense of accomplishment.

“To say that would suggest that this position and my participation in this position plays a central role in accomplishing those things,” he said. “While I participate, it’s as a partner of a very significant team and I don’t take a lot of personal pride in moving the university forward. The pride is in participating with a group of talented folks and encouraging continued development of the university.”

But UW President Laurie Nichols said Boswell was key to the university’s reputation both in Cheyenne and throughout the state, despite his humility.

“He is so respected amongst the legislators — and I will go beyond that and say our governor and our state officials — and he has really forged some very, very positive, strong relationships at a very individual level,” she said. “People really have high regard for the university now and I think that has to do with (Boswell).”

Nichols added Boswell’s expertise and work with legislators is directly responsible for improved relations with Cheyenne.

“He came in at a time, I understand, when perhaps the relationship between the university and the Legislature or state government maybe wasn’t as strong as it could have been,” Nichols said. “Over the last seven years, he has just slowly and methodically just worked away at it and today, I have to say I think we are in just such a strong position and that is due to (Boswell) and due to his work.”

Boswell said he was just happy to be part of the team.

“It’s an ongoing process, so you’re just participating in what you hope will be a viable effort to increase and improve the interaction on a broad scale, so the university understands the state better and the state understands the university better.”

Having discussed his retirement for many months now — and convinced by Nichols to stay through the current legislative session — Boswell said his last day will be March 26.

Nichols said a search for Boswell’s replacement is not yet underway, but received approval to appoint an interim vice president during the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday.

“Those are big, big shoes to fill, so to speak,” she said. “He really has done a wonderful job and we will miss him greatly. And I look forward to continuing a really great relationship with him, but of course it will be in a different context as he moves into a different phase in his life.”

Boswell said he is not yet sure what he plans to do in his retirement.

“Anytime you do something like this, it’s not unusual to be asked to participate in work that may not involve a paycheck, whether that be on a community level or with nonprofits,” he said. “So, I expect to do a bit of that. And I’ll just leave the options open. You never know what opportunities might come down the road.”

He added there is one thing he will not do, however.

“I can assure you, I don’t plan on running for office,” he said. “Cross that off the list of possibilities. I’ve already done that, enjoyed it and don’t plan to do it again.”