At the request of University of Wyoming leadership, I proposed “Re-Storying the West” to the Mellon Foundation in fall 2023 and was honored to be selected for funding. Our work grows out of my research and teaching, which focus on how the stories we tell shape the communities we live in. My roles include serving as team builder, lead project representative, and facilitator (in other words, “bureaucracy navigator”!). I’ve been in Laramie for almost ten years: I may not have been born in Wyoming, but I got here as fast as I could!

I am a visual artist, collaborative anthropologist, educator, storyteller, memory worker and PhD student in Public Humanities. My socially engaged practice spans the academic, creative, applied, and public spheres, exploring intersections of culture, history, and community. With Re-storying the West, I organize community storygathering events, program professional development opportunities, and serve as a liaison to commission local artists and creatives whose work deepens the project’s spirit and reach. I also steward ongoing web development, helping make regional histories more accessible beyond borders. www.aubreyedwards.com

Before joining the PhD program at the University of Wyoming, I spent two decades working in the non-profit sector in the U.S., Europe and Africa.  I have a master’s in Public Administration with a focus on International Studies. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a Fulbright Fellow. My bachelor’s degree is from the Theatre School at DePaul University and I spent many happy years working in the theater as an actress, playwright and a director. I lived overseas for over a decade and still prize travel above almost all other pursuits. My role on the project is creating and hosting the Re-Storying the West podcast.

I am a nonfiction creative writing student in the University of Wyoming MFA. Originally from the Midwest, I worked on the Re-Storying the West project by conducting interviews, producing audio, and text transcripts of our conversations with Wyomingites. I am grateful for the people I met while working on this project. I will remember their stories for years to come.

I’m a PhD student in Public Humanities at the University of Wyoming with a background in international studies and storytelling. In the Re-Storying the West project, I work on conducting interviews, transcribing oral histories, and shaping narratives that highlight voices often excluded from dominant representations of the West. Originally from Gaza, my personal journey informs my commitment to listening deeply and documenting stories that reflect complexity, resilience, and cultural nuance.

I am a socially engaged visual artist and graphic designer who uses participatory approaches to creativity in building equitable and ecologically sustainable futures. I had the pleasure of creating the branding and design work for Re-Storying the West. I live in Laramie with my dog Nora, a skateboard, and bike paths close by. Learn more about my work at www.conormullen.work

I am a photographer and visual artist whose practice is informed by my background in anthropology. Material culture, natural and human made environments, found objects, and personal identity all play significant roles in the conceptualization of my personal and commissioned work. I love collaborating with other creatives on large scale community undertakings, and enjoyed working with the Re-Storying team to build a website for this project. Learn more about my work at www.elena-ricci.com

Hi Good Humans! I’m a PhD student in Public Humanities, with a background as a mental health therapist, environmental educator, Reiki Master, and trauma-informed yoga teacher. I founded Our Real Work and co-created Earth School, digital and public platforms offering tools and conversations for personal, spiritual, and planetary healing. I explore how shifts in consciousness show up in stories, rituals, and cultural texts—especially in times of collapse, grief, trauma, and change. More than anything, I care about the stories we tell and share, and how they can help us make sense of this being human together. www.OurRealWork.com

Before arriving in Laramie to start in my role as an Assistant Professor, I lived and worked in Edmonton and Toronto, Canada. Since my first summer as an undergraduate student, I’ve been involved in collective creative projects at the intersections of art and engaged study. My first gig in this area was working with improvisational jazz artists to host accessible jam sessions and workshops for teens with various abilities. My most recent one was teaching Indigenous literatures with the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at the University of Alberta. I’m excited to participate in building resilient and mutual relationships with folks across Wyoming.

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