University of Wyoming American Studies Program

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University of Wyoming American Studies Program Staying connected with current students and alumni.

Today, our American Studies MA students rounded out our theory unit with a field trip to the museum. Each student chose ...
10/09/2026

Today, our American Studies MA students rounded out our theory unit with a field trip to the museum. Each student chose a piece that stood out to them and analyzed it through one of the many foundational theories they learned the past few weeks. Thank you to our students and the art museum for this amazing trip!☀️

We are so excited to announce our annual Halloween party! All are welcome!Beginning at 5, there will be a screening of c...
10/03/2026

We are so excited to announce our annual Halloween party! All are welcome!

Beginning at 5, there will be a screening of cult classic Little Shop of Horrors, and at 6 we will have free pizza and non alcoholic beverages for all! And there’s still nearly a month to plan your best costume for our costume contest🥳 Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 costumes!

Join us for an exciting evening of dancing, free food, candy, community, and costumes!🎃🍂

For this week’s student spotlight, meet Clara Smith! Clara is from Fort Collins, Colorado, and earned her B.A. in Politi...
10/03/2026

For this week’s student spotlight, meet Clara Smith! Clara is from Fort Collins, Colorado, and earned her B.A. in Politics and Comparative American Studies, with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, from Oberlin College.

Clara was drawn to the American Studies’ openness and interdisciplinary approach, especially its willingness to value different forms of knowledge and perspectives beyond traditional academia. After being shaped by her American Studies courses and professors at Oberlin, pursuing her master’s felt like the natural next step.

She primarily studies the Sonoran Desert and the ways conservation and U.S. border policy have transformed the landscape into a tool of border enforcement, particularly through Indigenous dispossession, restrictions on land use, and the control of humanitarian aid.

Outside of academics, Clara enjoys drawing, painting, and hiking.

Fun fact: She has a twin brother!

In this week’s student spotlight, meet Uma Sahoo! She came to Laramie from Kolkata, India! Uma earned her Bachelor of Ar...
09/26/2026

In this week’s student spotlight, meet Uma Sahoo! She came to Laramie from Kolkata, India!

Uma earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calcutta before completing her M.A. in English at Rabindra Bharati University.

With interests spanning literature, culture, history, and politics, Uma was drawn to American Studies because of its interdisciplinary approach and the opportunity to explore these subjects together. She is currently exploring research interests in literature, culture, identity, race, and migration, and hopes to develop a more specific research focus as she continues her studies.

After completing her degree, Uma hopes to work as an academic advisor or in a diversity and inclusion-related role.

Outside of academics, Uma enjoys reading, listening to music, singing Indian classical songs, and playing the harmonium. She hopes to learn the violin someday! She also loves traveling and exploring new places, especially those surrounded by mountains.

Coming to Laramie was particularly meaningful for Uma, it was her first international trip. Her journey from Kolkata to Laramie took around 37 hours, making for a long but unforgettable introduction to Wyoming!

We’re excited to have Uma as part of the American Studies community

For this week’s student spotlight, meet Maddie!Maddie moved to Wyoming at 15 after growing up in the Northeastern United...
09/18/2026

For this week’s student spotlight, meet Maddie!

Maddie moved to Wyoming at 15 after growing up in the Northeastern United States. She earned her undergraduate degree from UW in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies, and is excited to continue her academic journey in American Studies.

What drew Maddie to American Studies is the field’s interdisciplinary nature and the openness it offers for research. Her academic interests center around systems of control and the inequalities produced through attempts to control specific populations, particularly within the criminal justice system.
Outside of academics, Maddie loves hiking, kayaking, going to concerts, crafting, and thrifting.

We’re excited to have Maddie in the American Studies community and look forward to seeing where her interests take her!

For our next MA Student Spotlight: Meet Syed Abdullah Bukhari (Abdullah)!Abdullah is from Pakistan and recently complete...
09/10/2026

For our next MA Student Spotlight: Meet Syed Abdullah Bukhari (Abdullah)!

Abdullah is from Pakistan and recently completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan. His path to American Studies has been a bit unconventional. During an exchange semester at the University of Wyoming, he took Social Justice in the 21st Century with Dr. Vandermeade, a course that changed the way he thought about society, power, identity, inequality, and the role institutions play in our everyday lives. That experience inspired him to return to Wyoming for graduate study in American Studies.

Abdullah is interested in how social and institutional structures influence health, whose experiences and knowledge are recognized, and how these questions can be understood through a One Health perspective.

Outside of academics, he enjoys watching movies, playing badminton, singing, creative writing, and watching sunsets.

Fun fact: he’s a veterinarian studying American Studies!
He’s excited to learn from everyone in the program and we’re excited to have him here.

For our first student spotlight, meet Natalie! Natalie is a first year MA student from Vietnam. She earned her bachelor’...
09/04/2026

For our first student spotlight, meet Natalie! Natalie is a first year MA student from Vietnam. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business English from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City!

Passionate about human rights, peace, and policy, Natalie is especially interested in understanding the differences between policy frameworks in the U.S., particularly the West, and Vietnam. Through American Studies, she hopes to develop the knowledge and skills to contribute to Vietnam through thoughtful, practical policies and strategies. She also sees the program as a meaningful path toward her future work in social work and the NGO sector.

While she hasn’t settled on a specific research focus yet, Natalie is excited to explore where her interests lead. Outside of academics, she loves art, music, and photography, and enjoys hearing other people’s stories. Fun fact: Natalie has a twin sister!

Happy first week of classes!☀️ We are so excited to welcome our new and returning MA students to the Cooper House!
09/02/2026

Happy first week of classes!☀️ We are so excited to welcome our new and returning MA students to the Cooper House!

Catch up on everything that's been happening throughout the Spring '26 semester in the department with the latest editio...
05/22/2026

Catch up on everything that's been happening throughout the Spring '26 semester in the department with the latest edition of Porchlight (part 2)! It's been an exciting semester with lots going on both in and out of the Cooper House, thank you to everyone who has helped to make it a great Spring!
🌞
Wishing everyone a great summer! We'll see you soo

Address

Cooper House, Grand Avenue And 15th
Laramie, WY
82070

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13077663898

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