ThinkCulture
Wyoming Humanities is about bringing together a network of individuals and organizations to complete projects that help our state explore Wyoming and the human experience.
This is done by creating programs and investing in grants to the hundreds of non-profit organizations that comprise Wyoming’s creative and cultural sector and by creating customized programs to the needs of each community.
Our Strategic Plan, 2024-2029
Supporting the creative and cultural economy
Our Mission
Inviting Wyoming to explore the ideas and stories that shape us.
Our Vision
Wyoming Humanities realizes the inherent power and equality of Wyoming citizens. We do this by empowering communities and individuals to cultivate and share diverse narratives to honor differences and explore common ground.
Our Purpose
A five-decade affiliation with the National Endowment for the Humanities enables us to improve the quality of life in Wyoming through public programs in the humanities.
Strategic Overview
Outreach
- Build innovative, expansive, inclusive outreach across Wyoming’s communities, recognizing the diversities of demographics, interests, needs, and geographies.
Funding
- Strengthen the mission and operations of Wyoming Humanities through an increase in revenue and diversification of revenue streams.
Impact
- Evaluate, understand, and share the impact and value of Wyoming Humanities.
Talent
- Attract, retain and develop the highest quality staff to advance the mission of Wyoming Humanities.
Wyoming Humanities is the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and an independent 501(c)3 non-profit governed by a board of private citizens who believe the humanities can help us better understand the issues of our times. Founded in 1970 in response to the National Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson, we are one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. Wyoming was one of the first states to implement this independent nonprofit model to provide public humanities programs for our citizens.
Wyoming Humanities is one of 56 independent, nonprofit organizations that serve as state partners in the Federal/State Partnership program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, a program mandated by Congress and funded through the NEH. WYH is also a member of the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
2025 and 2026 operations are funded in part by The Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation.
Values in Action
All that we do can be clearly tied to a set of ideals that have guided our direction for five decades. They define our impact and are the building blocks of our organizational DNA. These are our core values in action.
1 FOSTER CRITICAL THINKING AND LIFELONG LEARNING through the public humanities
2 PROMOTING CIVICS AND DEMOCRACY to strengthen our democracy
3 RAISING CULTURAL AWARENESS to expand the Wyoming Narrative
4 ENGAGING COMMUNITIES to improve our quality of life
5 ENHANCING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY to support economic growth
Programs
Our Staff
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Wyoming Center for the Book Director
Remote position that reports to Wyoming Humanities staff.
Proposals must be submitted via email by 11:59pm on October 15, 2026.
Contract Term begins November 15, 2026.
View the full Request for Proposals with additional information.
Wyoming Center for the Book is a Library of Congress affiliated program of Wyoming Humanities. The Center’s mission is to promote literacy, libraries, reading, writing, books, poetry, and celebrate Wyoming’s literary heritage.
Wyoming Humanities is our state’s sole humanities council committed to sharing ideas and stories that shape who we are as individuals, as communities, and as Wyomingites.
Questions? Email chloe@thinkwy.org
Our Board
The Wyoming Humanities Board of Directors has fiduciary responsibility for our nonprofit, including governance and financial oversight of the organization. Directors take an active role insetting policy, advocating for our funding at the federal and state level, raising private funding, and advising on program directions. They are a group of professionally, geographically, and culturally diverse Wyomingites who come together through their passion for improving the quality of life in our state.
Wyoming Humanities can have up to 20 directors, five of which are appointed by the governor. Directors serve three-year terms, renewable one time, and attend three or four meetings annually held both online and at various locations around the state. They attend events in their communities and serve as ambassadors for the organization in many ways. They are committed to advancing the mission of Wyoming Humanities through their gifts of time, wisdom, and funding.
Stacy Stebner
Chair
Lander, WY
Sheila Bush
Vice Chair
Cheyenne, WY
Kristi Wallin
Secretary
Cheyenne, WY
Robert Mason
Treasurer
Cody, WY
Liisa Anselmi Dalton
Rock Springs, WY
Crystal C'Bearing
Riverton, WY
Kari Cooper
Governor's Appointee
Jackson, WY
Diana Enzi
Governor's Appointee
Gillette, WY
Terri Lesley
Gillette, WY
Scotty Ratliff
Riverton, WY
Lisa Steele
Jackson, WY
Anne Mason
Governor's Appointee
Laramie, WY
Jacob Mickelsen
Governor's Appointee
Cheyenne, WY
Dr. Melissa Morris
Ex-Officio, Director of Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research
Laramie, WY
Dr. Michael Lange
Ex-Officio, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Community College Commission
Cheyenne, WY