Northwest College

Board of Trustees

Tara Kuipers

Tara Kuipers

Board President
tarakuipers@gmail.com
Cody

Term expires: 2024

Tara Kuipers is an independent consultant for planning and leadership development, serving businesses and nonprofits across the United States. After being raised in South Dakota and earning an M.S. in Counseling and an M.S. in Postsecondary/Adult Education from the University of Wyoming, she has called Cody home since 2009. Tara’s hobbies include hiking, cycling, skiing, rafting, and traveling with her husband, Jarren.

Denise Laursen

Denise Laursen

Board Vice President/Secretary
dllaursen@tctwest.net
Powell

Term expires: 2026

After earning an associate degree from NWC, Denise earned a BS degree from the University of Wyoming in Family and Consumer Science and later completed a MS in science. In 1985, she started her long teaching career in her hometown of Powell, teaching FACS in the middle school, later teaching at PHS. Denise enjoys gardening, sewing, weaving, baking, camping, and most of all, learning new ideas and techniques. Together with her husband Dan, they take pleasure in going on new adventures with their two children and their families.

Bob Newsome

Bob Newsome

Board Treasurer
newsome@codyice.com
Cody

Term expires: 2024

Born in Cody, Bob attended NWC in the late ’60s. He followed his life-long passion for outdoor adventure by starting Sunlight Sports, which he ran for nearly 40 years. His volunteerism led to five decades of community involvement, including Search and Rescue, teaching climbing classes for youth groups and rescue skills at the Cody Fire School, Sleeping Giant Ski Patrol and The Yellowstone Recreations Foundation. Bob has traveled world-wide to pursue outdoor adventures. A life-long learner, Bob takes NWC welding classes and believes the college offers excellent learning opportunities. He and his wife, Sandy, and son, Wiley, live in Cody.

John Housel

John Housel

Trustee
housellaw@tctwest.net
Cody

Term expires: 2026

With a long and varied legal career, Cody native John Housel is a devout proponent of higher learning. He is a strong advocate for greater presence of NWC in Cody and for increased enrollment of Cody students. He is an outdoor enthusiast with interests in civic betterment, history, geology and Shakespeare. He has two children.

Lawrence Todd

Lawrence Todd

Trustee
lawrence.todd@colostate.edu
Meeteetse

Term expires: 2024

Larry Todd (BA, University of Wyoming, MA, PhD, University of New Mexico) is Professor Emeritus in Anthropology at Colorado State University and a Research Fellow in Anthropology at the University of Texas, Austin. A native of Meeteetse (K-12), Larry taught Anthropology/Archaeology at Denver University, Boston University, University of Wyoming, Colorado State University, and Northwest College. Since 2009 when he returned home with his wife Becky, he splits his retirement time between researching early human paleoecology in NW Ethiopia and investigating prehistoric montane/alpine landuse in NW Wyoming. He’s passionate about teaching, learning, and Wyoming’s future.

Mark Wurzel

Mark Wurzel

Trustee
mwurzel@PVHC.ORG
Powell

Term expires: 2024

Born and raised in California, but educated in Indiana and Arizona, Mark has now called Wyoming home for 30+ years. He and his wife Patty have three college-age daughters. He’s been a family physician in Powell since 1989, first in his own practice and then in ExpressCare since it opened in 2004. He helped bring education of medical students to Powell in the late ’90s and since that time has annually taught medical students.

RJ Kost

RJ Kost

Trustee
rjkostsenate@gmail.com
Powell

Term expires: 2024

Born in Greybull, Kost is a near lifelong resident of the Bighorn Basin with a decades long career serving the citizens of Park County, first as a high school educator and later as Wyoming State Senator for District 19 from 2019-22. He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical education/health from Rocky Mountain College, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming. He began his educational career in 1975, teaching math and coaching multiple sports in Dubois before moving to Powell in 1982, where he continued as a math teacher and football and wrestling coach. Kost later served as Curriculum Coordinator for Park County School District #1 from 2006-18.