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2026 Presidential Search

2026 Presidential Search

Presidental Position Profile

In February this year, Dr. Brad Tyndall announced he would be stepping down in January, 2027, from his tenure as President of Central Wyoming College. While leadership transitions can sometimes bring uncertainty, this early announcement has provided the Board of Trustees with the opportunity to conduct a thoughtful and deliberate search process. With time to assemble a search committee and engage the appropriate resources, the College is well-positioned to identify its next leader.

Dr. Tyndall has guided Central Wyoming College through both challenges and meaningful accomplishments. His leadership has supported the College’s continued commitment to student success, community engagement, and program development. This search represents an opportunity to build on that strong foundation and to select a president who will continue advancing Central Wyoming College as a vital educational and community resource for Wyoming.

Message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees

Thank you for your continued interest and engagement in the Central Wyoming College Presidential Search.

We are pleased to share that four finalists have been selected to move forward in the search for CWC’s next president:

Kathy Wells — October 7–8
Chris A. Martin — October 12–13
Kerry Lynn Levett — October 14–15
Lacy Karpilo — October 19–20

Each finalist will spend two days with Central Wyoming College, participating in a formal interview with the Board of Trustees and meeting with employees, students, community members and other stakeholders throughout our service area.

As part of each visit, CWC will host public community sessions in Riverton, Lander and Jackson. These sessions are an important part of the search process and provide an opportunity to meet the finalists, hear directly from them, ask questions and provide feedback to the Board.

We encourage members of our college community and the communities we serve to participate. Your perspectives and engagement throughout this process are valuable as the Board considers the leadership and future of Central Wyoming College.

Information about each finalist, community session dates and locations, and other presidential search updates are available on the CWC Presidential Search website.

Thank you the Presidential Screening Committee for the time, care and thoughtful work that brought us to this stage of the search. We appreciate the continued support and participation of our employees, students, partners and communities as we move into this important next phase.

Paula Hunker
CWC Board Chair and CWC Presidential Screening Committee Chair

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Kathy Wells
Kathy Wells is an accomplished higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience at Central Wyoming College. Since joining CWC in 2000, she has served as a faculty member, Nursing Program director, dean of Health and Science and, since 2016, vice president for academic affairs. In her current role, Wells provides institution-wide leadership in academic affairs, faculty development and curriculum development, with a focus on program quality and student success. She led the development and implementation of Wyoming’s first community college applied bachelor’s degree and has extensive accreditation experience. Wells began her career as a registered nurse and holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in educational leadership from American Sentinel University.
View Kathy Wells’ resume.

Chris A. Martin
Chris A. Martin is vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Salt Lake Community College, where he provides leadership focused on financial stability, operational efficiency and access to affordable, high-quality educational opportunities. Before joining SLCC in 2022, Martin served in executive finance and leadership roles at colleges in Idaho, Texas and Kansas. Earlier in his career, he worked in commercial banking and finance, including as regional executive for Wachovia Bank in Houston. A first-generation college student, Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Abilene Christian University and an MBA from Amberton University and is completing doctoral studies in higher education leadership at Idaho State University. He is an avid reader and hiker who enjoys the outdoors.
View Chris A. Martin’s resume.

Kerry Lynn Levett
Kerry Lynn Levett is a community college executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning the classroom, student affairs and academic leadership. She served seven years as vice president for student learning and success and chief academic officer at Cascadia College, where she led instruction, student services and institutional effectiveness and helped reverse a five-year enrollment decline. Levett chaired Washington’s statewide Instruction Commission, co-chaired the Joint Transfer Council and led the redesign of the state’s transfer degree. She also served six years on the national board of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Levett is founder and CEO of Ascend Higher Educational Partners, serving community and technical colleges in Washington, Oregon and Montana, and holds an Ed.D. from Arizona State University.
View Kerry Levett’s resume.

Lacy Karpilo
Lacy Karpilo is a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing student success, strengthening institutional effectiveness and expanding educational access, workforce development and community engagement. She is currently a faculty member in the Department of Leadership, Research and Foundations in the College of Education at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Karpilo previously served as vice president of student life at Colorado College and Eastern Oregon University and held executive leadership roles at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has led divisions spanning student affairs, academic support services, enrollment, advising, retention and student success, with extensive experience working with rural communities and diverse student populations. Karpilo holds a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies, with an emphasis in higher education leadership, from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Occidental College.
View Lacy Karpilo’s resume.

October 6, 2026

Central Wyoming College has announced four finalists in the search for the college’s next president:
Kathy Wells — October 7-8
Chris A. Martin — October 12-13
Kerry Lynn Levett — October 14-15
Lacy Karpilo — October 19-20

Each finalist will participate in a two-day visit to Central Wyoming College that includes a formal interview with the CWC Board of Trustees and opportunities to meet with employees, students, community members and other stakeholders.

Public community sessions will be held in Riverton, Lander and Jackson during each finalist’s visit. Community members are encouraged to attend, meet the candidates, ask questions and provide feedback as part of the presidential search process.

Information about each finalist and complete community session schedules are available on the CWC events calendar.

September 15, 2026

The application period for the Central Wyoming College presidential search has closed, and the search is moving into the interview phase.

The Presidential Search Screening Committee reviewed applications and selected nine semifinalists for first-round interviews. Semifinalist interviews will be conducted virtually Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Following those interviews, the committee will identify finalists who will be invited to visit Central Wyoming College in October.

Finalist Interview Process

Finalists will participate in two-day visits to CWC. During their visits, candidates will formally interview with the CWC Board of Trustees and have opportunities to visit selected CWC locations and meet with college employees, students, community members and other partners.

Community members and students will also have opportunities to meet the finalists and provide input during scheduled sessions. Additional information about each finalist, along with specific session times and locations, will be shared as the finalist visits approach.

Finalist Visit Dates

October 7-8 – Finalist #1
October 12-13 – Finalist #2
October 14-15 – Finalist #3
October 19-20 – Finalist #4

Next Steps

Following the semifinalist interviews, CWC will announce the finalists and provide additional information about each candidate’s visit, including opportunities for employees, students and community members to participate in the process.

September 3, 2026
The Screening Committee has begun reviewing applications for the CWC Presidential search and expects to identify candidates for first-round interviews within the next couple of weeks.

February 20, 2026
At a special meeting today, the CWC Board of Trustees authorized a contract with the Pauly Group to “provide consultancy services to this Board on the search process for the position of President.”

Please direct any inquiries to:
Angela Provart, PhD., President
Pauly Group
Phone: 217-241-5400
Email: aprovart@paulygroup.com

February 18, 2026
CWC President Brad Tyndall announced that he will retire effective January 29, 2027. The CWC Board of Trustees accepted this notice at their meeting that evening.

Board Chair Paula Hunker said, “The board will immediately begin a yearlong, nationwide search for the college’s next president.”

Presidential Screening Committee – 9-29-2026
Last Name First Name Title Group Representing
Hunker Paula CWC Board Chair and Search Committee Chair CWC Board of Trustees
Dorothy Jackie Legends in the Making Hot Springs County
Evans Ben Professor English Liberal Arts and Social Science Division
Forbis Tammy Associate Professor of Business Business & Industry Division
Cline Cathy Student Representative Students
Kail Joanna CEO Wyoming PBS
Kershishnik Kevin IDEA Inc. Riverton (North Fremont County)
Larsen Lloyd Wyoming House of Representatives, District 54 (Lander area) Fremont County Legislature
Law Alma CWC Trustee CWC Board of Trustees
Monteiro Beth Executive Director CWC Foundation
Patterson Kate Professor of Mathematics STEM Division
Primrose Kathryn Director – Lander and ASI Outreach Staff
Schoening Nicole Counselor and Disabilities Coordinator and past CWC Board member Professional Staff
Shakespeare Leslie Chief Implementation Officer, Wind River Development Fund Wind River Indian Reservation
Taylor Erin Executive Director WACCT (Cheyenne) Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees
Thoren Bruce Executive Director Fremont County BOCES (K-12)
Underwood Carlton CWC Trustee CWC Board of Trustees
Wallage Krissy Student Records Specialist Classified Staff
Whitlock Jessie Instructor Equine Studies Ag Division
Provart Angela President, The Pauly Group Search Consultant – Not a member of the committee
Hartbank Paula CWC Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees Committee Staff – Not a member of the committee
Nethercott Tara Counsel to Committee Committee Staff – Not a member of the committee
Wood John CWC Chief Information Officer Committee Staff – Not a member of the committee
Opportunities for all community members to meet and ask questions of the four finalists are scheduled on:
  • Thursday, Oct. 8
  • Tuesday, Oct. 13
  • Thursday, Oct. 15
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20
at the following places and times:

2026 Spring Semester: Dr. Angela Provart, President of Pauly Group, will host listening sessions with internal and external constituency groups to learn about CWC and the characteristics needed in the next President.

February – August:  Candidate recruitment by the Pauly Group.

August: Application Period Opens

September 14, 11:59 p.m.: Applications close

September 30-October 2: Presidential Screening Committee interviews semifinal candidates / Determines finalists

October 7-20: Final candidate in-person  interviews take place in Riverton, Wyoming

By Early November:  CWC Board of Trustees selects the successful candidate

January 2027: Selected candidate begins Presidency