Western Connections and Community
Student Coordinators: Alaina Geibig, Aidan Lyde, Li Murphy, Taylor Furrh
UHPSI hosts events throughout the year—both social and learning-driven—to foster connections among students, staff, and faculty interested in the American West across Yale. All are welcome.
Western Connections and Community (WCC) serves as a hub for students, faculty, and staff who research, work in, or care about the western United States. As the central gathering space for all things western while living in New Haven, WCC hosts a range of events.
Breakfasts – Informal morning meetups offering coffee, conversation, and networking with fellow students and faculty interested in the West. Alumni, PhD students, current students, YSE faculty, and community members from around Yale are all welcome. Pictured: Professor Justin Farrell and UHPSI Director Michelle Downey chat over fresh baked empanadas.
Guest Speakers – Engaging talks from experts across disciplines who share insights on western environmental, cultural, and policy issues. Pictured is an event with environmental journalist, author, and YSE alum Ben Goldfarb.
Pub Talks – Casual, student-led presentations on western-focused research, fieldwork, and experiences, held in a relaxed pub setting. Past talk titles include: “Advanced Goat Herding,” “Mountain Quail Gossip,” “Screwworms, Rocky Mountain Locusts, Cutworms, and Mormon Crickets Oh My!” “Innovations in Western Water Management,” “Abandoned Uranium Mines and Archaeological Insights of the Navajo Nation,” and “Orphaned Wells at Beverly Hills High.”
Happy Hours – Social gatherings to build community over drinks and conversation, connecting those passionate about the American West. These are often held off campus and include networking events with Western-focused organizations including Topos & Anthros, Western Landowners Alliance, Working Lands Conservation, and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.
Career Panels – Discussions with professionals working in western-focused fields, providing insight into career paths, challenges, and opportunities.
Dr. Amy Vedder and Dr. Bill Weber board members of Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, mingle with students at local East Rock Brewery.
WCC is a part of the team that has provided support for student groups such as Fire SIG, Westies, EFFY, and others, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement. As the community and event branch of the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative (UHPSI), WCC originated within the Yale School of the Environment but actively engages with other schools, organizations, and initiatives across Yale.
Have an idea? Please send an email to any of the coordinators and join our community on YaleConnect [https://yaleconnect.yale.edu/uhpsi/home/] to stay up to date on current events!