UW Extension Welcomes New Youth Development Specialist
Mijal Altmann will serve as the new statewide youth development specialist for the University of Wyoming Extension.Mijal Altmann. In this role, Altmann will mentor 4-H youth development educators, advise the state 4-H Youth Leadership Team, and lead the Extension Roots Internship Program. This new internship program provides career development opportunities for Wyoming youth by giving them firsthand experience working with Extension offices across the state. Altmann will also build community partnerships, support traditional 4-H educational programs and events, and research the latest findings in positive youth development. Altmann earned her master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2024. Her graduate research focused on youth empowerment and civic engagement. Most recently, she served as a graduate assistant at Stanford University, focusing on educational trends, youth development, and social-emotional learning. Altmann also worked as the head instructor at an outdoor leadership camp for five years. Originally from Maryland, Altmann looks forward to expanding her horizons in Wyoming and working with youth across the state. “I believe in the power of planting seeds early in kids to help them become competent, independent, and confident members of their communities over time, and this is the perfect role to accomplish that,” says Altmann. Altmann started her new role with UW Extension on Monday, June 16. She can be reached at (307) 766-5125 or maltmann@uwyo.edu.
Whitebark pines tend to grow slowly and live long, sometimes surviving for more than 1,000 years. But, as extreme weather events increase in both frequency and severity, whitebark pines have grown increasingly vulnerable to extinction. According to a new study led by UW researchers, this heightened risk is partly because many different white-bark pine populations are responding to environmental changes in sync.
