Speakers and Honorary Marshals

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David Denniston

Speaker, Head Swim and Diving Coach for the University of Wyoming

David Denniston currently serves as the head coach for the University of Wyoming Swimming and Diving program, a role he has held since 2017. In his fourth year with the program, and second as head coach, the women’s team finished fourth at the Mountain West Conference Championships and the men’s team took third at the Western Athletic Conference Championships. In his first year as head coach, the Cowgirls went 8–2 in dual action, which included wins over conference rivals Air Force, Colorado State University, and the University of NevadaLas Vegas. The cowboys finished with a 4–1 record in duals which included wins over Air Force and Cal Baptist. The team finished fourth at the 2020 Western Athletic Conference Championship. Prior to his appointment has the head coach, Denniston served as an assistant coach with UW from 2015 until 2017. He previously served as a coach for the U.S. Paralympics swim team, at the Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 2010 until 2015. Denniston earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in communications with a minor in English from Auburn University, in Auburn, Alabama in 2002. He was a member of the Auburn University swim program from 1997 until 2002.

A decorated athlete, Denniston was a U.S. Paralympic Swim Team member, and participated in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China in 2008. He competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 100- and 200-meters, where he finished sixth and ninth, respectively. In 2003, he qualified for the World Championship Team in the 200meter breaststroke before he primarily focused on qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. He finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke and fifth in the 200meter breaststroke at the Olympic Trails. Among his other achievements, Denniston won the NCAA Inspiration Award in 2007, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Inspiration award in 2009, and the James R. Flowers Coach of the Year award in 2012 while coach of the U.S. Paralympic team. He set a former world record in the 400-meter medley relay at the World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Russia in 2002. Dave was a NCAA Champion in the 200-meter breaststroke in 1999, and set two Colorado High School records in the 100meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley.

Gerard Andrews

Honorary Marshal, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director, Microbiology Program

Gerard Andrews is an associate professor and director of the microbiology program at the University of Wyoming. He studies bacterial pathogens and how organisms develop protective immunity to them. Much of his research involves the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes the plague in humans and other mammals. One project involves the chaperone-usher "secreton" which facilitates synthesis and formation of the protein capsule (F1 antigen) on the surface of the microorganism. Preliminary data suggest a role for the operon's accessory genes beyond secretion and morphogenesis of the protein capsule. Andrews is also interested in the identification and characterization of new/novel virulence determinants of bacterial pathogens (with emphasis on select agents). Another project involves studies to assess protective host immunity against plague by a variety of Y. pestis antigens, including plasmid-encoded virulence proteins. He is completing a collaborative project on the analysis of the human antibody response (antigenic profiling) to bubonic and pneumonic plague by ELISA and immunoblot with human convalescent sera. Andrews is also interested in the identification/characterization of genetic loci, which, when inactivated, will increase fitness of the pathogen in the host.

Craig Benkman

Honorary Marshal, Ph.D. Professor and Robert Berry Chair in Ecology Zoology and Physiology

Craig Benkman spent the last 18 and a half years at UW as professor and Robert Berry Chair in Ecology

Speakers and Honorary Marshals L

in the Department of Zoology and Physiology. During this time, Benkman taught several upper division and graduate courses and conducted research on the ecology and evolution of birds. He was also actively involved in securing funds and in the design of the Berry Center. While at UW, Benkman published over 60 papers, nearly all authored by him or with the 15 graduate students and 3 post-docs that he mentored. His research has been recognized by multiple scientific societies. Benkman received the E.O. Wilson Naturalist Award from the American Society of Naturalists, the William Brewster Memorial Award from the American Ornithological Society, and was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences.

Holly Ernest

Honorary Marshal, M.S., D.V.M., Ph.D. Wildlife Biologist, Disease Ecologist, and Research Veterinarian

Holly Ernest is a wildlife biologist, disease ecologist, and research veterinarian who employs research tools of genomics, pathogen biology, and ecological sciences to answer questions of wildlife conservation and management importance. Ernest joined the University of Wyoming faculty in 2014 following a career as a veterinarian in private practice and graduate studies at the University of California-Davis. At UW, she leads programs that include undergraduate, graduate, research scientist, and post-doctoral mentoring and education, as well as outreach to the public. Her team has examined population health, diseases, ecology, and genomic diversity of species ranging from bighorn sheep, deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lions, black bears, and otters to raptors and hummingbirds. She has studied the population effects of diseases caused by prions (Chronic Wasting Disease), viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminth (worm) pathogens. Ernest’s team has collaborated with a range of stakeholder groups to improve the health of wildlife populations. She consults for state, federal, and international agencies; has served on the US federal National Institute of Standards and Technology panel for wildlife forensic genetics; is a member of the multi-agency Southern Sea Otter Reintroduction Science Working Group and is serving on the Canada BioGenome Project as part of the international Earth BioGenome Project.

Jack Tennant

Alumni Speaker

Jack Tennant, an alumnus of the University of Wyoming, is the executive director of the UW Alumni Association (UWAA). Tennant came to UW as a student-athlete (football and wrestling) in 2006. Since he graduated in 2010, his professional career has grown within the university as he has worked for the Department of Athletics and the UW Foundation. He and his wife Jenna, also a UW alumna, have two sons (Todd and Vince) and have been in Laramie for 15 years. Tennant and his UWAA team are committed to driving the association’s mission to “Build pride, loyalty, and future sustainment among the UW community through communication, involvement, engagement, and celebration.”

Elizabeth Erickson

Student Speaker

Elizabeth Erickson is from Cheyenne, Wyoming and is graduating with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and a minor in biology. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Wyoming Alpha Chapter and has enjoyed many extracurricular activities within UW and the Laramie community. Erickson is grateful for the opportunity to have gained experience working under Dr. Erica Belmont in her research laboratory. During her time at UW, Erickson has also worked in Dr. Brent Ewers’ lab and the CEPS Dean’s Office. Erickson will be relocating to Warren, Michigan after graduation to work at General Motors as a mechanical hardware engineer.

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