UW Student from Lander Aims to Turn Passion for Guiding into Career

For Diego Lobatos, growing up in Lander meant having the Wind River Mountains as his backyard. With Sinks Canyon State Park just minutes from home, he developed a deep love for the outdoors that now drives his academic and career goals.

"One thing I love about my hometown is that Lander is right at the base of the Wind River Mountains," Lobatos says. "It's super easy to get into the mountains and the backcountry. My favorite part is having such easy access to explore nature."

Now a sophomore in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program in the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Lobatos is preparing for a career as a guide. The hands-on nature of the program has been a perfect fit.

"The most surprising and exciting thing I've experienced is how much I've gotten to travel and explore with the Haub School," he says. "With some of my classes, we get to go out into the real world a lot, and getting to see the things we learn about in person is really incredible."

For Lobatos, the program's location in Laramie provides ideal opportunities for outdoor education.

"It's a hands-on program focused on the environment, and it's in a really good location for learning about that," he says. "Laramie is in a very outdoorsy place."

Beyond fieldwork, Lobatos credits the program's faculty and connections for his success.

"A big part of having such a good college experience is having amazing professors and advisers who set you up for success," he says. "One of the great things about the program is all of the connections you can make. I've already explored a lot of different avenues, and it's been setting me up well for a career in guiding."

Three Decades of Impact

UW's Haub School prepares the next generation of natural resource professionals while serving Wyoming's wild and working lands and communities. With 1,275 alumni (1996-2025), many working across the state in government, private industry, nonprofits and education, the school offers six undergraduate and seven graduate programs integrating science, policy, law, economics and community engagement.

The school brings about $2 million annually in research funding to Wyoming while supporting communities through four dedicated centers and institutes. Recent milestones include a $5 million gift from Jay and Karen Kemmerer in 2025 to establish the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute, supporting the state's second-largest industry.

Haub School programs, including the Wyoming Conservation Corps, have trained more than 150 young adults and veterans since 2021, while the Biodiversity Institute connects people of all ages to Wyoming's wildlife through 40-plus annual programs reaching over 3,500 participants statewide. The school's Ruckelshaus Institute facilitates collaborative, long-term solutions to natural resource challenges, offers professional workforce development, and publishes the award-winning Western Confluence magazine, reaching nearly 4,000 readers across the state. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub.

Additionally, the Haub School's Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program -- established in 2021 through a major gift from UW alumni Carol and Ramon Tomé -- provides exceptional students with full-ride, four-year scholarships and experiential learning opportunities to address complex environmental challenges. Recent expanded support from the Tomé Foundation has doubled the number of scholars on campus. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub/academics/academic-advising/tome-scholars-to-fellows.html.