Matthew N. Wagner Earns 2010 "Masters of Resource Law Studies Student of the Year" Award

Matt Wagner has earned the 2010 "Masters of Resource Law Studies Student of the Year" award. The award is presented annually to the student with the highest grade point average in the Master's of Resource Law Studies (MRLS) program at the Sturm College of Law.

Mr. Wagner, who also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Indiana, had a long and impressive career in professional communications before enrolling at the University of Denver in August 2009. His experience included serving as a principal at Public Strategies Inc., a Washington, D.C., communications consulting and strategy firm where he supervised an effort to rebuild investor confidence in the capital markets following the stock market upheaval in 2002. In 2005 he joined LeGrand Hart consulting in Denver where he was lead client counselor and strategist for several of the firm's largest accounts.

While studying at DU he has worked in an externship role at Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's Energy Office, the key state government agency aimed at establishing Colorado as the center of "the new energy economy." Currently Mr. Wagner is serving as interim director of communications for Freedom to Roam, a Denver-based coalition of leading business, government and conservation organizations formed to improve understanding and funding for wildlife corridor conservation efforts.

Don Smith, Director of the MRLS program, said, "Matt Wagner was a successful communications professional before beginning his studies in the MRLS program. He has performed exceptionally well as a student in our program. Matt has chosen to complement his communications expertise with a growing understanding of key environmental and natural resources issues. His work should position him well to effectively address the types of environmental and natural resources issues that are and will continue to face businesses, governments, and NGOs in the future. Assistant Director Lucy Daberkow and I are confident that Matt has taken the steps that will establish him as a leader in this growing field."