Debra Swedberg named 2025 Commitment to Excellence winner
Debra Swedberg is the 2025 Casper College Alumni Association’s Commitment to Excellence award winner.
A Casper native, Swedberg received her Associate of Science degree in mathematics from Casper College in 1979. In January 1978, while a student, she was the secretary for the math department, where she typed tests for those faculty who were not her instructors and ran to the copy center. She earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1981, an MBA in 1983, and a Master of Science in mathematics in 2011, all from the University of Wyoming.
Swedberg began her career at Casper College in 1985 as an adjunct math instructor and became full-time the following year, where she remained until her retirement in 2021. Following retirement, she served as a math adjunct instructor for CC from August 2021 through July 2024. During her time at Casper College, Swedberg served as the Math Confidence Seminar coordinator from 1994-1998, an adviser for the Chi Alpha Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society from 1999-2023, department chair of mathematics and statistics from 2007-2020, and the coordinator for the Math and STEM Learning Center from 2012-2024. In 2016, she was honored with the Rosenthal Outstanding Educator Award. In January 2023, she was granted emeritus status from the college.
From 2000 to 2017, Swedberg was active in the Wyoming Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges and twice held the president position in 2010-2011 and 2016-2017. Her projects at Casper College included the STEM Alumni Poster Wall from 2018-2024 and serving as the co-adviser for the STEM Talks from 2020-2024.
“Debra has a lifelong loyalty for all family members of this institution. Her deepest passion was spotlighting the successes of current students (through) Student of the Month, faculty (through PTK’s) Terrific Learning Coach and even graduates (through) STEM talks. There are not enough words to truly capture Deb’s endless encouragement (during my) years here at CC! She has made a lasting impression not only in the math department, the entire Casper College School of Science but also through her work as a PTK adviser,” a faculty member said.
Comments from students included this: “Debra Swedberg pushed me to do my best, helped me to find confidence and made a huge impact on my life.” Another student noted that Swedberg “ … fought hard to keep doors open for me if I did my part. She went above and beyond time and time again to make my three years amazing. As a nontraditional student, I brought some baggage, and I have no words to say how much I know I would not have made it without her.”
Outside of the college, Swedberg is a rescue scuba diver. “I am proud to be a rescue scuba diver, especially since I am inherently afraid of the water. This is a personal pride and now an enjoyment,” she said. From 2004 to 2014, Swedberg was a board member of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, serving as secretary from 2007 to 2014. Swedberg is currently a member of the Platte River Trails Trust board and has been since 2016. She was board president from 2022-2024 and has the immediate past president designation for 2024-2026.
The Casper College Alumni Association established the Commitment to Excellence award in 1991 to honor those who have given exemplary service to and have made a significant difference in the growth and development of Casper College.