Catching up with Diana Ohman (AA, '70)
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Not Slowing Down – Catching Up with Diana Ohman (AA, ’70) By Danica Sveda (AA, ’09) here is security in small-town life, whom she considers to be synonymous and many people choose to stay with the college. She looked to him as an T and raise families in that security. ideal leader and rock that helped guide her Others leave and venture far from home. through her time at Casper College. The Diana Ohman’s (AA, ’70) journey away admiration was mutual as Strausner was from small-town life began at Casper the person who nominated Ohman for the College. Her mom drove her to college honor of distinguished alumni in 2009. with the faith that Ohman had the tools to After leaving Casper College, Ohman succeed even if Ohman herself was unsure went on to be an accomplished academic of her newfound independence. “It was earning her bachelor’s in elementary that freshman year of standing on my own education and her master’s in education two feet with the caring guidance of many from the University of Wyoming. She faculty and staff that I began to believe also earned her private pilot’s license. in myself and know that my life could be After college, she began her career as an worthwhile,” she said. educator teaching in a K-8 school. She Ohman immersed herself in college developed exceptional organizational life. She was elected to the student senate skills by meeting the needs of all the and became acquainted with then Casper students who were at different grade levels. College Housing Director and later CC Her experience as a teacher and President LeRoy Strausner, Ph.D., (AA, ’60) principal in a rural school gave her the lunchtime with the students, and speaking confidence to run for office to educators and citizens. as the Superintendent of After her term ended, Ohman decided Public Instruction for the to run for Wyoming’s second highest State of Wyoming. After office, secretary of state. She felt that winning the election, she her time as the superintendent of public found that Wyoming’s instruction gave her the tools needed for unique geography that office. She won handily, and that and the unpredictable term became a fascinating four years of weather added special her life. Despite encouragement to run for challenges to overseeing governor, she chose not to. Her belief was, all of Wyoming’s and still is, that political officials should schools. Trusting her perform no more than two terms to give workforce to meet her other citizens the opportunity to serve. high expectations without While she was looking for a new being micromanaged position after her governmental service, was a must. Thankfully, she was sent a newspaper clipping by her staff was up to the a former boss. It was a job posting for challenge making her the Department of Defense Dependent time as superintendent a Schools for the U.S. military bases in successful one. She was Europe. She applied, and after surviving most happy in that term three grueling interviews, she accepted the attending high school position as the director of U.S. Military graduations, spending Schools. She spent 10 years in Europe Wyoming Secretaries of Photos courtesy of Diana Ohman. State: Thyra Thomson (left), Diana Ohman (right) and Kathy Karpan (seated). 6 and two years in the Pacific. During her of the world including Prague; Seville, Love of adventure and knowledge have led time in Europe, 9/11 occurred, and while Spain; Heidelberg, Germany; Edinburgh, Ohman to fascinating experiences in her in Japan, the tsunami at Sendai and the Scotland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Seoul, long career in public service. “No matter ensuing nuclear crisis at Fukushima took South Korea; Sapporo, Japan; Singapore; what I was doing or where I went, the place. In those trying times, she used Sydney; Ottawa, Ontario; Cusco, Peru; backbone of my career was the marvelous the experience gained while working in and many others. people with whom I worked: students, Wyoming – having good organizational One of her favorite trips was her recent educators, parents, and employees. skills and trusting experienced staff. walk of the Camino de Santiago. It is a The joy of my career has been in their After her time overseas, Ohman 500-mile pilgrimage from St. Jean Pied de accomplishments, and I had 46 wonderful returned to the United States to become Port, France, to Santiago, Spain. Standouts years of working with amazing people. I the director of the National Cemetery of the pilgrimage were the poppy fields am blessed,” she said. Administration Midwest District. She and vineyards. The people she met along Casper College is lucky indeed to have managed 47 national cemetery sites in the way were cordial and friendly. “It was been a small part of her journey, and it is 12 states. She retired from federal service a trip that will be hard to top,” she stated. an honor to have her as one of our very in January of 2018. Since then, she has She is currently planning an African safari own alumni. been anything but retired. She is an avid in July, with future trips in mind to Japan, traveler and has explored many parts Korea, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Diana Ohman spoke at the 2009 Casper College Autumn Gala when she was honored as the Casper College Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni for 2009. 7.