UW Trustees Approve Personnel Items

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees approved the following appointments during its meeting Friday, Sept. 16:

Administrative Appointments

College of Education

Dean’s Office

Rebecca Watts as executive director of the Trustees’ Education Initiative. She received a B.A. (1992) in communication from Sangamon State University, an M.A. (1997) in communication from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. (2013) in higher education leadership from Ohio University. Watts has been vice president for P-16 Initiatives for the Ohio Department of Higher Education since 2012.

Faculty Appointments

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Plant Sciences

Daniel Tekiela as assistant professor. Tekiela received a B.S. (2011) in natural resources and environmental sciences: fish and wildlife conservation from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. (2015) in plant pathology, physiology and weed science: invasion ecology from Virginia Tech. Tekiela has been a graduate research assistant at Virginia Tech since 2011.

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Chemistry

Caleb Hill as assistant professor. Hill received a B.S. (2009) in chemistry from Jacksonville State University, and a Ph.D. (2014) in physical chemistry from the University of Alabama. Hill has been a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Texas since 2014.

Department of Criminal Justice

Kimberly Schweitzer as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2010) in psychology from the University of North Dakota, and an M.S. (2013) and a Ph.D. (2016) in psychology, both from UW.

Department of Geography

Nicholas Crane as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2006) in comparative cultural studies, and an M.A. (2008) and Ph.D. (2014) in geography, both from Ohio State University. Crane has been a visiting professor at Wesleyan University since 2014.

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Camilo Jaramillo as assistant professor. Jaramillo received a B.A. (2007) in literatura from the Universidad de los Andes, and a Ph.D. (2016) in Hispanic languages and literatures from the University of California-Berkeley. Jaramillo has been an instructor at the University of California-Berkeley since 2008.

Department of Music

Joseph Falvey as assistant professor. He received a B.A (2003) in music education from Eastern Michigan University, an M.A (2007) in horn performance from the University of Cincinnati College, and a Ph.D. (2011) in horn performance from the University of Miami. Falvey has been the director of marching and athletic bands, associate director of bands and horn professor at Utah State University since 2013.

Benjamin Markley as assistant professor. He received a B.A (2005) in piano performance from Fort Hays State University, an M.A. (2007) in music performance and composition from New York University, and a Ph.D. (2010) in jazz studies from the University of Colorado. Markley has been a visiting assistant professor at UW since 2008.

Department of Political Science

Michael Potter as assistant professor. He received his B.A. (1998) in history from West Virginia University, and an MPA (2005) and a Ph.D. (2012) in public administration and public affairs, both from Virginia Tech. Potter has been an assistant professor at Appalachian State University since 2011.

Department of Psychology

Robin Barry as assistant professor. Barry received a B.A. (1996) in political science and communication from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. (2005) and a Ph.D. (2010) in clinical psychology, both from the University of Iowa. Barry has been an assistant professor at the University of Maryland since 2010.

Kyle De Young as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2004) in psychology and a B.A. (2004) in philosophy from the University of Iowa, and an M.A. (2008) and a Ph.D. (2011) in clinical psychology, both from the University at Albany. De Young has been an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota since 2011.

Alison Looby as assistant professor. She received a B.A. (2002) in psychology from the University of California-San Diego, and an M.A. (2007) and a Ph.D. (2011) in psychology, both from the University at Albany. Looby has been an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota since 2011.

Global and Area Studies Program

Zoe Pearson as assistant professor. Pearson received a B.A. (2005) in geography from the University of California-Los Angeles, and an M.A. (2010) and a Ph.D. (2015) in geography, both from Ohio State University. Pearson has been an instructor at Ohio State University since 2014.

College of Education

Department of Professional Studies

Eric DaFoe as instructor. He received a B.A. (2006) in psychology, an M.Ed. (2008) in counseling, and a Ph.D. (expected 2016) in counselor education, all from the University of North Texas. DaFoe has been an assistant director at Center for Play Therapy since 2013. The title of this tenure track position will convert to assistant professor upon receipt of documentation of degree completion.

Amanda DeDiego as instructor. She received a B.S. (2009) in psychology, and an M.S. (2012) in community counseling, both from the University of North Georgia, and a Ph.D. (expected 2016) in counselor education from the University of Tennessee. DeDiego has been a graduate research assistant and volunteer coordinator at the University of Tennessee since 2013. The title of this tenure-track position will convert to assistant professor upon receipt of documentation of degree completion.

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering

Kevin Befus as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2008) in geology from Wheaton College, an M.S. (2010) in geological sciences from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. (2015) in geological sciences from the University of Texas. Befus has been the U.S. Geological Survey Mendenhall Research Fellow since 2015.

Department of Petroleum Engineering

Morteza Dejam as assistant professor. Dejam received a B.S. (2007) in petroleum engineering/reservoirs from Petroleum University of Technology, an M.S. (2009) in chemical engineering/hydrocarbon reservoirs from Sharif University of Technology, and a Ph.D. (2016) in petroleum engineering from the University of Calgary. Dejam has been a lab instructor and teacher assistant at the University of Calgary since 2013.

Soheil Saraji as assistant professor. Saraji received a B.S. (2004) in petroleum engineering from Petroleum University of Technology, an M.S. (2007) in petroleum engineering from Sharif University of Technology, and a Ph.D. (2013) in petroleum engineering from UW. Saraji has been a postdoctoral research associate at UW since 2014.

Pejman Tahmasebi as assistant professor. Tahmasebi received a B.S. (2007) at Sahand University of Technology, an M.S. (2009) from Tehran Polytechnic, and a Ph.D. (2012) from Amirkabir University of Technology, all in mining and metallurgical engineering. Tahmasebi has been an associate research scientist at the University of Texas since 2014.

College of Health Sciences

Division of Social Work

Kirsten Havig as assistant professor. She received a B.A. (1994) in anthropology and women studies from the University of Missouri, an MSW (1998) from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. (2010) in social work from the University of Missouri. Havig has been an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma since 2011.

School of Pharmacy

Alvin Oung as clinical assistant professor. He received a Pharm.D. (2014) from MCPHS University. Oung has been completing his residency and was a clinical instructor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Academic Professional Appointments

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Mathematics

Eric Quade as assistant lecturer. He received a B.S. (2005) and a Ph.D. (2012) in mathematics at UW. Quade has been the school chair of math and science and an instructor of mathematics at Laramie County Community College since 2015.

College of Education

Department of Educational Studies

Jason Katzmann as assistant lecturer. He received a B.S. (1994) in human biology from Texas Women's University, an M.A. (2000) in integrated natural science from Colorado College, and a Ph.D. (2007) in biological education from the University of Northern Colorado. Katzmann has been a visiting assistant professor at UW since 2007.

Changes in Appointments

Faculty

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Communication and Journalism

Kenneth Smith ends his appointment as department head and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism.

Cynthia Price Schultz will serve as department head in the Department of Communication and Journalism.

Department of Geology and Geophysics

Carrick Eggleston will serve as interim department head in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. 

Department of Theatre and Dance

Margaret Wilson will serve as interim department head in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Department of Zoology and Physiology

Jonathan Prather will serve as director of the Life Program.

Gender and Women’s Studies Program

Catherine Connolly ends her appointment as director and continues as a tenured professor in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program.

Bonnie Sue Zare will serve as director in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program.

College of Business

Department of Economics and Finance                 

Robert Godby ends his appointment as department chair and continues as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Economics and Finance.

Edward Barbier will serve as department chair in the Department of Economics and Finance.     

Owen Phillips ends his appointment as associate dean and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Economics and Finance.

College of Education

Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education          

Scott Chamberlin will serve as department head in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.               

Jacqueline Leonard ends her appointment as head of the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center, and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Department of Chemical Engineering

Vladimir Alvarado will serve as department head in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dennis Coon ends his appointment as department head in the Department of Chemical Engineering and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He will serve as H.T. Person Professor.

College of Health Sciences

Division of Communication Disorders     

David Jones ends his appointment as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and returns to the Division of Communication Disorders as a tenured professor. Jones also will serve as associate dean in the College of Health Sciences.

College of Law 

Michael Duff ends his appointment as associate dean and continues as a tenured professor in the College of Law. He will serve as the Centennial Distinguished Professor.

University Libraries         

Cheryl Goldenstein will serve as department head in Library and Access Services.

Research and Instruction                             

Kaijsa Calkins will serve as department chair of Research and Instruction Services.