December 12, 2025

 Greetings Staff and Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences, 

 

As we arrive at the end of the semester, I want to extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to each of you. This is always an intense stretch of the academic year, and I appreciate your dedication and the care you bring to the work you do. 

 

I’m also pleased to share some exciting news. Congratulations to Todd Surovell, who was recently named a President’s Distinguished Scholar in recognition of his exceptional scholarly achievements, innovative research contributions, and dedicated service to UW. Todd is an internationally respected archaeologist whose work focuses on early human history in the Americas, hunter-gatherer behavior, and the archaeological record of the Paleoindian period. He'll hold this title for three years and receive support for continued scholarly excellence. Congratulations again on this achievement! 

 

On Monday, I had the opportunity to attend the Sandeen Lecture, delivered by Ryan Williamson. His talk, “Redrawing Trust: Citizens’ Views on Gerrymandering and Democratic Legitimacy,” offered a timely and insightful look at how electoral map-making shapes representation. His presentation was thoughtful, engaging, and well attended. Thank you to Ryan for sharing his important work.

 

Last week the Department of Theatre and Dance hosted the Wyoming State Thespian Festival, bringing hundreds of potential future A&S students to campus. Thanks to the faculty and staff who worked on this important event.

 

I'll look forward to seeing many of you at commencement on Saturday. It’s great to see our students crossing the stage and heading off to launch their lives and careers, and I know many of you played a meaningful role in getting them there. Thanks for everything you’ve done to support them along the way.

 

As we close out the semester, I hope you can find some time to get away and have some fun. Enjoy a very well-deserved break! 

 

Sincerely,

 

J. Scott Turpen