Published May 02, 2025
Greetings Staff and Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences,
I hope everyone’s final weeks of the spring semester are going well.
I had the pleasure of attending Undergraduate Research Day last Saturday, and I was fortunate to sit in on several presentations by our students. Over the course of the last year, we have been working to increase the number of students from A&S who participate in this event. It was truly wonderful to see all the fantastic work they are producing. A special congratulations to Gregory Barr, who received the Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts Award for his presentation. Well done! Thank you to all the students who participated and to the faculty mentors whose guidance makes this kind of event possible.
I’d also like to recognize the UW Trumpet Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. David Wharton, for their 3rd place finish at the North American Baroque Trumpet Competition last week. Student ensemble members included Tim Hosler, Steven Cozzuli, Jack MacDonald, and Ethan Bishop. They represented UW with distinction, competing alongside students from some of the most prestigious institutions in the country.
Congratulations to Gabel Taggert from SPAAIS on his acceptance into the Leadership Wyoming program, which is highly competitive. He is also a Presidential Faculty Fellow and will be leading a leadership seminar for faculty here on campus.
I also want to highlight an exciting student project and a related upcoming event. Laramie Features is a new publication produced by students in Phillip Goodwin’s Writing for Magazines course, featuring writing and photography from students in both English and Visual Arts. Building on the creative momentum of this publication, the class is also partnering with the Laramie Plains Civic Center to host the inaugural Laramie Zine Fest & Art Market on Saturday, May 10, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the LPCC South Gym. Sponsored by the UW Department of English, Laramie Plains Civic Center, and the Wyoming Humanities Council, this event celebrates DIY publishing and creative expression, with contributions from UW students and local artists alike.
Finally, an update on some of the different policies being discussed on campus. A new version of the SAP on Prohibited Efforts and Functions and Institutional Discrimination is now out for review and comment. The rewrite includes many of the changes outlined in the first round of comments. However, I encourage you all to take a look at it and provide comments to either your department chair or your Faculty Senate representative as this SAP will be discussed by both groups on Monday. As always, please feel free to share your thoughts with me or your associate dean as well. Additionally, over the course of the next several months, there is a group that will work to develop implementation plans for the number of new laws that are slated to go into effect on July 1. I will work to keep folks updated on this progress.
It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend – get out and enjoy!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Freng
