May 2026
Published May 28, 2026
UW Collegiate Chorale Tours United Kingdom
Earlier this month, the UW Collegiate Chorale, directed by Brian C. Murray, embarked on an international tour to the United Kingdom. Their trip featured a collaboration and two performances with the Cardiff University Chamber Choir at their concert hall as well as Insole Court. Additionally, Collegiate Chorale offered performances at Wells Cathedral (Wells) and St Mary Abbots Church (London). To see photos from the trip, visit the UW Choirs Facebook page.
A Message from Dean Turpen
As another academic year comes to a close, I want to thank you for your continued
support of the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduation weekend was a wonderful celebration
of all our students have accomplished, and it was inspiring to see so many graduates
cross the stage surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and mentors who helped them
along the way.
While summer has arrived, campus remains full of energy and activity. Our students
and faculty continue to represent the university in exciting ways, with groups such
as Collegiate Chorale and students from the Communication and Journalism Department
traveling internationally to learn, perform, and engage with communities around the
world.
Thank you for all you do for A&S. We look forward to sharing more stories with you throughout the summer.
J. Scott Turpen
UW Study Reveals Prescription Stimulants Don't Benefit Non-ADHD Students
UW History Professor Melissa Morris Elected to American Antiquarian Society
UW College of Arts and Sciences Celebrates 2026 Faculty and Alumni Award Recipients
A&S News and Notes
Celebrating the Class of 2026
This year’s spring commencement was a tremendous success as the College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the achievements of our newest graduates. Congratulations to all A&S students who crossed the stage and officially became the newest members of the alumni association. We are proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to seeing what comes next. Watch the ceremony on YouTube.
College of A&S Recognizes 2026 Outstanding Graduates
Earlier this month, the College of Arts and Sciences recognized this year's outstanding
A&S graduates. Congratulations to Katie Acord, Trisha Cates, Monica Deru, Ivy Grover,
Annette Harlan, Rayna Januska, David Gunner Kelly, Lily Leman, DJ Lueloff, Kani Miller,
and Sean Walker!
Re-Storying the West Hosts Storying-Gathering Events Across the State
Re-Storying the West has been out celebrating spring and summer community story-gathering
partnerships. Past events include Cinco de Mayo at the Lincoln Community Center (Laramie)
on May 2; Audubon Bird Banding at Keyhole State Park (Moorcroft) on May 9; Sheepherding
Festival at Rockpile Museum (Gillette) on May 9; and Tales from Wyoming at the Alice
Hardie Stevens Center (Laramie) on May 10. Upcoming events include Story Gathering
at Campbell County Public Library (Gillette) on June 17, as well as Wyoming BioBlitz
(Cora/Pinedale) on June 28. Additionally, the 8th Re-Storying the West podcast episode
was released in early May, and the final episode of the year will be released in early
June.
UW English Professor Travels to Morocco for Fulbright Special Assignment
Caroline McCracken-Flesher recently completed a Fulbright Specialist Assignment to
Morocco. She gave the Fulbright America 250 lecture in Marrakech, taught at Cadi Ayyad
University and the American School, and participated in a Fulbright “Crossing the
Straits” conference in Tangier that celebrated Fulbright scholarship around the Mediterranean.
Her talks included emerging US pedagogies, US tourism in the Mediterranean, and how
America challenges itself and grows through song.
Neltje Center Advances Hands-On Creative Experimentation for UW Faculty and Students
On April 18th the UW Neltje Center hosted an immersive, media-forward retelling of
The Chalky White Substance by Tennessee Williams, developed through a collaboration
between UW Visual Arts and the UW Department of Theatre and Dance. Bringing together
faculty, students, and community members, the project offered a dynamic afternoon
of performance and conversation. Conceived as an artistic experiment, it invited audiences
to engage with evolving questions around technology, storytelling, and live presence.
Events like this reflect the Neltje Center’s ongoing commitment to hands-on experiences—serving
as a vital space for creative experimentation, collaboration, and discovery for both
faculty and students. Photo of Matthew Greenberg in performance, by Rayna Januska.
UW's Caroline McCracken-Flesher Receives 2026 National Tartan Day Award
Caroline McCracken-Flesher has been named the recipient of the 2026 National Tartan
Day Award by the Scottish Coalition USA. The Coalition includes the Council of Scottish
Clans and Associations, the American Scottish Foundation, Living Legacy, the Scottish
American Military Society, Scottish Heritage USA, the Scottish American Women’s Society,
Tartan Day West, and Tartan Day South. The award is presented annually to recognize
an exceptional leader for the Scottish American community. The citation specifies
that Caroline is recognized for “her unwavering leadership support and passion for
Scottish Studies heritage and carrying forward to the next generation.” Caroline will
be honored with the award at the December 4th Scottish North American Community Conference
in Washington DC.
UW's Nicholas Crane Presents Research at Newcastle University and Cardiff University
Nicholas Crane, associate professor in UW's School of Politics, Public Affairs, and
International Studies, presented his research at Newcastle University (School of Geography,
Politics, and Sociology) and Cardiff University (School of Geography and Planning)
in May. Crane's seminars at Newcastle and Cardiff derived from his ongoing collaboration
with colleagues in central Mexico (Oliver Hernández Lara and David Tapia Martínez),
which has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications, including a recent article
in Human Geography 18(1), titled "Antimonumentos and other aesthetic interventions
amidst generalized violence: Seeds in the 'political subsoil' of central Mexico."
Events
UW Professor of Drawing Featured in Three Upcoming Exhibitions
UW Professor of Drawing, Shelby Shadwell, will have artwork in the following exhibitions: Tilting West, at the Arvada Art Center, Arvada, CO, from June 4 - August 23 with an opening reception on Thursday, June 4 from 6 - 9 p.m; Contemporary Art in Realism, 3rd International Juried Exhibition, at 3 Square Art Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, from June 19 - July 25 with an opening reception on Friday, June 19, from 6 - 8 p.m.; and Tailings at the Dahl Art Center in Rapid City, SD, from June 19 - September 12 with an opening reception on Friday, June 12, from 5 - 7 p.m.
First Castleman Quartet Performance Slated for June 6
The Castleman Quartet Program West (CQPW) inaugural season is officially here! Founded in 1970, the acclaimed Castleman Quartet Program (CQP) cultivates exceptional young chamber musicians. This summer, UW Professors John Fadial and Beth Vanderborgh bring CQPWest’s inaugural season to Wyoming. The first concert is June 6 at 7:30 PM featuring a Faculty & Guest Chamber Music Recital (BCPA Recital Hall). To see the full schedule, visit the UW Department of Music Facebook page. All performances are free and open to the public!
