College of Education

Office of the Dean

A Message from Jenna Min Shim, the John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean

Hello, and welcome to the College of Education. My name is Jenna Min Shim, and I currently serve as the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean, the Trustees Education Initiative (TEI) Executive Director, and Professor. The University of Wyoming, located in Laramie, Wyoming, admitted its first group of students in the fall of 1887.

The original State Normal School for teacher preparation was in Old Main, the first campus building. Three factors contributed to this development: the continual evolution and significance of the State Normal School in the preparation of teachers for Wyoming, the establishment and growth of the University Prep School, and a growing need for secondary education in the state.

Now, our college houses two academic units: the School of Counseling, Leadership, Advocacy, and Design (CLAD) and the School of Teacher Education (STE). We also continue to support education across Wyoming via outreach units like the Literacy Research Center and Clinic (LRCC), the Early Care and Education Center (ECEC), the Science Math and Teaching Center (SMTC), the Wyoming School-University Partnership (WSUP), the WellSpring Counseling Clinic, and the Trustees’ Education Initiative. We also proudly provide first-rate advising and student success services via our Education Student Success Center (ESSC).

As the dean, my core commitment on behalf of the College of Education, as part of a land-grant university, is to serve the state of Wyoming in ways that continue to improve the lives of both children and adults through education. Rooted in this commitment, my four key visions are:

Support and deliver highest quality education, expand resources, and enhance university-district partnerships to prepare students for the future, in Wyoming and beyond.
Improve teaching and educational outcomes through research and projects focused on rural education's unique opportunities and challenges.
As a land-grant university, deepen engagement and partnerships to benefit Wyoming's rural areas.
Cultivate a nurturing environment that supports the well-being, growth, and success of faculty, staff, and students, ensuring their collective and individual prosperity.

The college has launched a number of statewide initiatives to advance these goals. If you would like more news about our activities, I disseminate a weekly newsletter. Click the button below to read the latest updates and explore the archive.

Sincerely,