Dean's Weekly Newsletter 1-30-2026

Published January 30, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

 

It was wonderful to welcome our students back to campus last week and to see the energy and activity across our buildings, even in the midst of the cold weather. I hope everyone had a restorative winter break and is settling into the rhythm of the spring semester.

 

I am excited to share the following updates from around the College:

 

  1. ”Conversations that Matter" Workshop with Lisa Barbeau
  2. First Spring 2026 College of Education Meeting
  3. John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Outstanding Dissertation Award Recipients
  4. Stay and Teach in Wyoming Program
  5. Education Peer Mentoring Program
  6. John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach
  7. College of Education Award for Excellence in Student Engagement
  8. Ling Zhang Recognized at REDD-Hosted Research Event
  9. Alison Mercier Publication and Rural Teacher Corps Update
  10. Mia Williams Co-Facilitating AI Workshop
  11. Jody Mitchell and the Education Student Ambassadors
  12. Professional Development from the Ellbogen Center for Teaching & Learning
  13. Professional Development from the Research Development Office
  14. New WSUP Newsletter Issue
  15. New College of Education Staff
  16. Faculty Search Updates

 

"Conversations that Matter" Workshop with Lisa Barbeau: 

The Conversations That Matter: Co-Creating Our Future Together retreat was a productive and engaging experience. We are nearly finished organizing the raw data collected from the event and identifying the most common themes that emerged from the discussion of each topic. Both the raw data and the identified themes will be shared soon.

 

I am grateful to the College of Education faculty and staff for their energy, insights, and engagement. The active dialogue throughout the day was a powerful reminder that we truly are stronger together. Special thanks to Lisa Barbeau for her outstanding facilitation and for creating a space that encouraged authentic connection and conversation.

 

First Spring 2026 College of Education Meeting: We are looking forward to hosting the first College of Education Spring 2026 meeting in the Wyoming Student Union Family Room on Monday, February 2. We will be joined by Vice Provost Matt Griswold, who will share updates on UW Online and Continuing Education, followed by remarks from Joe Schroer, Associate Lecturer in the School of Teacher Education, on his recent work with Dr. White Eagle and Ms. Saint Clair, who visited our faculty and staff last semester to deepen our understanding of Wyoming’s "Indian Education for All" Act.  A friendly reminder that attendance at the College meeting is required for all full-time 7faculty and staff.

 

John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Outstanding Dissertation Award Recipients: I am excited to announce that the review of applications for the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Outstanding Dissertation Award has been finalized. In making these selections, I relied on the scoring sheets and recommendations of the committee, comprised of School Directors and Associate Deans, along with my own independent review of the applications. This was a robust and highly competitive pool, and based on the exceptionally strong scores from the committee, I decided to offer four awards.

Here are our award recipients:

 

  • Melena Osborne, "A Developmental Math Reform: Implementing a Corequisite Model" (Chair: Miriam Sanders)
  • Jeffery Lewis, "The Burden of Attendance Enforcement: A Narrative Study of School District Leaders’ Experiences with Chronic Absenteeism in Wyoming" (Chair: Barbara Hickman)
  • Aaron Nydam, "How Teachers Thrive: Enabling Factors of Teacher Resilience in Rural-Serving Wyoming" (Chair: Lydiah Nganga)
  • Anne Sudmeier, "Acceleration in Literacy Learning: A Phenomenological Study" (Chair: Cindy Brock)

 

I would also like to provide a list of honorable mentions:

 

  • Emily Vercoe, "The Arc of STEM Learning for Near-Peer Educators, a Hermeneutic Phenomenological Exploration" (Chair: Mia Williams) 
  • Tanya Wall, "Balancing Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Accountability: A Case Study of Superintendents and Curriculum Directors' Decision-Making in Wyoming" (Chair: Barbara Hickman)
  • Amanda Tracy, "Exploring the Influences on Young Adults' Perceptions of Suicide in Rural Agriculture" (Chair: Ty Tedmon-Jones) 
  • Oliver Snow, "Is GenAI the New CliffsNotes? A Mixed Methods Study on Technology Readiness and Lived Experiences of Introductory English Students in a Policy-Driven AI Culture" (Chair: Mia Williams)
  • Thilina Wickramaarachchi, "Mapping Knowledge: A Multiple Case Study of Adult ESL Learners’ Types of Knowledge in Educational Settings" (Chair: Cindy Brock) 
  • Rehva Jones, "Intractable Risk and Imminent Debt for Elusive Opportunities: Perspectives of Black Women with Debt-Financed MBA Degrees" (Chair: Jonathan Carrier)

 

I am impressed by the range and depth of the research subjects. And I commend each of these emerging scholars for their hard work. A special congratulations to our four award recipients!

 

Stay and Teach in Wyoming Program: I am pleased to announce the launch of the "Stay & Teach in Wyoming" Program, a new service-based incentive designed to support College of Education graduates who choose to begin their teaching careers in Wyoming’s K–12 public schools. The program provides up to $3,000 per year for up to three years to help offset the financial strain of unpaid student teaching, early-career salaries, and student loan debt, while strengthening Wyoming’s teacher workforce statewide. I encourage faculty and staff to share this opportunity broadly with eligible students. To apply, graduating seniors who secure full-time teaching positions in Wyoming submit application materials by May 15, 2026, to the Dean’s Office (ed.dean@uwyo.edu); full details are included in the attached call for applications.

 

Peer Mentoring Program: Applications are now open for the College of Education Peer Mentoring Program, a new pilot initiative supported by the Trustees Education Initiative and the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Education Initiative. This program is designed to strengthen student persistence, belonging, and academic success through a structured near-peer mentoring model, while also cultivating leadership and professional skills among upper-division students. Both mentors and mentees are encouraged to apply, including online students. Applications are due Wednesday, February 4, at 5:00 PM, and should include a one-page statement of interest (indicating whether you are applying as a mentor or mentee) and a resume or CV, submitted to the Dean’s Office at ed.dean@uwyo.edu.

 

John P "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach: Nominations are now open for the Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach, which recognizes faculty whose work demonstrates exceptional, sustained engagement and collaboration with Wyoming educational partners. This award honors outreach that is reciprocal, practice-focused, and responsive to Wyoming-specific educational needs, reflecting the College of Education’s land-grant mission and commitment to serving communities across the state. Both self-nominations and nominations by others are welcome. Please see the attached call for nominations for full details. Nomination materials are due Monday, March 2, 2026, and should be submitted electronically to the Dean’s Office at ed.dean@uwyo.edu.

 

College of Education Award for Excellence in Student Engagement: Nominations are now open for the College of Education’s Excellence Award for Student Engagement, which recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional, sustained engagement with students beyond assigned teaching and advising responsibilities. This award honors faculty whose work enhances students’ academic and professional development, sense of belonging, and preparation for future careers. Both self-nominations and nominations by others are welcome, and more information can be found in the attached call. Nomination materials are due Monday, March 2, 2026, and should be submitted to the Dean’s Office at ed.dean@uwyo.edu.

 

Ling Zhang Recognized at REDD-Hosted Research Event: It was a pleasure to celebrate Ling Zhang, Assistant Professor in Special Education, at last week’s "Celebration of Excellence in Research and Innovation," hosted by the University of Wyoming Division of Research and Economic Development. Ling is an outstanding scholar and an Ellbogen Foundation Mary Garland Distinguished Fellow whose work at the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and special education administration is already making a meaningful impact. The College of Education is fortunate to have her on our faculty, and I look forward to her continued success. Congratulations, Ling!

 

Alison Mercier Publication and Rural Teacher Corps Update: I am also pleased to share two recent highlights from Alison Mercier, Assistant Professor in Elementary Science Education. A recent Teton Science Schools blog features three Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps graduates who completed the program in December, highlighting their experiences and the impact of RTC on their preparation to teach in rural Wyoming schools. Here is the article: https://www.tetonscience.org/preparing-teachers-for-rural-wyoming-voices-from-the-field/ 

 

In addition, Alison recently co-published an article in Science Education titled "Identity Play: Middle School Youths' Provisional Self-Making in Horizon-Expanding STEM Spaces." You can read the article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sce.70047?utm_medium=article&utm_source=researchgate.net

 

Mia Williams Co-Facilitating AI Workshop: Please consider registering for "Teaching with AI: Practical Strategies for the UW Classroom," a mini-conference co-facilitated by Mia Williams, Associate Professor in Learning, Design, and Technology, and Jennifer Harmon (Family & Consumer Sciences in the College of Agriculture), with David Des Armier, Assistant Lecturer in Higher Education Administration, among the confirmed presenters. The event will take place on February 16, from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, in Coe 506 and via Zoom. This workshop-style mini-conference will guide faculty from inspiration to implementation, highlighting thoughtful and ethical approaches to integrating AI into teaching and learning through real classroom examples, hands-on activity redesign, and open lab support. Registration is available here: https://forms.office.com/r/N5kwW0vq82.

 

Jody Mitchell and the Education Student Ambassadors: Jody Mitchell, Program Coordinator Sr. and Recruiter, has been traveling across Wyoming and Colorado to promote the College of Education’s educator preparation programs, helping to connect prospective students with opportunities at UW. She has been and will be joined on several visits by our Education Student Ambassadors, who have been wonderful, cheerful representatives of the College. The Ambassadors also recently hosted a hot cocoa and pastry pop-up to welcome students back to campus. What a tasty and toasty way to kick off the spring semester and build community within the College!

 

Professional Development from the Ellbogen Center for Teaching & Learning: The Ellbogen Center for Teaching & Learning (ECTL) offers a wide range of professional development opportunities this spring to support teaching faculty in honing their craft as educators and strengthening the learning experiences we provide to our students. Through mini learning communities focused on teaching and AI, workshops on course design and learning outcomes, Trail Bites for Faculty, and individualized consultations, ECTL helps faculty refine their teaching practices while ensuring our students benefit from thoughtful, engaging, and high-quality instruction. I encourage faculty to explore the full spring calendar of events here: https://airtable.com/app1ilDuTYr5opDFG/shrpzYmLYHXdCZEH4.

 

Professional Development from the Research Development Office: The Research Development Office (RDO), in partnership with EPSCoR–IDeA, is offering a Spring 2026 Early Career Series designed to support early-career faculty preparing to submit NSF CAREER proposals this summer. This intensive six-session program, running from February through April, provides participants with a comprehensive overview of CAREER awards, structured opportunities to develop and refine proposals, and personalized feedback from experienced research development professionals. Participants who complete the series may also be eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in seed funding to support educational and outreach activities. Sessions will be held Mondays from 12:00–1:00 PM on February 2 and 23; March 9 and 30; and April 13 and 27, with an overview of the program provided by Vice President Parag Chitnis on February 2. Faculty can register using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/earlycareer2026 

 

New Wyoming School-University Partnership (WSUP) Newsletter Issue: The WSUP recently posted their newest newsletter, which aggregates education-related news around Wyoming, as well as details about upcoming events and programming. You can find it at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/January-2026---Updates-from-the-Partnership.html?soid=1130688679027&aid=Lmm7sRNMSnU

 

New College of Education Staff: Please join me in welcoming two new staff members to the College of Education. First, we are pleased to introduce Jaydee Asay (Neilson), who will serve as Office Associate Sr. in the Early Childhood Education Center and the Dean's Office. Additionally, I would like to welcome Maddison Mahlum as the new Office Associate in the School of Teacher Education (STE). We look forward to their important contributions to our College. 

 

Faculty Search Updates: Several exciting updates regarding our faculty searches: Dr. Josh Males will be joining us as an Assistant Professor in Outreach Mathematics Education, and Dr. Lorraine Males will join the College as the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education.  In addition, next week, we will be hosting the final candidate for the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Special Education for an on-campus interview, as well as our first candidate for the Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration position. I strongly encourage everyone to attend their presentations and take the opportunity to meet them.

 

I am also excited to share that Dr. Min Jung Lee will be joining us as an Assistant Professor in Elementary Science Education. Thank you to those who attended Dr. Lee’s research and teaching presentation last week.

 

This spring promises to be both busy and productive, with many opportunities to strengthen our programs, deepen our partnerships, and support our students. I appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to working together in the months ahead. Go pokes!

 

Warm regards, 

Jenna