Deans' Weekly Newsletter 10-17-25

Dear Colleagues,

 

It has been another productive week. The weather continues to be beautiful as we move toward winter, and campus is filled with activity and energy. The College of Education had so much going on since my last newsletter, from statewide partnerships to faculty and student accomplishments, and I am excited to share these latest headlines with you.

 

This Week's Updates:

• College Strategic Planning Forums – October 21–22
• Fall College of Education Distinguished Speaker
• State Board of Education Meeting Today
• College Advocacy Board Meeting
• Dunham Family Fellows Brunch
• Sheridan Student Comes Full Circle
• Counselor Education Doctoral Students Shine at ACES Conference
• Presenting at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education
• Recent Publication
• Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps Kicks Off Its Fourth Year
• Student Ambassadors Host Coffee Pop-Up
• College of Education Giving Day Movie Night – October 23
• College of Education Oktoberfest – October 30
• Open Forum with the Dean – October 20

 

College of Education Strategic Plan Discussion Forums – October 21–22: As we prepare to renew our College of Education Strategic Plan, I invite all faculty and staff to participate in one of our upcoming discussion sessions next week, both from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. The Tuesday session will be held in Education 117, and the Wednesday session in Education 30. Associate Deans Alan Buss and Pete Moran will lead these sessions, which are designed to gather faculty and staff input to help shape the next phase of our College’s strategic plan.

 

I am sharing two key documents to keep in mind: Dean’s Vision and Strategic Priorities (shared previously) and Dean’s Vision and Strategic Priorities Aligned with the University Mission and Land-Grant Mission. These materials demonstrate how our College’s goals build upon the University of Wyoming’s priorities/ongoing objectives and land-grant mission, which can be reviewed here: https://www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/_files/docs/draft-uw-strategic-plan-2022-update01-05-23.pdf. Each level of this framework, from the University’s overarching commitments to our College’s focused initiatives, adds greater depth, context, and tangible action that advance the larger mission. These forums are an important opportunity for all of us to share ideas, reflect on our collective purpose, and contribute to a refocused strategic vision that will guide our work in the years ahead. The “B” sessions will follow on November 17 and 18, both from 12:00 to 1:00 PM in Education 117. I warmly invite everyone to attend and share your input and ideas as we co-build the College of Education’s Strategic Plan together. Your perspectives are essential to shaping a shared vision for our future. 

 

Fall College of Education Distinguished Speaker: I am pleased to announce that Peter Afflerbach has been selected as our Fall College of Education Distinguished Speaker. Afflerbach is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Maryland and a nationally recognized scholar whose work has shaped the field of reading assessment and literacy research. His scholarship has contributed to how educators and policymakers interpret large-scale assessments such as the NAEP and WY-TOPP, and his insights are particularly timely for Wyoming’s current educational conversations. Afflerbach is a member of the NAEP board, a founding editor of Metacognition and Learning, and author of Understanding and Using Reading Assessment, K–12, now in its fourth edition. The date and location for his visit will be announced soon. I am grateful to Leslie Rush and Cynthia Brock for their thoughtful proposal and for helping to bring such an impactful scholar to our College community.

 

State Board of Education Meeting Today: Associate Dean Pete Moran will attend the virtual State Board of Education meeting today. These statewide conversations are vital to Wyoming’s educational landscape, bringing together leaders who share a commitment to improving outcomes for students, teachers, and communities across the state. Engagement in forums like this helps ensure that our College’s work remains closely connected to Wyoming’s broader educational priorities and continues to inform policy and practice at every level.

 

College Advocacy Board Meeting: Last Friday, we gathered with our College Advocacy Board at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center for what felt like a pivotal moment. The energy in the room was enthusiasm as leaders and advocates from across Wyoming came together with shared purpose and optimism for the future of education. We discussed our work in educator preparation, artificial intelligence in special education, early childhood education, and new recruitment strategies. Each conversation reflected a genuine spirit of collaboration and a commitment to strengthening Wyoming’s educational ecosystem. I left the meeting inspired and grateful for our CAB members’ support and advocacy for the work we do at the College of Education.

 

Dunham Family Fellows Brunch: On Saturday, we gathered for the Dunham Family Fellows Brunch, a warm and inspiring celebration recognizing and celebrating our outstanding future educators. Dave and Kelly Dunham, the generous benefactors of this prestigious award, warmly welcomed this year’s fellows and spoke about their family’s enduring legacy of supporting Wyoming’s teachers. This year’s Dunham Family Fellows are Katie Acord, Sage Angell, Karen Jeske, Chevelle Jolley, Julianna Muñoz, and Chloe Willenborg. Each exemplary student will receive substantial financial support during their student teaching semester, along with professional development opportunities and a meaningful connection to a growing network of past fellows. It was a beautiful event filled with inspiration, gratitude, and a shared belief in the transformative power of teachers. Everyone left feeling uplifted by the promise of these exceptional future educators and by the Dunham family’s continuing generosity and commitment to the teaching profession. Kelly also serves on our College Advocacy Board.

 

Sheridan Student Comes Full Circle: This story, shared by Dave Dunham, highlights Sheridan native Lexi Rule, who began her educational journey as a fourth grader at Cloud Peak Elementary in Buffalo and has now returned to complete her student teaching in that very same classroom, supervised by Dave Dunham himself. Dave currently mentors two student teachers for us in the Sheridan area, exemplifying the Dunham family’s deep and ongoing commitment to supporting Wyoming’s future educators. Lexi described the experience as “a full-circle experience,” noting how meaningful it has been to work alongside some of her former teachers and to see her students’ confidence grow. She credits her UW coursework and mentors for preparing her to step into teaching with confidence and joy. After graduating in December, Lexi plans to substitute teach across grade levels as she continues to learn from classrooms throughout Wyoming.

 

Counselor Education Doctoral Students Shine at ACES Conference: I am thrilled to recognize our Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral students for their outstanding achievements at the recent Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference. Ally Quinn, Amanda Tracy, Sonah Kho, and Zac McInerney delivered several high-quality presentations that reflected the strength of their scholarship and the values of our College. I am especially proud to share that Sonah Kho was recognized by both Chi Sigma Iota and the Rocky Mountain ACES division for exceptional leadership and research. I would also like to shout out some of our Counseling faculty, Paul Maddox, Brittney Phillips, and Ty Tedmon-Jones, for their hard work supporting our students.

 

Presenting at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education: I am also delighted to share that Alison Mercier, Assistant Professor of Elementary Science Education and Co-Director of the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps, presented at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education in Salt Lake City. Her presentation, “Shaping Change Locally: Examples of Place-Based Education in a Rural Wyoming School,” highlighted powerful place-based education initiatives taking shape in Wyoming classrooms. Alison presented alongside Rock River teachers Dallie Bowers and Kelly Vallier, and Place Network professional development coach Alex Sivitskis.

 

Recent Publication in Frontiers in Education: Relating to the previous update, Alison Mercier recently published an article in Frontiers in Education titled “Shaping Change Locally: A Place-Based STEM Project’s Influence on Rural Elementary and Middle Grade Students.” The article, co-authored with teachers from Rock River School and partners at Teton Science Schools, demonstrates how connecting STEM learning to local issues empowers rural students to see themselves as capable change-makers. Congratulations, Alison! Read the full article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1584805/full

 

Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps Kicks Off Its Fourth Year: Last week, the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps began its fourth year by welcoming eight new and ten returning members. This year’s cohort represents a diverse group of students from across Wyoming and neighboring states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Participants span all undergraduate levels and fields of study from elementary and special education to secondary programs in mathematics, English language arts, agricultural education, family and consumer sciences, and science. Supported by the Rural Schools Collaborative, the College of Education, Teton Science Schools, and the Storer Foundation, the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps continues to nurture a strong community of future educators dedicated to serving rural schools and communities. This thriving program stands as a testament to Alison Mercier’s exceptional leadership and vision in cultivating meaningful experiences for our students and strengthening partnerships across the state. What an astounding group of students!

 

Student Ambassadors Host Coffee Pop-Up: Many thanks to Jody Evans for providing thoughtful guidance and leadership to our Student Ambassadors, who represent the College with pride, connect with prospective and current students, and help share our story across campus and the state. Last week, they also met with members of the College Advocacy Board to advocate for the College and share their experiences as future educators.

 

College of Education Giving Day Movie Night – October 23: Join us for a special Giving Day Movie Night featuring the 1960 version of Little Shop of Horrors in the Education Auditorium and Lobby from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The event will include light refreshments and an intermission at 7:22 PM, with opportunities to support College of Education Giving Day campaigns. Please see the attached flyer and keep an eye out for follow-up announcements. 

 

College of Education Oktoberfest – October 30: Our annual College of Education Oktoberfest will take place on Thursday, October 30, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Sullivan Plaza. Join us for lively decorations, hearty brats and kraut, sweet apple strudel, warm cider, and good company as Education students, staff, and faculty celebrate the season together.

 

Open Forum with the Dean – October 20: I will host an open forum next Monday, October 20, in Education 117 and on Zoom for colleagues who have questions or input about the College of Education. The last open forum was very productive, and I hope you will join to share your thoughts and continue the conversation. Zoom link: https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/97723386139?from=addon

 

This week’s updates reflect the heart of our College community. From statewide collaboration to student leadership and faculty achievement, every story represents progress toward our shared mission.I was especially touched by Dave and Kelly Dunham’s remarks at the Dunham Family Fellows Celebration Brunch. Their desire to be active partners in advancing educational excellence in Wyoming is inspiring, and their ongoing support reminds us that the College of Education could not be successful without the many partners and supporters who march alongside us. During their remarks, Dave and Kelly shared a few quotes that beautifully capture the spirit of teaching, giving, and legacy:

“Here’s the thing I never saw coming—I needed my students just as much as they needed me.” — Educator Jennifer Findley

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Pablo Picasso

“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” — Kalu Ndukwe Kalu, political scientist

 

I am profoundly grateful for the relationships we are building that continue to strengthen both our College and the communities we serve.

 

Go Pokes!

Jenna