Dean’s Weekly Newsletter 10-30-2026

Dear Colleagues,

 

October has come to a close, and while the weather is getting chillier, I hope everyone continues to do their best work, stay warm, and make the most of the remainder of the semester.

Plenty of good work continues to happen across the College, and I am pleased to be able to share a few updates with you all.

 

Here are this week's updates:

 

1. 1. Celebrating the Dunhams at the UW Stewardship Summit
   2. Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education Elected to PME-NA Executive Board and Participates in AI Leadership Event
   3. Wyoming Agricultural Education Shines at National FFA Convention
   4. Fall Research Symposium Brings Our College Together
   5. November College Meeting – Monday, November 2
   6. College of Education Representative Needed for UW Engagement Council
   7. Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) Delivers Presentations to the College of Education

 

1. Celebrating the Dunhams at the UW Stewardship Summit: On Wednesday, I had the honor of attending the University of Wyoming Foundation's Stewardship Summit, where Dave and Kelly Dunham were highlighted on the donor panel to share their philanthropic journey and offer insights into what makes giving meaningful. It was inspiring to hear their reflections on building trust and lasting relationships, expressing gratitude, and creating memorable experiences together. I am immensely grateful to Dave and Kelly for their extraordinary generosity to the University of Wyoming College of Education through the Dunham Family Fellows program, which supports student teachers during one of the most demanding and consequential semesters of their preparation. Their investment helps ease financial pressures so future educators can focus on developing their teaching skills and serving their students. Beyond this generous support, Dave and Kelly offer a powerful affirmation of the value of teachers and the promise they hold for Wyoming’s future. Their impact reaches far beyond the university, extending into the classrooms and communities our graduates will serve.
   
   

   Thank you, Dave and Kelly, for your incredible generosity that makes a huge difference in our students' lives.

 

2. Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education Elected to PME-NA Executive Board and Participates in AI Leadership Event: Lorraine Males, Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education, has been elected to the Executive Board of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA). The organization promotes international collaboration and research on the psychological and sociocultural dimensions of mathematics teaching and learning. Lorraine was also invited to participate in the ColleagueAI Executive Thought Leadership Event in Seattle, Washington, alongside Amy Kassell, Secondary Mathematics Coordinator for Laramie County School District 1. The event brought together educators, administrators, and researchers to explore how AI tools can intentionally support teaching and learning. Lorraine and Amy are now exploring opportunities to bring these ideas to Wyoming through continued collaboration. Thank you, Lorraine, for advancing mathematics education and building partnerships that bring new possibilities to Wyoming’s teachers and students!
   
   
3. Wyoming Agricultural Education Shines at National FFA Convention: Heath Hornecker, Professor of Practice in Agricultural Education, and Ty Berry, Agricultural Education Lecturer, represented the College of Education’s Agricultural Education program at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis last week. Alongside colleagues from the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, they connected with Wyoming students and teachers and supported UW’s recruitment efforts. The convention drew approximately 70,000 students, offering a valuable opportunity to introduce prospective students from across the country to UW’s Agricultural Education program. Several current UW Agricultural Education majors received their American FFA Degrees, while students participating in our “Tagged to Teach Ag” initiative proudly displayed their backpacks and tags throughout the convention.
   
   

Among the outstanding Wyoming students recognized was Brody Medina of Cheyenne, who earned a national championship in Agriscience Food Products and Processing and a National Proficiency Award in Agricultural Communications. We are especially excited that Brody has decided to change his major to Agricultural Education at UW!

Congratulations to Brody and all the Wyoming FFA members who represented our state so well, and thank you to Heath and Ty for strengthening the connections that help Wyoming’s future agricultural educators find their path to UW and into the classroom!

4. Fall Research Symposium Brings Our College Together: On Tuesday, October 27, the College of Education hosted its Fall Online Research Symposium, organized and led by Joe Schroer, featuring students and faculty sharing their research in progress. As part of the symposium, Joe and the Dean’s Office hosted a luncheon and keynote watch party in the Education Annex, where colleagues and students gathered to hear Henry L. “Roddy” Roediger III, co-author of Make It Stick, present “Make It Work: Harnessing the Science of Learning.”
   
   

It was rewarding to see our College community come together to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and support emerging scholars. Thank you to Joe for his leadership in creating this opportunity and to everyone who presented, participated, and encouraged our developing researchers. We look forward to continuing to showcase research across the College, particularly the exciting work of our undergraduate researchers!

5. November College Meeting – Monday, November 2: Please join us for our next College of Education meeting on Monday, November 2, from 12:00–1:00 PM in the Union Family Room. We will begin by welcoming Elizabeth Traver, our new Grant Development Manager in the Grant Development Office we share with the College of Arts and Sciences, followed by presentations from Joe Schroer on Wyoming Education Undergraduate Research (WYOEDUR), Mia Williams with an update from the Research and Innovation in Education (RIE) Committee, and Amin Davoodi on the WELCOME (Wyoming Educators Learning through Credentialing and Outreach for Multilingual Education) Project. I look forward to seeing everyone there and learning more about these exciting initiatives across our College!
   
   
6. College of Education Representative Needed for UW Engagement Council: We are seeking a colleague to represent the College of Education on the University of Wyoming Engagement Council for 2026–27. The Council brings together representatives from across UW to share community engagement initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and advance the University's work with Wyoming communities. The Council meets monthly from November through May, with additional opportunities to participate in workgroups focused on data, professional development, and communications. If you are interested in serving as our College's representative, please contact Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu.
   
   
7. Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) Delivers Presentations to the College of Education: This week, Brendan O’Connor, Executive Director of the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) and Chairman of the College of Education Advocacy Board, and his team visited the College of Education to present to our students in the Education Auditorium. Their presentations addressed next steps for teacher licensure, professional standards, and a new AI-powered chat tool, Ethical Decision-Making Support for Educators, developed by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification and the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics. These sessions offered practical guidance and resources to help our future educators navigate licensure and approach their professional responsibilities with confidence. Thank you to Brendan and the PTSB team for sharing their expertise and supporting our students as they prepare to enter Wyoming’s classrooms!
   
   

 

Thank you all for your continued dedication to our students, one another, our College, and the communities we serve, and for the kindness and respect you bring to our work together.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, a happy and safe Halloween. I look forward to seeing many of you at Monday's College Meeting!

 

Go Pokes!

Jenna