Dean's Weekly Newsletter 12-5-2025

Published December 05, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

 

I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. As we return to the final weeks of the semester, I want to extend my appreciation to all of you for the energy, care, and purpose you bring to our shared work. Throughout the fall, we have been intentional about strengthening our ability to connect with students and deepen collaboration among faculty and staff. At the same time, we have continued expanding our engagement with partners and supporters across Wyoming who are committed to helping the College grow and to advancing the educational and mental health needs of our state. I am grateful for the conversations, collaborations, and shared efforts that continue to move us forward as a community dedicated to student success, educator preparation, and service to Wyoming.

 

Here are some recent updates for this week:

 

  1. Honoring the Legacy of Judy Catchpole
  2. Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Partnership
  3. November 19 TEI Showcase
  4. Faculty Search Updates
  5. Faculty Scholarship Update #1
  6. Faculty Scholarship Update #2
  7. AI Certificate Approval
  8. Faculty Sabbatical Approval
  9. Classroom Management Workshop
  10. EDST 2450 Student Research Showcase
  11. Giving Day Recognition
  12. Dean’s Recognition Ceremony
  13. Teaching for Learning Conference Opportunity
  14. Fall 2025 Dean’s Office Events Summary

 

Honoring the Legacy of Judy Catchpole: It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of former State Superintendent Judy Catchpole. Judy, who served as Wyoming’s highest-ranking education officer from 1995 to 2003, was not only a respected statewide leader for but also a valued member of our College's Advocacy Board. She participated in our meetings and consistently offered thoughtful guidance, support, and a deep commitment to advancing education in Wyoming. Judy’s legacy is one of dedicated public service, advocacy for students and educators, and an enduring belief in the power of education to strengthen communities. Her contributions touched many lives across the state, including ours, and she will be deeply missed.

Please join me in holding Catchpole family especially close in your thoughts during this difficult time.

For those who may wish to read more, the Governor’s statement can be found here:

https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/gordon-issues-statement-on-passing-of-former-state-superintendent-judy-catchpole/article_14229455-f93e-4077-a349-94505a2d05ed.html

 

Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Partnership: In mid-November, Wyoming Ag in the Classroom partnered with the Wyoming Rural Teacher Corps to offer an all-day professional development workshop focused on place-based agricultural education. Corps members engaged in hands-on activities designed to help future educators connect students with Wyoming’s heritage industries while encouraging critical thinking about local community needs. The session highlighted practical approaches for integrating Wyoming-centered stewardship and place-based learning across STEM and humanities instruction.

 

November 19 TEI Showcase: We were pleased to see strong statewide media interest in our recent TEI Showcase, which highlighted the growing need for high-quality Career and Technical Education and Agricultural Education teacher preparation programs in Wyoming. Coverage appeared in the Laramie Boomerang and was also republished in the Casper Star Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, and the Gillette News Record, underscoring the broad relevance of this work across the state. Read more here: https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/uw-showcase-celebrates-growth-impact-of-career-and-technical-education-in-wyoming/article_c7bff13e-7a21-4c0e-b34d-f4ed69b9d4b3.html

 

Faculty Search Updates: We continue to make good progress on faculty and staff searches across the College. Today, we will hear a finalist presentation from Dr. Lorraine Males for the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education position. A recording of her talk will be shared when it becomes available. I also met with finalists for the Mathematics Education Outreach Assistant Professor position, including Nancy Kress and Michael Lawson, as well as candidates for the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education position, including Jessica Shumway and Scott Chamberlin. I will meet with an additional finalist, Jeremy Zelkowski, next week. Interviews are also underway for the second School of Teacher Education Office Associate position, and we look forward to meeting the finalist soon.

 

Faculty Scholarship Update #1: JP Han, Assistant Professor in the School of Teacher Education, shared two recent publications that represent his first scholarly work with a University of Wyoming affiliation. His article in the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education presents findings from a comprehensive meta-analysis on problem-posing interventions and cognitive mathematics outcomes. A second piece, published in AIEM – Avances de Investigación en Educación Matemática, revisits key questions in mathematical problem-posing research. A round of applause to JP for his growing scholarly contributions!

 

Faculty Scholarship Update #2: Steve Bialostok, professor in the School of Teacher Education, shared that one of his recent articles was just published. His article is titled "Reclaiming democracy through education: revisiting Funds of Knowledge in times of crisis / Recuperando la democracia a través de la educación: un replanteamiento de los Fondos de Conocimiento en tiempos de crisis," and I am sharing it here for everyone to read. Congratulations, Steve!

 

AI Certificate Approval: William Cain presented the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the new AI for Professional Learning Design and Development Graduate Certificate to both the Deans Council and the UW Board of Trustees last month. His presentation highlighted the certificate’s focus on preparing educators and learning professionals to integrate AI responsibly into instructional and workforce development settings. The Board voted to approve the proposal and advance it to the Request for Approval stage, marking an important step in expanding the College of Education's leadership in applied, human-centered AI for learning.

 

Faculty Sabbatical Approval: William also received confirmation from UW Faculty Affairs that his sabbatical application has been approved for the upcoming cycle. This recognition reflects his sustained scholarly contributions and the strength of his proposed plans for continued research and professional growth. We look forward to the impact his work will bring to the College and the broader field.

 

Classroom Management Workshop: Joe Schroer and Mary Todd hosted a Classroom Management 101 workshop this week, drawing nearly 20 students from across the College on a chilly evening. The session included hands-on activities and conversations focused on building positive, productive learning environments in future classrooms. Joe and Mary shared their appreciation for the College’s support and noted the strong interest in continuing events like this in the semesters ahead. I am grateful to Joe and Mary for their commitment to our students and for creating meaningful learning experiences that strengthen their preparation as future educators.

EDST 2450 Student Research Showcase: Joe Schroer also invites the College community to the EDST 2450 Academic Poster Session today, Today, December 5. Students will present pilot research projects on topics such as motivation, self-efficacy, and the relationship between exercise and learning, using both correlational and experimental designs. Sessions will run from 9:00–9:50 AM and 11:00–11:50 AM, with the second session featuring additional posters. All are welcome, and students appreciate the opportunity to discuss their work with members of the College.

 

Giving Day Recognition: We were pleased to see strong participation from across the College during this year’s UW Giving Day. Natalie Enevoldsen, Director of the Early Care and Education Center, received the Top Advocate Award for her exceptional outreach and engagement efforts. The Science and Math Teaching Center was recognized with the Most Improved Campaign Award, reflecting strong collaboration and renewed momentum in their fundraising. These recognitions highlight the creativity and dedication of our College units to fundraise and lengthen the reach of their initiatives.

 

Dean’s Recognition Ceremony: We look forward to welcoming our College community to the 2025 Dean’s Recognition Ceremony this evening. The reception begins at 5:00 PM, followed by dinner and a 6:30 PM program honoring faculty, staff, students, and partners across the College. This year’s recognitions include the Everett D. and Elizabeth M. Lantz Distinguished Professorship, awarded to Jihyun Lee and to the team of Nikki Baldwin and Amy Encinger; the Mary Garland Distinguished Fellowship, awarded to Jaepil “JP” Han and Tiffany Hunt; and the Graduate and Undergraduate Student Choice Instructor Awards for Teaching Excellence, presented to Cindy Brock and Joe Russo respectively. We will also celebrate the recipients of the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Student Teaching Support Award nominated by our faculty members: Aida Hester, Toby Johnson, Silas Boyd, Emilee Harrington, Britney Maldonado, Marnie Martin, Dusti Peterson, Riley Valentine, Autumn Watkins, Maddy Heissenbuttel, Cambree Miller, and Sarah Turner, along with their nominators. In addition, we will recognize the Dick and Marty Brown Non-Traditional Student Award recipients nominated by the members of our Student Success Center: Dianna Arnold, Kelby Laska Davila, Dan Lavine, Daisy Kelley, Rebecca Calkins, Corinne Marie Ellis, and Joshua Hayes. We will also acknowledge this fall’s Dunham Family Fellows: Katie Acord, Sage Angell, Karen Jeske, Chevelle Jolley, Julianna Muñoz, and Chloe Willenborg. We are grateful to all who make this celebration possible.

 

Teaching for Learning Conference Opportunity: The Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning is inviting UW instructors to apply for sponsored participation in the Teaching for Learning (T4L) Conference in Denver, taking place February 26–28, 2026. Three instructors will receive full support for travel, lodging, and meals, and all UW instructors are welcome to apply. Applications are due by 5:00 PM on December 15, with selected participants notified by December 19. Conference details and the application link are included in the attached flyer.

 

Fall 2025 Dean’s Office Events Summary: As we close the semester, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable range of events, gatherings, and initiatives our office has led or supported this fall. Together, these activities demonstrate how much our College has expanded its reach and strengthened its capacity to engage students, staff, faculty, and supporters across the university and throughout Wyoming. I am grateful to everyone who contributed their time and energy to make this work possible. Below is a snapshot of the events that helped shape a meaningful and highly active semester for our community.

 

  1. 8/22 (5–7 PM) — Faculty and Staff Barbecue
  2. 9/2 (12–1 PM) — College of Education Meeting
  3. 9/15 (12–1 PM) — Dean’s Open Forum
  4. 9/15 (4:30–6:30 PM) — College of Education Dean's Fall Welcome
  5. 10/3 (12:00–3:00 PM) — Homecoming Tie-Dye Workshop
  6. 10/6 (8:30–10:00 AM) — Dean’s Fall Pancake Breakfast
  7. 10/6 (12–1 PM) — College of Education Meeting
  8. 10/9 (12–1 PM) — Open Forum with Associate Deans
  9. 10/9 (5:30–8:30 PM) — College Advocacy Board (CAB) Social
  10. 10/10 (9 AM–1 PM) — College Advocacy Board (CAB) Meeting
  11. 10/11 (10–11 AM) — Dunham Family Fellows Award Ceremony and Brunch
  12. 10/20 (12–1 PM) — Dean’s Open Forum
  13. 10/21 (12–1 PM) — Strategic Planning Session 1A
  14. 10/22 (12–1 PM) — Strategic Planning Session 1B
  15. 10/23–10/24 — Giving Day
  16. 10/23 (2–2:30 PM) — Graduate Paperwork Workshop
  17. 10/23 (6–8  PM) — Giving Day Movie Event 
  18. 10/25 (1–1:30 PM) — Graduate Paperwork Workshop
  19. 10/27 (12–1 PM) — Open Forum with Directors
  20. 10/30 (10 AM–12 PM) — Oktoberfest Student. Faculty, and Staff Engagement Event
  21. 11/3 (12–1 PM) — College of Education Meeting
  22. 11/12 (1–2 PM) — Open Forum with Associate Deans
  23. 11/13 (11 AM–12 PM) — Strategic Planning Session (Staff)
  24. 11/14 (1–2:15 PM) — Peter Afflerbach Distinguished Speaker Event
  25. 11/17 (12–1 PM) — Strategic Planning Session 2A
  26. 11/18 (12–1 PM) — Strategic Planning Session 2B
  27. 11/19 (5:30–8:30 PM) — Trustees Education Initiative Showcase
  28. 11/20 (11 AM–1 PM) — Thanksgiving Potluck
  29. 12/1 (12–1 PM) — Open Forum with Directors
  30. 12/5 (5–7:30 PM) — Dean’s Recognition Ceremony
  31. 12/10 (12–1 PM) — College of Education Meeting (Indian Education for All)

 

Thank you all for your continued dedication during this busy time of year. I will share our final newsletter next Friday. I appreciate everything you do to support our students and each other as we move toward the close of the semester.

 

Jenna