Dean's Weekly Newsletter 2-27-26

Dear Colleagues,

 

Between trips to the Capitol, candidate visits, and eager students, we are continuing to move productively and quickly at the College of Education. I appreciate everyone's momentum as you work to ensure that the College serves as a cornerstone supporting Wyoming's educational foundation. 

 

Here are some updates from the week:

1. Student Ambassadors
2. New Teacher's Table
3. Upcoming ECTL Workshops
4. Peer Mentoring Group
5. “Do Good, Be Good” Seeton Family Community Impact Fund
6. John P “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Fund Graduate Travel Award
7. Faculty Regalia
8. Staff Departure
9. John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Distinguished Speaker
10. College of Education Research Forum Featuring Undergraduate Research

 

Student Ambassadors: First, I am thrilled to share adorable pictures of College of Education Student Ambassadors on school visits with our recruiter, Jody Evans, as well as Lucas Dow, to get more high schoolers excited about careers in teaching.

Students also joined Jody on a trip to North Park High School in Walden, Colorado. What an amazing group and such uplifting smiles!

 

New Teacher's Table: Stefan Robinson, Academic Advising Professional, hosted February's Teacher’s Table session this week, continuing the work supported through the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Staff Award for Student Success. Nineteen students attended the session, which focused on Praxis requirements for teacher certification in Wyoming. Julianna Worden, Academic Advising Professional, led the discussion, sharing practical step-by-step guidance on how, what, and where to prepare for the Praxis process, and she and Levi Moore, Academic Advising Manager, also created a Praxis information handout (attached) to support students as they navigate certification requirements. I appreciate the continued effort to provide students with timely, practical support as they prepare for the profession.

Upcoming ECTL Workshops: Our partners at the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL) recently announced two incredible opportunities for faculty: the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) Writing Retreat and Journal Club. Below is more information (flyers are also attached). 

 

Join ECTL for a Writing Retreat trip to UW's Neltje Center by Sheridan to work on new or existing research on teaching and learning. Apply HERE by 3/18. 

Join ECTL for a Journal Club to discuss latest research on teaching and learning, attend one or many sessions, no prep. Register HERE. 

 

Peer Mentoring Group: On Monday evening, the Dean's Office hosted an onboarding meeting for College of Education students interested in participating in the Education Peer Mentoring Pilot Program. Seven pairs of mentors and mentees from different stages of our Teacher Preparation Program will meet periodically throughout the semester to share knowledge about UW and Laramie while building new friendships along the way.

 

“Do Good, Be Good” Seeton Family Community Impact Fund: The University of Wyoming Service, Leadership, and Community Engagement Office is now seeking nominations for the inaugural “Do Good, Be Good” award, supported by the Seeton Family Community Impact Fund. Established through a gift from alumnus Tom Seeton, the fund will recognize a UW student who demonstrates sustained leadership and meaningful service to the university community and beyond. Nominations, including self-nominations, are open through March 23. Those interested in submitting a nomination or learning more can do so here: https://www.uwyo.edu/csil/community-engagement-and-service/slce/service/do-good-be-good-award.html

 

John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Fund Graduate Travel Awards: The College of Education is inviting proposals for the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Fund Graduate Travel Award, which helps support graduate student conference travel. Four $500 awards are available each fall and spring semester for master’s and doctoral students who are presenting at a conference relevant to their program. Students may receive this award once per academic year. Questions and proposals should be directed to Jake Orr (jorr2@uwyo.edu), and recipients will be notified within one month of submission. After the conference, awardees will be expected to provide a one-page summary. For more details, please review the full call here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fP7lwxeFpeI1gfGY3m8WZTzJZC8XGLd-/view.

 

Faculty Regalia: Faculty who will need rental regalia for the Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies should place their order through the University Store as soon as possible. The deadline to order rental regalia is March 20, 2026. Before ordering, please coordinate with your College of Education Director of CLAD or STE regarding costs. Orders can be placed here: https://https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1115851/University-of-Wyoming/Graduation-Caps-and-Gowns/col_greg_1115851/CATALOG_COLLEGE. Please note that if regalia is ordered and the faculty member does not attend the ceremony, the department will still be charged unless the order is cancelled before it ships.

 

Staff Departure: Natalie Enevoldsen, Director of the Early Care and Education Center (ECEC), concluded her final week with the College of Education after a period of truly exceptional leadership and service. Under Natalie’s direction, the ECEC strengthened its role as both a high-quality early learning environment for children and an important clinical and training site for our students. She consistently upheld the highest standards of care, professionalism, and instructional excellence, ensuring that the Center remained aligned with best practices in early childhood education while also supporting the College’s broader mission of preparing outstanding educators for Wyoming.

 

Although we will miss her daily presence, we are grateful that she will continue to serve the University of Wyoming in her new role at the UW Foundation. We look forward to continued partnership and wish her every success in this exciting next chapter. Good luck, Natalie!

 

John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Speaker: Faculty, staff, and students are invited to join us for the next installment of the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Union Family Room (2nd Floor). Dr. Jody Britten will present “Beyond the Buzz: Generative AI as a Partner in Education and Instructional Practice,” exploring practical and strategic applications of generative AI in education. A light lunch will be provided. While an RSVP is not required, we encourage attendees to respond in advance so we can prepare. Please see the attached flyer for full details. RSVP here: https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3BHEZHJyKXZmnB4.

 

College of Education Research Forum Featuring Undergraduate Research: Faculty, staff, students, and community partners are invited to the College of Education’s Inaugural Research Forum on Friday, April 3, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Ballroom. This new event will bring together student scholarship, faculty research, and research-to-practice dialogue, with opportunities to engage through student posters, faculty discovery tables, and roundtable conversations. The forum is designed to highlight practical, evidence-based strategies shaping classrooms today and to strengthen connections across research and practice in the College of Education. Admission is free, and hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. Please see the attached flyer for full details.  Many thanks to Joe Schroer for leading this important forum!

 

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We have a lot going on and a lot coming, and I appreciate everyone's nimble pace and careful attention as we move through another semester of excellence. Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, please feel free to send along any updates you would like me to include in next week’s newsletter.

 

Jenna