Dean's Weekly Newsletter 3-13-2026
Published March 13, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Just when the semester had started to feel unseasonably warm, Laramie reminded us who we are with snow, wind, and a return to chilly weather. Still, a stretch of cold weather does have one advantage: it gives us all a little more incentive to stay inside and focus on the teaching, research, and student support.
If you need another thought to warm you up, President Seidel shared last Friday that “both the Wyoming House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a final biennial budget bill that fully restores Governor Gordon’s recommended funding for the University of Wyoming at the levels he proposed.” We will continue to learn more about the implications of UW’s biennial budget in the weeks and months ahead, and I look forward to sharing updates as they develop.
Ahead of spring break and in the midst of midterms, we had another busy week across the College, and I am pleased to share a few highlights:
- John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean of the College of Education Distinguished Speaker: Jody Britten
- College of Education Booth at the Council for Exceptional Children Conference
- Mia Williams Earns ISTE Educator Certification
- College of Education Ambassadors Pop-up for St. Patrick's Day
- CTE Professional Development in Hulett, WY
- Updates from the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC)
- Updates from the Education Student Success Center (CoESSC)
- Updates from the Agricultural Education Program (Ag Ed)
- John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach and College of Education Excellence Award for Student Engagement
- Deadline Extended, 3/22: ECTL: Summer Institute, 5/27-5/29, Apply today!
- Peer Mentoring Program First Meetings
- Reminder: Upcoming Events
John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean of the College of Education Distinguished Speaker: Jody Britten: Last Friday, the College of Education was pleased to welcome Jody Britten to campus for the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series. More than 60 faculty, staff, and students joined in person and online to hear her presentation on generative AI as a partner in education and instructional practice, with an emphasis on identifying real problems and co-designing AI tools with educators. We were especially glad to host Jody before her keynote at the 2026 Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo in Salt Lake City. Her visit offered a timely opportunity for our community to consider thoughtful, practice-centered perspectives on AI in education.
College of Education Booth at the Council for Exceptional Children Conference: At the same conference at Jody’s keynote, Ling Zhang represented the College of Education with a booth allowing other conference attendees the chance to beta-test the CoIEP. The CoIEP is a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) system that supports special education professionals in developing legally compliant IEPs and evidence-based instruction for students with disabilities. Applause to Ling for bringing this research from the UW College of Education to the national stage!
Mia Williams Earns ISTE Educator Certification: Congratulations to Mia Williams for earning the International Society for Technology in Education Educator Certification, an internationally recognized credential that highlights excellence in using technology to support high-impact teaching and learning. This certification recognizes educators who go beyond simply integrating technology and instead use digital tools to increase student engagement and learning outcomes. Mia’s achievement reflects her commitment the College of Education’s ongoing efforts to prepare educators who effectively leverage technology in today’s classrooms. Please join me in congratulating Mia on this important recognition.
College of Education Ambassadors Pop-up for St. Patrick's Day: Here on campus, our College of Education Ambassadors hosted a cheerful St. Patrick’s Day pop-up in the Education Annex Commons, inviting students to grab a snack and share notes of appreciation for College of Education faculty, advisors, and staff. The event offered a fun and thoughtful way to build community while celebrating the people who help make the College such a supportive place to learn and work. What a cute event!
CTE Professional Development in Hulett, WY: Elsewhere in Wyoming, starting yesterday and continuing through tomorrow morning, the College’s Career and Technical Education program is hosting Timber, Tools, and Trusses: Authentic Timber Framing for CTE Classrooms in Hulett, Wyoming. The workshop brings together participants for hands-on learning in timber framing, truss design, shop safety, and classroom application, while also strengthening partnerships between UW and secondary CTE programs across the state. It is a strong example of the College’s continued service to Wyoming through practical, place-based professional development, and we are excited to support future workshop opportunities for CTE teachers statewide. The agenda is attached for those who would like to learn more.
Updates from the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC): The Science and Mathematics Teaching Center continues to advance its work in support of STEM education across Wyoming. Last week, the SMTC delivered the STEM Education Swag Bag from its 2025 Give Day campaign to winners Kathleen and Henry Derr, selected from donors who contributed to the Center during Give Day. This week, the SMTC also facilitated another session of its Building Thinking Classrooms book study and the seventh follow-up professional learning session for the Teacher-Researcher Knowledge Exchange (TRKE) program, which connects educators and researchers through collaborative work designed to strengthen educational outcomes and scientific literacy. For those who would like to learn more about the Center’s broader work and reach, the SMTC’s 2025 Impact Report, click here: https://shorturl.at/KFmjT
Updates from the Education Student Success Center (CoESSC): Next in updates from our centers, the College of Education Student Success Center recently welcomed Lauren Hansen as its new academic advising professional. As CoESSC continues its work to support student success, advisors are preparing to meet with 635 undergraduate students in the coming weeks through Fall 2026 advising campaigns, in addition to supporting incoming first-year and transfer students beginning this summer and fall. The team is also preparing for New Student Days on March 27, April 3, April 10, April 17, and April 27, with 44 incoming first-year College of Education students already registered to attend. Faculty and staff who would like to join the College Connect Session are welcome from 9:50 AM to 10:20 AM in the Education Auditorium on March 27, April 3, April 10, and April 27.
Updates from the Agricultural Education Program (Ag Ed): The Agricultural Education program continues to see strong momentum this year. Emma Daly, one of our senior students, has accepted a position at Southeast High School in Yoder, becoming the first agricultural education teacher hired in Wyoming during this hiring cycle. Congrats, Emma, and we will miss seeing your smiling face around campus!
We also congratulate Corinne Covill, who finished 3rd High Individual Overall at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo meat judging contest, along with her teammates and coaches for a strong season that included multiple top team and individual finishes. As the competitive season concludes, we look forward to seeing these students continue serving Wyoming by helping host state FFA and 4-H contests in Laramie next month.
John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach and College of Education Excellence Award for Student Engagement: Congratulations to Margaret Hudson, Nikki Baldwin, and Rob Hill for receiving the John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Dean's Award for Excellence in Wyoming Outreach, and to Joe Schroer for receiving the College of Education Excellence Award for Student Engagement. Their hard work aligns well with the mission of the College, the needs of our students, and the state of Wyoming.
Deadline Extended, 3/22: ECTL: Summer Institute, 5/27-5/29: The Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning has extended the application deadline for the 2026 Summer Institute to Sunday, March 22. The Institute will take place May 27 through May 29 at Saratoga Hot Springs Resort and invites UW faculty and lecturers to gather for open discussion, shared problem-solving, and reflection on teaching and learning. In lieu of a stipend, the ECTL will cover lodging in individual rooms and most meals, and participants will be notified of acceptance by Friday, March 27. Additional details, the application link, and information about many other upcoming ECTL events are available here: https://airtable.com/app1ilDuTYr5opDFG/shrpzYmLYHXdCZEH4.
Peer Mentoring Program First Meetings: Our new Peer Mentoring Program is already off to a thoughtful start, with mentors and mentees beginning to build meaningful connections through their first meet-ups. In one recent gathering, a mentor and mentee spent time sharing dinner, talking about classes, and simply being present together while making Lego flowers and watching Disney movies. Attached is one particularly well-done report from Josie Thomason. We are grateful to the students helping shape this program with such care.
Reminder: Upcoming Events: Below are dates to keep in mind for some upcoming College events as we continue into the second half of the semester. We look forward to continuing to share details in the coming weeks.
April 2, 2026, 10 AM – 12 PM | CTE BBQ | Ag/CTE Lab, Education Building 06
April 3, 2026, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Education Research Forum | Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center
April 6, 2026, 12-1 PM | College of Education April Meeting | Student Union Family Room
May 7, 2026, 12-1 PM | College of Education May Meeting | Student Union Central Ballroom
May 7, 2026, 5-8 PM | College of Education Advocacy Board Reception | Wyo Sports Ranch Club and Loge
May 12, 2026, 4-6 PM | College of Education Ellbogen Excellence Ceremony | UW Conference Center Ballroom
May 16, 2026 (Graduate Ceremony at 12:30 PM, Undergraduate Ceremony at 3:30 PM) | UW Commencement | Arena Auditorium
Also, a friendly reminder that next week is Spring Break, so I will not be sending out a weekly newsletter. While classes will pause for the week, administrative offices will remain open during regular business hours. The following week brings the March Board of Trustees meeting, which is always a full week across campus, so the newsletter will pause then as well.
I look forward to sharing the next Weekly Newsletter with you on Friday, April 3. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy a bit of rest and downtime during the break. Go Pokes!
With gratitude,
Jenna
