Dean’s Weekly Newsletter 4-24-2026

Published April 24, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

A wide range of spring weather is making itself known in Laramie, and as the semester moves swiftly toward its close, there is no shortage of activity across the College of Education. From faculty and student accomplishments to search updates, partnership work, student engagement efforts, and upcoming events, this season has reflected the breadth of work taking place across our College. Below are a few updates from across the College of Education.

In this week’s newsletter:

  1. Retirement Reception Planned for Leslie Rush
  2. Lauren Carlisle Named Director of the ECEC
  3. JP Han Receives Presidential Scholarly Award for Early Career Faculty
  4. New Counseling Faculty Have Accepted Offers to Join the College This Fall
  5. Assistant Professor in ESL Search Update
  6. Peer Mentoring Program Continues to Build Community
  7. Spring CTSO Events Continue Across Wyoming
  8. Classroom Connection Tour Visits Douglas
  9. Teach Wyoming Day Welcomes Future Educators to Campus
  10. Voices in the Field Connects Students with Career Pathways Across Wyoming
  11. College of Education Represented at Wyoming History Day
  12. Education Burrito 🌯 Station
  13. Reminder: Advocacy Board Reception on May 7
  14. Reminder: Ellbogen Excellence Ceremony on May 12

Retirement Reception Planned for Leslie Rush: The Dean’s Office is planning a retirement reception in honor of Leslie Rush, Wyoming Excellence Chair in Literacy Education, on May 14 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Art Museum Lobby. This gathering will offer colleagues and friends an opportunity to come together to celebrate Leslie’s remarkable contributions to the College of Education and her impact on the field of literacy education. We extend our sincere congratulations to Leslie on her upcoming retirement and our appreciation for her years of dedication, leadership, and service. Additional details will be shared with the College as plans are finalized.

Lauren Carlisle Named Director of the ECEC: Lauren Carlisle has been appointed Director of the University of Wyoming Early Care and Education Center, with her tenure beginning June 1. Lauren previously served as an assistant teacher at the ECEC and has since become a statewide leader in early childhood education through her work with the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative. Her appointment advances the College’s vision for deeper integration of the ECEC within the Center for Early Learning, with continued emphasis on high-quality care, clinical training for UW students, and expanded research and outreach. Congratulations on the appointment, Lauren!

JP Han Receives Presidential Scholarly Award for Early Career Faculty: Jaepil “JP” Han, Assistant Professor in Elementary Mathematics Education, has been selected for a 2026 Presidential Scholarly Award for Early Career Faculty, a University of Wyoming recognition given to faculty members who show strong potential for scholarship that advances the mission of the University. In response, JP described the honor as “especially meaningful” in his first year at UW and said it reinforces his commitment to continue growing as a scholar and contributing to the academic community. Bravo, JP!

New Counseling Faculty Have Accepted Offers to Join the College This Fall: Regin Dean and Zac McInerny have accepted offers for assistant professor positions in counseling following searches conducted during this academic year and are now moving through the hiring process. We are pleased to welcome them to the College of Education this fall.


Assistant Professor in ESL Education Search Update: We welcomed Rachel Patrick and Amin Davoodi to campus over the past two weeks as part of the Assistant Professor in English as a Second Language (ESL) Education search currently underway. We appreciate everyone who helped make their visits productive and welcoming and who provided feedback during the process. Selecting our future colleagues is one of the most important decisions we make, and the search process allows us to engage in shared governance and community input. Thank you to those who attended the candidates’ job talks, including this week’s session. We look forward to sharing future updates about the search.


Peer Mentoring Program Continues to Build Community: Students in the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s and Trustees Education Initiative Peer Mentoring Program continued their second round of meetings over the past week, connecting through activities that ranged from lunch at Turtle Rock Café to a competitive evening at the bowling alley. Along the way, they talked about academics, practicum and student teaching, the end of the semester, and life more broadly. At least one mentor also documented a decisive bowling loss to his mentee (171 to 92… better luck next time!). These updates reflect the spirit of the program: creating informal spaces for students to build strong connections, support one another, and develop friendships that can last beyond a single semester.


Spring CTSO Events Continue Across Wyoming: Last week’s newsletter highlighted the Wyoming FFA Convention and the SkillsUSA Wyoming State Leadership and Skills Conference, and we also wanted to recognize other major spring Career and Technical Student Organization events. FCCLA, FBLA, and DECA each held state gatherings this semester, creating additional opportunities for students across Wyoming to demonstrate leadership, deepen career-focused learning, and connect with advisors and industry partners. We appreciate the UW and College of Education faculty and staff who supported these events


Classroom Connection Tour Visits Douglas: The Classroom Connection Tour traveled to Converse County School District #1 in Douglas in March, where students, faculty, and staff were welcomed by Superintendent Ryan Mackay, HR Director Brent Notman, and Special Services Coordinator Haylei Werkele. Six students joined six faculty and staff members to visit schools across the district and observe a range of instructional settings and classroom environments. For students, the experience offered a clearer view of day-to-day work in schools and helped connect their coursework at UW to practice in the field.


Teach Wyoming Day Welcomes Future Educators to Campus: On April 10 and 11, the College of Education and the Wyoming School-University Partnership welcomed eight high school students from Big Horn 1, Park 1, and Albany 1 to campus for Teach Wyoming Day, held alongside UW Discovery Days. Students participated in hands-on sessions with faculty and staff, explored topics including lesson design, literacy, brain-based learning, and science teaching, and experienced campus life through tours, meals, and an overnight stay in the residence halls. The event was designed to help students see themselves as future educators and to introduce them to pathways into the College of Education.


Voices in the Field Connects Students with Career Pathways Across Wyoming: Two Voices in the Field conferences were held this spring in Powell and Rock River, giving students hands-on exposure to career opportunities in their home regions. A total of 298 students participated across the two events, exploring pathways ranging from entrepreneurship, culinary arts, and finance to pipefitting, law enforcement, counseling, fine arts, and the skilled trades. With support from nearly 100 partners across K–12, higher education, and business and industry, the conferences offered students a more interactive alternative to the traditional career fair and a stronger sense of the opportunities available in Wyoming.


College of Education Represented at Wyoming History Day: Four members of the College of Education community served as judges for the Wyoming History Day competition on April 20: Sophia Destefano, Class of 2025; Andy Pannell; Anne Aydinian-Perry; and Grace Buhler, Class of 2024. We appreciate their service in supporting student scholarship and learning through this statewide event.


Education Burrito 🌯 Station: Let’s celebrate spring and the semester’s ending. Next Tuesday (April 28th), join us for breakfast burritos and brief hellos in front of the College of Education in Sullivan Plaza from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (or while supplies last; we recommend coming early). All are welcome, and College of Education students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend and bring a friend.


Reminder: Advocacy Board Reception on May 7: Faculty, staff, and other stakeholders are warmly invited to join the College of Education Advocacy Board Reception on Thursday, May 7, at the Wyo Sports Ranch Club and Loge on the west side of War Memorial Stadium. The reception will provide an opportunity to connect around the important work underway across the College and help set the stage for the Advocacy Board’s spring meeting on May 8. The College Advocacy Board hopes you will consider joining us for the evening. RSVP here: https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ueDvDtY45GGd2S


Reminder: Ellbogen Excellence Ceremony on May 12: Faculty, staff, and other stakeholders are also warmly invited to join us for the 2nd Annual Ellbogen Excellence Ceremony on Tuesday, May 12, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the UW Conference Center Ballroom. This event will highlight the impact of Ellbogen Foundation support across the College of Education through presentations from Mary Garland Distinguished Fellows in Education, Outstanding Dissertation Award recipients, and participants in the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s and Trustees Education Initiative Peer Mentoring Program. A reception with light refreshments will follow the formal program. RSVP here: https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cIs7vODVWc5ctnw

***


As always, thank you for the work you do each day on behalf of our students, colleagues, and communities across Wyoming. I hope these final weeks of the semester are productive and manageable, and I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events.

Warm regards,

Jenna