Dean's Weekly Newsletter 9-19-25

Published September 19, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

 

I hope you had a great week. The semester is flying by, and I am thrilled by all of the activity, community events, initiatives, projects, learning, and excellence happening every day in our College and on campus. Events, meetings, power outages… There is never a dull moment on campus and in the College.

This week, I have quite a few updates:

  • Call for John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Staff Award for Student Success
  • Call for Everett D. and Elizabeth M. Lantz Distinguished Professorship in Education
  • Call for Mary Garland Distinguished Fellowship in Education
  • Success of the College of Education Dean's Fall Welcome
  • Success of the Dean's First Open Forum
  • Science Education PhD Student Award
  • Updates on RTP Timelines
  • Updated CoE Directory & Org Chart
  • University Regulation on Government Relations
  • National #TeachAg Day
  • CoE Faculty at the National Technology Leadership Summit
  • Reminder: Call for Proposals for the Fall College of Education Distinguished Speaker
  • Reminder: Call for Self-Nominations for the New RIE Committee Chair 
  • Office of General Counsel 2025-2026 Training Calendar
  • Upcoming Events and Opportunities:
    • Dean’s Pancake Breakfast
    • College of Education Meeting
    • 2025-2026 Experiential Education Educator Learning Community
    • District Connections Residency Fair
    • Giving Day

 

Call for John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Dintinguished Staff Award for Student Success: I am pleased to announce the launch of the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Distinguished Staff Award for Student Success. Established with support from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, this inaugural award provides $5,000 to support innovative staff-led projects that enhance student learning, engagement, and success in the College of Education. Please see the attached call for more details. Proposals are due October 31, 2025, and the award period will run from January 2026 to January 2027. Please send application materials to Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu 

 

Call for Everett D. and Elizabeth M. Lantz Distinguished Professorship in Education: Alongside the staff award, I am also pleased to announce the call for applications for the Everett D. and Elizabeth M. Lantz Distinguished Professorship in Education. Established through the generosity of Phillip Lantz to honor his parents’ lifelong commitment to education in Wyoming, this annual $15,000 professorship supports innovative outreach, statewide service, teaching, and research. In keeping with donor intent, special consideration is given to faculty in Early Childhood or Elementary Education whose work directly benefits Wyoming’s children, families, and schools. Please see the attached call for more details. Proposals are due October 31, 2025, with the award period running from January 2026 to January 2027. Please send application materials to Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu

 

Call for Mary Garland Distinguished Fellowship in Education: In addition, I am pleased to announce the call for applications for the Mary Garland Distinguished Fellowship in Education. Established through the generosity of Mary Ellbogen Garland, this annual $15,000 fellowship supports innovative outreach, statewide service, teaching, and research that directly address the educational needs of Wyoming’s children, families, educators, and schools. In keeping with donor intent, priority will be given to projects that deliver meaningful, practical service to the State of Wyoming. Please see the attached call for more details. Proposals are due October 31, 2025, with the award period running from January 2026 to January 2027. Please send application materials to Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu. 

 

Success of the College of Education Dean's Fall Welcome: On Monday, the College of Education hosted its inaugural Dean’s Fall Welcome at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, with the theme Celebrating the Power of Teachers. The event honored the impact of teaching by showcasing student and alumni achievements.Guest speakers included Allyson Fertig, a Secondary Math Education graduate and former Wyoming Cowgirl Basketball player, who joined virtually from Germany, and Allison Vandal, an Elementary Education graduate and current Mrs. Wyoming AmeriCAN. A student panel, featuring Silas Boyd (Elementary Education), Hilde Ball (Secondary English Education), and Sarah Turner (Agricultural Education), shared reflections on their experiences and the future of education. The panel was moderated by Levi Moore, Advising Manager and recipient of the inaugural UW Student Choice Advising Award. In a moment of heartfelt appreciation, all three students recognized Joe Schroer as their favorite professor. Nearly 200 attendees, including students, alumni, faculty from CLAD and STE, CoE staff, members of the College of Education Advocacy Board, and community partners, gathered for this celebration. Students expressed particular gratitude that the spotlight was on them, giving them a platform to connect, share their stories, and be recognized as the heart of the College. We were also pleased to welcome Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, Michelle Hilaire, and Dean of the Honors College, Peter Parolin, who joined us in celebrating the essential role of teachers.

 

 

Success of the Dean's First Open Forum: Also on Monday, the Dean’s first Open Forum was a success, drawing 20 faculty and staff into an engaging conversation. The forum was designed to foster dialogue around our shared goals and to provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions. Faculty and staff raised requests for new tools and resources, discussed ways to support new colleagues and adjunct faculty, and shared concerns about safety and physical spaces on campus. The next Open Forum will take place on October 9 and will be led by Associate Deans Buss and Moran (12:00–1:00 PM, ED 117).

 

Science Education PhD Student Award: We are proud and delighted to share that William Keith Turner, a Science Education PhD student in our College, has received the Thomas J. Brennan Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. This prestigious honor recognizes excellence in teaching astronomy at the high school level across North America. Turner, who serves as a teacher and Planetarium Director at Carmel High School in Indiana, was recognized for his outstanding commitment to hands-on learning, mentoring, teacher training, and public outreach in astronomy. His work has provided thousands of students with transformative opportunities, from using professional telescopes and space probes to engaging in national NASA competitions. We are so proud of him!

 

 

Updates on RTP Timelines: Cases for Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion have been submitted and are now being finalized before moving forward to the schools for review. School meetings will take place the week of September 29, with school votes due within three days of each meeting. School directors will then complete their reviews and meet with candidates between October 11 and October 28. The College RTP Committee will convene during the week of November 10–14, after which cases will be tallied, finalized, and forwarded to the Dean’s Office in late November. Final reviews and candidate meetings, if needed, will be completed before the University closes for winter break on December 23.

 

Updated CoE Directory & Org Chart: To make it easier to contact each other across departments and learn about the faculty and staff who make up our community, we update several documents each year to serve as a resource. This week, I would like to highlight our directory spreadsheet and our detailed organizational chart.

Directory Spreadsheet (UW Login Required):

https://uwy.sharepoint.com/:x:/s/CollegeofEducationDeansOffice/ET4d-NJ_HXNFmFjATfbVrnIBl_1-4ZGymqHN9HfqVDzltg?e=jzco1b

Detailed Organizational Chart (Public Website): https://www.uwyo.edu/education/faculty-staff/organizational-chart.html#general-org-chart

If you ever spot something that needs to be updated, please contact Cody Schofield at cschofi3@uwyo.edu, or any member of the Dean’s Office.

 

University Regulation on Government Relations: As a reminder, employees are encouraged to review the University’s policy on government relations and free expression. University Regulation 12-4 clarifies that employees may interact with public officials as private citizens. However, if employees are representing the University, they must coordinate through the University’s government relations process. The full regulation is available here: https://www.uwyo.edu/regs-policies/_files/docs/regulations-2019/uw_reg_12-4_approved_3-28-19.pdf

 

National #TeachAg Day: On Thursday I was welcomed by our Agricultural Education students, who invited me into their classroom and lab to share what they have been learning. Their passion and professionalism were inspiring, and I am so impressed by their dedication to advocating for Agricultural Education in Wyoming. Pictured are Laural Rozema, Lane Jay, Ty Berry (instructor), myself, Joseph Kennah, Sarah Turner, and Cambree Miller, with a special shoutout to Emma Daly (not pictured). Our Secondary Ag students speak highly of Ty Berry, and we are fortunate to have him leading these courses. Go future Ag teachers! Learn more about National Teach Ag Day here: https://lnkd.in/guAeHW4X

 

CoE Faculty at the National Technology Leadership Summit: Mia Williams, Associate Professor in Learning Design and Technology, attended the National Technology Leadership Summit (NTLS) in Washington, D.C., September 17–19. NTLS brings together national leaders in technology, policy, and education, including association presidents, journal editors, corporate executives, and nonprofit leaders, who collaborate to shape the future of digital teaching and learning. Williams participated in the Picturing the Theory of GenAI in Education working group, contributing to national conversations that highlight her expertise and the College of Education’s growing role in advancing innovation in educator preparation. Her work helps ensure that Wyoming’s educators and students remain at the forefront of best practices in educational technology, leadership, and policy. More information about the Summit is available at https://ntls.info/.

 

Call for Proposals for the Fall College of Education Distinguished Speaker Reminder: Last year we welcomed Mandy Smoker Broaddus and Stephen Newton to campus for thoughtful discussions on Wyoming education, and we are excited to continue this initiative with a Fall Distinguished Speaker event in late November or early December. Faculty and staff, individually or in groups, are invited to submit a one-page proposal that introduces the speaker and explains why their voice would be valuable to our campus community. The Dean’s Office will provide administrative support to the selected proposal. Please send proposals to Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu by Monday, September 22.

 

Call for Self-Nominations for the New RIE Committee Chair Reminder: It is time to select a new Chair for the Research, Innovation, and Engagement (RIE) Committee, which oversees and promotes activities related to research, innovation, and engagement. Thank you to Colby Gull, TEI Managing Director and WSUP Director, for two years of service as Chair. Interested individuals should submit a one-page vision for the RIE Committee to Alex Rickert at arickert@uwyo.edu by Monday, September 22. Learn more about the committee in the College Bylaws (page 9): https://www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/_files/docs/bylaws_education.pdf

 

Office of General Counsel 2025-2026 Training Calendar: The Office of General Counsel has released its annual training calendar. September sessions include “What is a Contract, When Do I Need a Contract, and How a Contract Moves Through WyoCloud” on Monday, September 22 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Classroom Building Room 137, and “First Amendment, Freedom of Expression, and Academic Freedom” on Tuesday, September 30 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Agriculture Building Room 223. Additional offerings through May cover FERPA, HIPAA, hiring international employees and scholars, insurance and claims, campus safety, ADA, employment law, planning events (including events for minors), the Wyoming Public Records Act, university travel policy and updates, and the Second Amendment. Please see the attached calendar for details.

 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities:

  • Dean’s Pancake Breakfast: On Monday, October 6, from 8:30 AM to 10:15 AM, we are planning to host a pancake cookout in front of the Education building. Depending on how our Homecoming game goes, hopefully the event will be in celebration of our victory! Whatever the case, it will be a wonderful opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to have breakfast together and build community.

 

  • College of Education Meeting: Later on Monday, October 6, from 12-1 PM in the Union Family Room, we will hold our second College-wide meeting. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

 

  • 2025-2026 Experiential Education Educator Learning Community: Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 Experiential Education Educator Learning Community (ELC). Fellows will explore experiential teaching practices, hear from guest speakers, and collaborate to design and reflect on their own approaches. The first meeting will be Friday, October 3, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., with biweekly sessions through December. Lunch will be provided, and sessions will also be available on Zoom. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 23. Learn more and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2SEj6oEucqEXQay1kcjXHhjn6d4Vw0B1UyhjYynuvIZ9cgQ/viewform

 

 

  • Giving Day: Mark your calendars for October 23–24. UW Giving Day is a 24-hour statewide fundraising event that brings together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends to support programs across the University. Last year the College of Education reached 487 donors and raised $111,805, and we are more ambitious than ever to break that record. More details about campaign planning and participation will be shared in the coming weeks.

 

I will pause my weekly newsletter next week during the Board of Trustees meeting, and the next one will be shared on October 3.

 

While I am always proud of the hard work of our College to develop educational excellence in Wyoming, I want to take a moment this week to emphasize our students. These future teachers, educators, counselors, and leaders are awe-inspiring people, and I am grateful to be a part of their journeys. This year, more than ever, my focus is on meeting them wherever they are and giving them my full support. Thank you for helping me with this goal.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Jenna