Dean’s Weekly Newsletter 9-4-2026

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back! I hope you had a restorative summer and that the first week of the new academic year is off to a good start.

As I begin my fourth fall serving the College of Education in the dean’s role, I am especially excited about the year ahead. There have been many changes across the University over the summer, while here in the College we have continued moving forward on new programs, partnerships, searches, and other initiatives. I look forward to keeping you informed about these developments as the semester progresses.

I am also pleased to resume my weekly newsletters. These updates provide an opportunity to share important College news, recognize the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students, and keep you informed about upcoming events and opportunities. We already have a great deal happening, so I am excited to begin the semester with some of our freshest updates.

1. Beginning the Academic Year Together
2. Strengthening Our Campus Presence and Culture
3. College of Education Meeting Next Tuesday
4. Teacher’s Table: Meet the College of Education Student Ambassadors
5. Dean’s Fall Welcome on September 14
6. Agricultural Education in Action at the Wyoming State Fair
7. Student Research Selected for National Mathematics Education Conference
8. Graduate Student Selected to Present at National Social Studies Conference
9. College of Education Student Participates in UW Leadership Academy
10. New Publication on Generative AI and Mathematics Education
11. Wyoming Excellence Chair in Literacy Searches Moving Forward
12. UW Writing Center Classroom Visits and Workshops
13. Walk with the College in the Homecoming Parade
14. Important Fall Dates
15. Remembering Louise Jackson

 

Beginning the Academic Year Together: Last week provided several opportunities to welcome our community back to campus. Our newest College of Education students participated in Saddle Up, connecting with classmates, faculty, and staff while becoming familiar with UW and preparing for the start of their college experience.

We also gathered for our annual College of Education cookout, welcoming new faculty and staff, graduate assistants, and student ambassadors while reconnecting with returning colleagues, donors, partners, and friends of the College. One of the things I value most about these gatherings is seeing the broad range of people who make up and support our College community. At the center of all of this work, however, are our students. Everything we do, from teaching and research to partnerships and service, ultimately comes back to preparing, supporting, and creating opportunities for them. Thank you to everyone who helped us begin the year together.

Strengthening Our Campus Presence and Culture: As we begin the semester, President Reeves has emphasized the importance of strengthening our campus culture through a visible and engaged on-campus presence. Being present allows us to better support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to the broader life of the University. I share the President’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and connected campus community and will follow up soon with a separate email outlining expectations for the College of Education.

College of Education Meeting Next Tuesday: Our first College of Education meeting of the fall semester will be held Tuesday, September 8, from 12–1 PM in the Wyoming Union Family Room. The agenda will include welcome remarks, introductions of new faculty and staff members, and a presentation on our new Center of Excellence in Special Education.

 

Teacher’s Table: Meet the College of Education Student Ambassadors: The next Teacher’s Table will be held Thursday, September 10, from 12–1 PM in Education Annex Room 207. Stefan Robinson, Academic Advising Professional, will be joined by members of the College of Education Student Ambassador program, who will share more about their work within the College and how other students can become involved. The event will also provide an informal opportunity for students to ask questions, connect with members of the College community, and enjoy Chick-fil-A for lunch.

 

Dean’s Fall Welcome on September 14: Faculty and staff are invited to join our students and community partners for the College of Education’s annual Dean’s Fall Welcome on Monday, September 14, from 5–7 PM in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Ballroom.

 

The evening will include dinner, brief welcomes from College leadership, and a keynote presentation from Courtney Cook Bales, a high school English teacher in Georgia who has built an online following of more than 3 million people by sharing her teacher lunches, Sunday roasts, and everyday life. Courtney’s experience provides an interesting example of “teacherpreneurship” and the ways educators can use their creativity, interests, and professional skills to build communities and pursue opportunities beyond the classroom while continuing their work as educators.

Registration is required, and space is limited:
https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5aJioPvFqCgh5IO

 

Agricultural Education in Action at the Wyoming State Fair: The Wyoming State Fair last month provided an exciting opportunity to see Agricultural Education work coming together.

Student teachers Laurel Rozema, Joseph Kennah, and Lane Jay joined their mentor teachers at the Fair, gaining hands-on experience working with students, families, livestock competitions, and agricultural educators from across Wyoming. Laurel assisted with the goat weigh-in, Lane supported the sheep classes, and Joe worked alongside one of his students and the student’s parents as they prepared for a showmanship class. The experience also gave all three students an opportunity to develop professional relationships with agricultural educators from across the state.

The State Fair also helped launch our new “Tagged to Teach Ag” recruitment initiative, led by Heath Hornecker, Professor of Practice in Agricultural Education, and Ty Berry, Lecturer in Agricultural Education. Through nominations from current agricultural educators and direct conversations with students, the initiative has already identified 38 prospective future agricultural educators, ranging from high school freshmen to community college students preparing to transfer to UW College of Education. Excellent work!

 

Student Research Selected for National Mathematics Education Conference: Claire Edman, a Secondary Mathematics Education major with a minor in Disability Studies, has had her proposal, “Integrating Secondary Education Mathematics with Disability Studies,” accepted for presentation at the 31st Annual Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference in Baltimore in February 2027.

Claire first presented this work at our inaugural College of Education Undergraduate Research Forum last spring, led by Joseph Schroer, Associate Lecturer in the School of Teacher Education, and has since refined the project for a national audience. I also want to thank Miriam Sanders, Assistant Professor in Secondary Mathematics Education, for her mentorship and support of Claire throughout this process. Congratulations, Claire!

 

Graduate Student Selected to Present at National Social Studies Conference: Sophia Destefano, a second-year student in the Curriculum and Instruction master’s program, has been selected to present at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference this December in Chicago. Alongside her advisor, Anne Aydinian-Perry, Assistant Professor in Social Studies Education, she will present “Dystopian Futures for Right Now: Using Dystopian Storytelling as Civic Education,” exploring how popular dystopian films and television programs can be used to teach students about First Amendment rights.

Sophia was also selected as Wyoming’s 2025 James Madison Memorial Fellow, a national fellowship supporting secondary social studies educators pursuing graduate study. She recently began her first teaching position at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colorado, where she teaches World Geography and Government. Her conference travel is supported through a John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Fund Graduate Travel Award.

 

College of Education Student Participates in UW Leadership Academy: College of Education student Zane Pickel is among the undergraduate students participating in this year’s University of Wyoming Leadership Academy. The program brings together students from across campus to strengthen their leadership skills, reflect on their goals, and consider how they can use those skills to serve their communities.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with the cohort and hear more about why they chose to participate and the leadership qualities they hope to strengthen through the experience. I am pleased to see College of Education students represented in this university-wide initiative and look forward to seeing how Zane and his fellow participants grow through the program.

 

New Publication on Generative AI and Mathematics Education: Miriam Sanders recently co-authored a study published in ZDM – Mathematics Education. The article, “Fostering mathematical creativity, content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge through generative AI-driven creativity-directed professional development,” examines how eight in-service teachers from rural and under-resourced districts used generative AI as a thinking partner during a professional development program.

Read the article here:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-026-01816-1

 

Wyoming Excellence Chair in Literacy Searches Moving Forward: The College is preparing to launch searches for two Wyoming Excellence Chair in Literacy positions. Kimberly Gustafson, Executive Director of the Literacy Research Center and Clinic, will chair the search committee, with Tracy Spies, Fisher Family Professor in Literacy Education, and Lorraine Males, Wyoming Excellence Chair in Mathematics Education, serving as committee members.

I look forward to beginning these searches and identifying outstanding candidates who can further strengthen literacy education, research, and engagement in Wyoming.

 

UW Writing Center Classroom Visits and Workshops: As everyone settles into the semester, I also want to highlight a resource available to faculty and students. The UW Writing Center supports students, faculty, and staff throughout the writing process and can provide a brief, 10-minute classroom introduction to its services.

Faculty can also request customized workshops focused on specific writing skills, including brainstorming, grammar conventions, topic sentences, and other areas relevant to a particular course. Custom workshops can be developed with at least two weeks’ notice.

Contact Faith Breads at fbreads@uwyo.edu for more information.

 

Walk with the College in the Homecoming Parade: You may have noticed in a recent announcement to the UW Faculty Listserv that the College of Education is officially signed up to participate in this year’s Homecoming Parade! We would love to have faculty, staff, and students represent the College with us. If you are interested in walking with the College, please contact Jake Orr at jorr@uwyo.edu for more details. I hope we can have a strong College of Education showing!

 

Important Fall Dates: Please keep the following College and University dates on your calendar:

• College Meeting: Tuesday, September 8, 12–1 PM | Union Family Room
• Education Dean’s Fall Welcome: Monday, September 14, 5–7 PM | Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Ballroom
• College Meeting: Monday, October 5, 12–1 PM | Union Family Room
• UW Giving Day: Wednesday, October 21–Thursday, October 22 | Campuswide
• College Meeting: Monday, November 2, 12–1 PM | Union Family Room
• College Meeting: Monday, December 7, 12–1 PM | Union Family Room
• Education Dean’s Recognition Ceremony: Thursday, December 10, 5–7 PM | Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Ballroom
• Winter Commencement: Saturday, December 19 | Arena Auditorium

This is not a comprehensive list of what we have in store for this semester, but I hope it provides a helpful overview.

 

Remembering Louise Jackson: Finally, I am saddened to share the passing of Louise Jackson, a longtime friend, colleague, alumna, and generous supporter of the University of Wyoming. Louise supported the Literacy Research Center and Clinic in the College of Education, as well as the Rare Books collection at the American Heritage Center, and she will be remembered for her generosity and commitment to UW.

 

A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 20, at The Hamptons Independent Living Center in Tyler, Texas, followed by an inurnment service on Saturday, September 26, at Rochelle Cemetery in Rochelle, Texas. Those wishing to share a special memory for inclusion in the memorial service may email jegalaway@aol.com.

Louise’s obituary is available here:
https://www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com/obituaries/grace-jackson-15/#!/Obituary

Our work would not be possible without the generous commitment and support of individuals like Louise, and we extend our condolences to her loved ones.

***

Thanks again to everyone for everything they have done to help us begin the semester. There is already much to celebrate, and much more ahead. I look forward to seeing many of you at our College meeting next Tuesday and throughout the events and activities of the coming weeks.

As always, if you have accomplishments, publications, student successes, professional opportunities, or other updates that you would like me to consider sharing in a future newsletter, please send them my way.

Have a wonderful weekend, welcome back, and Go Pokes!

Jenna