Dean's Weekly Newsletter 9-5-2025

Published September 05, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As we conclude the second week of classes, the campus is alive with energy. Students are finalizing their schedules, joining clubs, and taking initiative in new directions. This newsletter is designed to help us sustain momentum by keeping everyone informed about College activities, achievements, and opportunities for engagement. To make it easier to follow, I have listed the highlights at the start so you can quickly find the updates most relevant to you.

  • Summer Fun
  • CoE Student Fulbright Scholar
  • Secondary Mathematics Education Accomplishments
  • Ellbogen Center for Teaching & Learning Fall Programming
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellows
  • Open Forum Dates and Reminders
  • College of Education Dean’s Fall Welcome
  • Travel Policy Reminders
  •  President’s Innovation Fellows Recognition

 

Summer Fun: As the semester ramps up, I want to take a moment to look back at some of the fun we shared in the final days of summer session. On Friday, August 22, the College of Education Dean’s Office hosted the “Welcome Back Barbecue” for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and friends of the College at LaPrele Park. It was a refreshing change of scenery from our usual spot at Washington Park, and I appreciated how the new space encouraged conversation and connection. After a few remarks, I invited our new faculty to introduce themselves, and we welcomed them into our community.

We also had a great time at Saddle Up a couple of weeks ago. It was a joy to meet new College of Education student inductees and officially welcome them into the College. I am grateful to all faculty and staff who helped plan and contribute to the events. Our students created memories during Saddle Up that they will carry with them for years to come. Please join me in extending our sincere appreciation to the College of Education Student Success Team for ensuring the success of this event!

 

CoE Student Fulbright Scholar: Jessica Petri, a recent College of Education graduate in social studies education and political science, has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program. She will serve as an English teaching assistant in Laos, building on her experiences teaching and mentoring in Wyoming, across Europe, and throughout Central America and Southeast Asia. We are proud to see her represent UW and the College of Education on the global stage. We also congratulate Jack MacDonald, who earned his Master of Music degree at UW and will serve as an English teaching assistant in Taiwan. We wish both students the best of luck on their Fulbright journeys. For more information, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/.

 

Secondary Mathematics Education Accomplishments: Congratulations to Miriam Sanders, Mary Garland Early Career Fellow and Assistant Professor of Secondary Mathematics Education, on two recent publications advancing research on preservice teachers’ problem posing and mathematical modeling. We also celebrate EMAT doctoral students Mandy Atherton, Toni Collett, and Beth Welke, whose proposal was accepted for presentation at the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference in Portland this February. Their presentation is titled "Preparing Preservice Teachers for Purposeful Technology Integration Through Building Technological Pedagogical Mathematical Knowledge." These accomplishments showcase the excellence and impact of Secondary Mathematics Education in our College.

Publications:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2025.101267
https://doi.org/10.7468/jksmed.2025.28.2.121

Ellbogen Center for Teaching & Learning Fall Programming: The Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL) is offering a full slate of workshops and learning communities this semester to support teaching, assessment, and digital learning. Full details are available at https://airtable.com/app1ilDuTYr5opDFG/shrpzYmLYHXdCZEH4.

Highlights include:

  • Rapid Course Design Workshops – Hands-on sessions to get WyoCourses sites up and running quickly. Faculty receive direct support in setting up the essential tools and functions of their courses. (Sessions: Aug. 20, Aug. 26, Dec. 10; registration link: https://airtable.com/app1ilDuTYr5opDFG/pagdqS6BxA6XCGtyq/form?prefill_Event=rec8CaIwML6BAjOhd)
  • Instructor support drop-in hours (Mondays and Thursdays, 2–4 pm)
  • Monday Morning Mentor 20-minute video series
  • Ungrading Workshop Series (Sept. 2, Sept. 23, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9)
  • Memory & Critical Thinking Learning Community (Sept.–Dec.)
  • Assessment Learning Community (Sept.–Dec.)
  • SoTL Summit Watch Party (Sept. 18–19)
  • Open Hours with Assessment Team (Sept.–Nov.)
  • UW Assessment Academy (Nov. 4)


We especially thank the ECTL team for their pedagogical support in helping faculty launch their courses smoothly and effectively. They are an invaluable resource for all UW instructors. View a complete list of their programming here: https://airtable.com/app1ilDuTYr5opDFG/shrpzYmLYHXdCZEH4

Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellows: Congratulations to Dixie Brackman, Jessica Marcolini, and Stella Rios Nowell on being selected as part of the inaugural Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL) Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellows program, in collaboration with the UW Graduate School. Each Fellow will lead a GTA cohort in exploring effective teaching practices, providing mentorship to graduate students who are teaching courses across the university, many for the first time. We are proud to see College of Education faculty leading in this important initiative.

Open Forum Dates and Reminders: I wanted to repeat my announcement that I will host open forums on Monday, September 15, and Monday, October 20, from 12-1 PM. These sessions are designed as opportunities for everyone in the College to have even greater access to members of the leadership team, ask questions, and engage in dialogue about our shared priorities. The September meeting will be held in the shaded plaza outside of the Education building. The October meeting will be in Education room 117 with a Zoom option.

Associate Deans and School Directors are also preparing open forums, and they will share announcements once details are finalized.

College of Education Dean’s Fall Welcome: Also, a friendly reminder to join us on Monday, September 15, 2025, from 4:30–6:30 PM at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Ballroom for our annual Fall Welcome. This lively gathering celebrates the power of teachers and brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. The evening will feature a student panel with Silas Boyd (Elementary Education), Hilde Ball (Secondary English Education), and Sarah Turner (Agricultural Education). We will also hear from Allyson Fertig (UW Cowgirl Basketball, Secondary Mathematics Education ’25) and Allison Vandal (Mrs. Wyoming AmeriCAN, Elementary Education ’11). A free barbecue dinner will be provided. See the attached flyer for full details (note that Allyson Fertig’s major was corrected from a previous version).  

Here is the link to RSVP: https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etdGgxPWEWkdAuq

Travel Policy Reminders: As fall travel picks up, I want to remind faculty and staff of the University’s travel policies: https://www.uwyo.edu/travel/index.html.

  • In-state travel: Seek approval from your supervisor before making travel arrangements.
  • Out-of-state travel and international travel to low-risk countries: In addition to supervisor approval, record your travel information using this form: https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42eQoOS1SR4VThQ.
  • All travel: All travels must clearly align with the mission of the College and the University.


Please also review the University of Wyoming travel and reimbursement policies carefully before embarking on University travel. Consult with an office associate in your unit before making approved purchases, including for travel.


President’s Innovation Fellows Recognition: I am pleased to highlight the President’s Innovation Fellows program announced in the Provost’s message yesterday, which celebrates faculty whose innovative and entrepreneurial achievements benefit students, the university, and Wyoming. A total of $30,000 has been allocated to support Fellows’ work, which may be used for travel, equipment, graduate assistants, or subscriptions.


Nominations are open to all faculty (tenure-track, tenured, or fixed-term), as well as cross-disciplinary teams. Deans may submit up to two nominations, and self- or peer-nominations are encouraged with Dean endorsement. Faculty in the College of Education who are interested in being considered should reach out to me directly if they wish to self-nominate or nominate a peer. I will notify the two nominees I advance from the College by October 1 and will also follow up with others to encourage them to pursue future opportunities through the University and College. The deadline for submissions to the University is October 17, 2025, with recipients to be honored at a campus event later this fall.


As we look ahead, I am confident that this will be one of our most engaging semesters yet. The energy of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the many opportunities to connect and collaborate position us for meaningful progress together. I also invite you to share any accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students so that we may highlight them in the weekly newsletter. These recognitions are important for celebrating the incredible work happening across the College. I encourage everyone to continue reaching out, sharing your ideas, and taking advantage of the opportunities available to offer input and shape our collective work. By staying connected and committed, we can ensure that the momentum of these first weeks carries forward into a strong and successful year. Go Pokes!


Jenna