UW’s Small Selected as President’s Distinguished Scholar

Nancy Small, an associate professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of English, has been named a President’s Distinguished Scholar in recognition of her outstanding contributions to scholarship, teaching and community-engaged research.

Small is a highly respected scholar in the fields of rhetoric and storytelling, with a robust record of academic and public-facing scholarship. She is the recipient of a prestigious Mellon Foundation grant focused on storytelling in the American West that helped to launch UW’s Ph.D. in English. That program, which welcomed its first cohort last year, features education and experience in public humanities.

Small also is nationally recognized for her efforts to connect scholarship with public dialogue and regional engagement. In recognition of her research achievements, she has received the UW College of Arts and Sciences Extraordinary Merit in Research Award.

“Nancy represents the best of what it means to be a scholar at UW,” President Ed Seidel says. “Her research, mentorship and public engagement embody the values of this university. I am thrilled to name her a President’s Distinguished Scholar.”

Small’s excellence extends into the classroom and student mentorship. In 2025, she received the UW School of Graduate Education Mid-Career Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. Her mentorship portfolio is extensive, having served on over 50 undergraduate and graduate thesis committees. She also has received the Honors College Mentoring Award, the Fraternity and Sorority Life Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, and the College of Arts and Sciences Extraordinary Merit in Teaching Award, one of the college’s highest instructional honors.

Small plays a vital role in university and national service. She recently concluded a three-year leadership position organizing a national webinar series for the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition, and she remains an active reviewer and committee member for organizations in rhetoric and global technical communication. At UW, she has contributed to the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research and serves on multiple departmental and universitywide committees.

Small will carry the title of President’s Distinguished Scholar for three years and receive funding to support her continued excellence in academia and beyond.

For more information about the President’s Distinguished Scholars Program, visit www.uwyo.edu/president/initiatives/presidents-distinguished-scholars.html.