UW College of Health Sciences Pays Tribute to Outstanding Faculty and Staff

The University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences recently held its faculty and staff awards ceremony, honoring selected faculty and staff members for being outstanding in their professions, dedicated to service and unfailing in support of students.

The college’s outstanding faculty and staff awards are possible thanks to the work of the college’s Faculty Development Committee, which requests nominations beginning in January, then reviews letters of recommendation from peers and students. Those selected are recognized for their contributions to research, teaching, supporting students and length of service.

The College of Health Sciences Faculty Development Committee this year included Danielle Bruns, assistant professor, Division of Kinesiology and Health; Diane Kempson, associate professor, Division of Social Work; Becky Linn, associate professor, School of Pharmacy; Christina Warren, associate lecturer, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing; Terri Wofford, academic professional lecturer, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND); and Corri Sandoval, committee chair and assistant clinical professor, Division of Communication Disorders.

“Each year, the committee receives amazing packets detailing the accomplishments of staff and faculty,” Sandoval says. “It is wonderful to see the support of their colleagues and students vying for them to receive an award, but it makes for a very difficult job choosing, because all of the nominees are so deserving. We discuss until a consensus is reached and walk away feeling fortunate to work with so many who make the College of Health Sciences great.”

“This year’s awardees represent the amazing breadth of excellence found in the College of Health Sciences,” says Jacob Warren, dean of the college. “From excellence in teaching and research to unwavering support of diversity and our fundamental operations, these faculty and staff help to make the College of Health Sciences an amazing place to learn, to work and to discover.”

This year’s outstanding faculty and staff are:

Outstanding Staff (0-5 years) -- Rewards outstanding staff members who have made significant contributions to the division and college: Kayleigh Edgar, senior office associate, WIND.

Outstanding Staff (over 5 years) -- Rewards outstanding staff members who have made long-standing contributions to the division and the college: Jeffrey Yang, senior laboratory assistant, School of Pharmacy.

Outstanding Teacher -- Rewards excellence and innovation in classroom, laboratory or clinical teaching: John Willford, clinical associate professor, WWAMI Medical Education Program.

Outstanding Scholar -- Rewards excellence in research and scholarship: Katelyn Kotlarek, assistant professor, Division of Communication Disorders.

Meritorious Service -- Rewards excellence in service contributions to the department/school, college, university, community or profession. Recognizes outstanding career achievements and/or years of service in the college: Derek Smith, director, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

Outstanding Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion -- Rewards staff or faculty who direct their work in education, research, scholarship, practice, service, administration and/or community activities to increase social equity within UW, their professions and/or the world: Christine Porter, professor, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

About the UW College of Health Sciences

UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, communication disorders, social work, kinesiology, community and public health, and disability studies.

The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating primary care and speech/hearing clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.