FALL 2025
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
Western Thunder
TAKES NATIONAL STAGE AT 2025 ROSE PARADE Jamaican Hospitality Comes to Wyoming ••• Students Mentor Local At-Risk Youth Faculty Bring the Arts to Prisons ••• A&S Students Land Unique Opportunities
The College of Arts & Sciences offers a distinct and well-rounded education in Fine Arts, the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Programs. Whether you're interested in pursuing a degree in A&S or looking for ways to unlock your creativity, nationally-ranked degree programs and courses with A&S provide an opportunity to gain valuable education and skills. Our programs involve work in the creative fields, using data, learning new languages, understanding the world around you, and much more.
Courses, programs and degrees offered in:
The Neltje CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS FINE ARTS
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Music Theatre and Dance Visual Arts
Anthropology Communication and Journalism Criminal Justice and Sociology Psychology
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS American Cultural Studies School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies
Humanities English Modern and Classical Languages Philosophy and Religious Studies History
Discover Our Departments, Degree Programs and Courses! uwyo.edu/as
CONTENTS
FEATURES
20
8 • More Than A Performance The University of Wyoming’s Western Thunder Marching Band performed at the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade — reaching over 30 million viewers — and gave many students their first-ever experience with the ocean, air travel and California. 13 • Freedom Through Learning Through the Wyoming Pathways from Prison program, A&S faculty bring college-level arts and humanities courses to incarcerated students, proving that education — and creativity — are for everyone. 16 • Meaningful Mentorship The University of Wyoming’s Department of Psychology has launched Campus Connections, a mental health and mentorship program for at-risk Laramie youth, where graduate students provide supervised therapy and undergraduates serve as trained, credit-earning mentors. 20 • How O’Neil Jones Brings Jamaican Hospitality to Wyoming Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, O’Neil Jones — now a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wyoming — has followed his musical talent across countries and states, carrying with him a spirit of hospitality that he now shares through music to create community and belonging on campus. 26 • Unexpected Paths A College of Arts and Sciences degree equips students with critical thinking, communication and adaptability skills that enable alumni to thrive in diverse and sometimes unexpected careers.
DEPARTMENTS 02 • Message from the Dean 04 • Faculty Accolades
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19 • Outstanding Graduates 24 • A&S Awards Banquet
ON THE COVER Western Thunder Marching Band piccolo players Yaretzi Treto (left) and Casey Prior (right) smile for a photo while in Pasadena, Calif., to perform in the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade. Photo by Michael Blaney
UW College of Arts and Sciences • 1
University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences Elevations 2025 Volume 11 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3254 Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-4106 asdean1@uwyo.edu Dean J. Scott Turpen Associate Dean Susan Aronstein Associate Dean Adrienne Freng Associate Dean Eric Wodahl Editor Michaela Doyle All articles written by Michaela Doyle unless otherwise noted. Contributing Editor Chad Baldwin, Micaela Myers Graphic Design Michelle Eberle, Emily Edgar, Casidy Mittelstadt, Brittny Wroblewski Photography and Video By Institutional Marketing creative team unless otherwise noted. Elevations Magazine is published once a year for College of Arts and Sciences alumni, friends, and constituents. Mailing addresses are provided by the University of Wyoming Foundation. To change your mailing address and/ or contact information, please send email to foundation@uwyo.edu. The University is committed to equal opportunity for all persons in all facets of the University’s operations. All qualified applicants for employment and educational programs, benefits, and services will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law and University policy.
FROM THE DEAN
Dear Friends of the College of Arts and Sciences: As we begin another exciting year, I am deeply grateful for the remarkable generosity of our alumni and donors. Your support has a direct and lasting impact on our students and faculty. This past year, donor contributions funded scholarships, expanded research opportunities, and provided vital resources for faculty pursuing new ideas in the classroom and beyond. For the second year in a row, A&S led all UW colleges on Giving Day in both total dollars raised and number of donors—a powerful testament to your commitment. We are truly thankful. A hallmark of the College is the breadth and depth of faculty research and creative activity, and these pages highlight just a few of the exciting projects underway. Our scholars are advancing discovery in the humanities and social sciences, while also creating art that enriches lives and deepens our understanding of the world. Recent faculty endeavors range from music presentations in Asia, to service projects supporting at-risk youth, to original works of literature, music, and visual art. These achievements not only expand human knowledge but also bring national visibility to our university, while offering students invaluable opportunities to learn from experts actively shaping their fields. At the core of our mission is the lasting value of the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. These disciplines equip students with skills that transcend any single profession: the ability to think deeply and creatively, work collaboratively, communicate clearly, understand multiple perspectives, and approach complex problems with rigor and empathy. In a rapidly changing world, these qualities are more essential than ever. Employers consistently tell us that graduates who can write, analyze, adapt, and collaborate bring unmatched value to the workplace. Just as importantly, the humanities, social sciences, and arts nurture a richer civic and personal life—helping us make sense of our shared history, wrestle with ethical challenges, and imagine new possibilities for the future. Our alumni embody these values every day, and in this publication you will read about some of their many accomplishments. From classrooms and research labs to boardrooms, government offices, nonprofit organizations, and private industry, our graduates demonstrate the enduring power of a liberal arts education. Your successes inspire today’s students, and your generosity ensures they, too, will discover their passions and prepare for meaningful careers and lives of purpose. Thank you for your continued partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences. Together, we are sustaining a tradition of inquiry, creativity, and impact that will serve Wyoming, the nation, and the world for generations to come. Warm regards,
J. Scott Turpen Dean College of Arts and Sciences
GIVING DAY 2024 MARKED AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT OF GENEROSITY AND PRIDE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, ONCE AGAIN, RECEIVED THE MOST IN BOTH TOTAL AMOUNT OF DONORS AND DOLLARS! UW Giving Day is an annual UW tradition spearheaded by the UW Foundation that raises thousands of dollars in a single day for students and programs across campus. Giving Day has always been about more than dollars raised -- it’s about building the culture of philanthropy,” says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation. “To see this many people from all over the world unite in support of UW shows the deep connection we all share with this incredible institution. The generosity we’ve witnessed over the last decade will leave an indelible mark.”
TOTAL DONATIONS:
$696,890
TOTAL DONORS:
1,644
Thank you to our 2024 supporters!
DONORS GAVE MORE THAN $4 MILLION TO UW, MAKING IT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GIVING DAY IN THE UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY!
2024 A&S CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS In 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences featured a variety of campaigns that were well supported by donors. Congratulations to the following initiatives! College of Arts and Sciences: The College of Arts and Sciences offers a broad education that combines cultural and disciplinary depth to ensure students gain a critical understanding of the visual and performing arts, humanities, social sciences, the world and its languages. Many A&S departments ran successful Giving Day campaigns to support this mission. As a whole, the college received $696,890 from 1,644 alumni and friends—the most donors and dollars of any college on campus for the second year in a row! Oliver Walter Dean’s Excellence Fund: Looking to the future and its exciting possibilities, the College of Arts and Sciences dedicated its 2024 Giving Day campaign to the newly created Oliver Walter Dean’s Excellence Fund. Ollie, as he is affectionately known, was dean of the College of A&S for 23 years. This fund honors his commitment to the college and its faculty, students and staff by investing in a wide range of ventures such as research projects, travel opportunities and experiential learning. This fund was supported by 54 donors, who gave a total of $30,759.
Western Thunder Marching Band: In the fall of 2023, the Western Thunder Marching Band received a prestigious invitation to march in the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. To make this unforgettable experience possible for our hard-working Wyoming students, we asked for support in minimizing their out-of-pocket expenses. With a record 235 members, there were significant costs in transporting the band to Pasadena. With overwhelming support from 955 donors, this fund received $253,169. The Neltje Center for Excellence in Creativity and the Arts: The Neltje Center provides a sanctuary for UW students, faculty and other creatives to unleash their imagination in one of the most scenic areas of Wyoming, near the Bighorns just south of Sheridan. The center was established in 2022, and 2024 was its second Giving Day campaign, raising a total of $15,455 to create a brighter future for the arts.
THIS YEAR’S UW GIVING DAY WILL BE OCT. 23-24 FROM NOON TO NOON. MATCHES AND CHALLENGES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO INCREASE YOUR IMPACT. VISIT UWYO.EDU/GIVINGDAY
FACULTY ACCOLADES
College of Arts and Sciences faculty conducted groundbreaking research, earned impressive awards and more throughout the past year. The UW College of Arts and Sciences strives to offer a broad education that matches cultural breadth and disciplinary depth to ensure students gain critical understanding of the sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, social sciences, and the world and its languages. This mission would not be possible without the dedicated faculty within A&S. The following list is a spotlight on some, but not all, of the work accomplished by A&S faculty in 2024-25.
Communication & Journalism
Criminal Justice & Sociology
Hye Soo Nah, assistant professor, received a Top Six Paper Award at the 2024 Southwest Symposium, hosted by the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. Her research paper examines how news images of political outgroup members contribute to emotional arousal and reinforce partisan differences.
Katelyn Golladay, assistant professor, received the Young Career Award for the American Society of Criminology Division on White-Collar and Corporate Crime. It is an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of white-collar and corporate crime by scholars early in their professional career.
Professor Cindy Price Schultz presented, “Moving Journalism in a New Direction? Business Models of Digital News Organizations in 4 • Elevations 2025
English Professor Arielle Zibrak is the recipient of the Seibold Professorship for 202526. The Seibold award — given annually
to UW College of Arts and Sciences faculty members who are focused on teaching — will enable Zibrak to further develop her professional and teaching work within the emerging field of public humanities. The focus on the public humanities is both critical and timely, as the Department of English launched a new Ph.D. program in the public humanities at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester.
RENEE LAEGREID
HYE SOO NAH
Kazakhstan,” to a lunch seminar at the Media Management and Transformation Center at the Jönköping International Business School in Jönköping, Sweden. The presentation was based on the sabbatical research done this fall at Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This work was also presented in conjunction with Karlyga Myssayeva of KazNU later that month at the World Media Economics and Management Conference in Warsaw, Poland.
History Professor Renee Laegreid is the recipient of the Will Rogers Medallion Award Contest. She received honors in Western Non-Fiction for her work, “Sandoz and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.”
NIKOLAS SWEET
BREE DOERING Anthropology Assistant Professor Bree Doering was selected as the first President’s Distinguished Scholar. She is a highly accomplished scholar in the fields of anthropology and archaeology. She is published in several top-tier journals, including the
Journal of Field Archaeology, PaleoAmerica and others. Assistant Professor Nikolas Sweet was among four recipients of the inaugural Norman G. Pauling Research Fellowship for Early-Career Scholars, awarded by the Phi Beta Kappa Society. His project is titled
“Investigations into Gun Culture and Hunting: Perspectives from Linguistic Anthropology.” It uses anthropological and sociological tools to understand the cultural significance of gun ownership and hunting in the American West, focusing on how these practices intersect with identity, community and politics.
PHOTO BY MARLON RISSATTO
Assistant Professor Peter Walker received an Eccles Institute Visiting Fellowship. This fellowship offers funding for researchers working in the Americas across the arts, humanities and social sciences to spend some time with the British Library’s collections in London. Modern & Classical Languages Professor Conxita Domènech published a Spanish-language adaptation of one of the most widely used academic writing guides in the world. The book, titled
“Manual MLA: Novena edición adaptada al español,” was released in late April and represents 13 years of research, translation and adaptation. The book was co-written by Andrés Lema-Hincapié, a professor of modern languages at the University of Colorado-Denver.
BETH VANDERBORGH
The Will Rogers Medallion Award was originally created to recognize quality works of cowboy poetry that honored the Will Rogers heritage, but has expanded to include other works of Western literature and film.
Music Professor Beth Vanderborgh was awarded a Performing Arts Fellowship from the Wyoming Arts Council. She is a distinguished cellist, celebrated for her extensive and diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer and educator. She is currently professor of cello at UW, the principal cellist of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and serves on the artist-faculty at the Eastern Music Festival.
During his residency in South Korea, Assistant Professor Brian C. Murray led a choral conducting masterclass at Chonnam National University (Gwangju, South Korea), a guest presentation at Seoul Theological University (Seoul, South Korea) and UW College of Arts and Sciences • 5
Philosophy & Religious Studies Department Head Rob Colter, in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, was part of a panel “Technology and Private/ Public Partnerships in Prison Higher Education” at the 14 National
Correctional Education in Wyoming” at the 2025 Forum of the Correctional Education Association in Omaha, Neb.
School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies
Psychology
Ali Raddaoui, lecturer in the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies, was appointed as a 2024-25 higher education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations. The Higher Education Ambassador Program is a ninemonth engagement that connects educators across the world with free educational resources, professional development activities and a network of professionals who are committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills and perspective to navigate today’s connected world.
Clinical Assistant Professor Anne Stevens and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology Tara Clapp received the Innovation Award from the
Association of Psychology Training Clinics. They were recognized for developing training and service delivery programs that serve adjudicated and/or at-risk youth, while also providing psychology students with mentorship and service opportunities through the program Campus Connections. This program includes mentee exposure to a college campus, academic support, dinner, pro-social activities and integrated mental health services.
MATTHEW GREENBERG
a clinic with the choir at Changwon National University (Changwon, South Korea). Jiwon Han and Soyeon Kang, piano faculty at UW, arranged these engagements in addition to expertly serving as pianists, translators and guides.
American Cultural studies
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ROB COLTER Conference on Higher Education in Prison, held in New Orleans, La. He was also on a panel “How Inter-agency Collaboration has Sewn the Seeds for Transforming 6 • Elevations 2025
Assistant Professor Trisha Martínez was featured on a Wyoming Humanities podcast titled “Following the Manito Trail: The New Mexican Migration to Wyoming.” Listeners learn how her roots in New Mexico deeply influenced her work in Wyoming, creating a bridge between two distinct yet interconnected communities. She shares her passion for preserving cultural traditions and her efforts to empower students through ethnic studies.
Theatre & Dance Assistant Professor Matthew Greenberg created work across three continents last summer. Greenberg premiered a new musical in Ljubljana, Slovenia, developed through his Jentel Artist Residency at the Neltje Center for Excellence and Creativity in the
PHOTO BY MATTHEW IDLER
2025 EXTRAORDINARY MERIT AWARDS
Extraordinary Merit in Research
Extraordinary Merit in Teaching
Each year, the College of Arts and Sciences recognizes outstanding faculty with awards for extraordinary merit in the areas of research and teaching. The award encompasses all departments of the college and represents excellence for those chosen.
• Kyle De Young, Department of Psychology • Kenneth Hanson, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology • Ricki Klages, Department of Visual Arts • Tracey Owens Patton, Department of English • Bradley Rettler, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Allison Caine, Department of Anthropology • Dan Fetsco, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology • Alyson Hagy, Department of English • Erin Harrington, Department of Psychology • Barbara Logan, Department of History
Beatrice Gallatin Beuf Golden Apple Award • Yan Zhang, Department of Modern and Classical Languages
Arts. He acted in two world premiere plays and directed a new play as a featured artist at The Last Frontier Theatre Festival in Valdez, Alaska. He also helped produce a documentary, filming in Kyoto, Japan. Assistant Professor Erin Reed Carter researched, designed and crafted costumes for two external theatrical productions. First, Carter worked
at Santa Cruz Shakespeare in Santa Cruz, Calif., designing and building costumes for their production of William Shakespeare’s “Pericles.” After completing her research, Carter traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, to design costumes for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s production of “An Enemy of the People,” Amy Herzog’s 2024 adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen classic.
Visual Arts Billi London-Gray, visiting assistant professor, was invited to lead two workshops at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. She taught participants to make beadwork in response to the sculptures of Jean (Hans) Arp. She was helped by her volunteer and mom, Sherry London, during workshops. UW College of Arts and Sciences • 7
UW Marching Band Director Joe Carver smiles and points as WTMB marches down the street while performing in the Rose Parade.
8 • Elevations 2025
By Michaela Doyle
The University of Wyoming’s Western Thunder Marching Band performed at the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade — reaching over 30 million viewers — and gave many students their firstever experience with the ocean, air travel and California.
More Than a
On New Year’s Day, thousands of Pokes fans gathered around their televisions to watch the University of Wyoming Western Thunder Marching Band (WTMB) perform in the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade. Led by UW Marching Band Director Joe Carver, more than 200 WTMB members proudly represented the brown and gold as they marched the renowned 5.5-mile parade route, captivating over 30 million onlookers and TV viewers. Additionally, the band showcased its talents at the annual Band Fest hosted at Pasadena City College and explored the vibrant attractions of the Los Angeles area. During WTMB’s Giving Day campaign last year, which was themed “Let’s Band Together,” the group raised more than $250,000 to help get all band members to California. “I have been wanting to take the group to a high-profile event that was outside of the Rocky Mountain region so our students could show off the good work that we do here at UW,” Carver says. “It’s also great visibility for the university and band program.” At the end of each year, Carver distributes a survey, and students always indicate that traveling with the band is one of their favorite activities. During their time in California, WTMB marched alongside bands from Japan, Panama, Mexico, Denmark and many others, which played into the theme of the 2025 Rose Bowl parade, which was “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.”
Performance PHOTO BY MICHAEL BLANEY
UW College of Arts and Sciences • 9
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BLANEY
A Trip of Firsts To even be considered to perform in the Rose Parade, Carver had to submit a comprehensive application. It included photos and videos of the band’s recent performances, as well a pitch about why WTMB deserved to be in the parade and what it would mean to its members. Those from the parade committee who evaluated the application loved watching the performances and especially liked the band’s iconic cowboy hats. But for many students, this was more than just a trip or a performance. Of the 235 band members, 65 had never been to California, 25 had never seen the ocean, and 10 had never traveled by plane. Additionally, many members of WTMB are not College of Arts and Sciences students — in fact, they come from all colleges and programs across UW, including engineering, education, and agriculture — and the band reflects how music and creativity transcend academic disciplines and are intended for everyone to enjoy. Fina Blain, a freshman from Cody majoring in elementary education at UW, has many standout moments from the trip, ranging from the plane taking off to the different foods the band tried while in California. “I’m afraid of heights, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to the plane ride,” Blain says. “But once we got up in the air, I thought it was fun and actually ended up sleeping most of the way.” Some of Blain’s friends warned her that getting through security and takeoff could take a long time, but fortunately, the process was smooth and relatively quick. The morning of Jan. 1, all members 10 • Elevations 2025
Above: Members of WTMB’s Color Guard pose for a photo the morning of the Rose Parade. Left: UW’s WTMB marches in the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., wearing their signature brown and gold uniforms as crowds line the route. Right page: WTMB marches down the renowned 5.5 mile parade route during the 2025 Rose Parade.
of the band woke up around 5 a.m. to get ready for the big day. “We were like a bunch of walking zombies at first,” she says. Although she knew the parade route spanned a lengthy five and a half miles total, Blain was surprised by how manageable it felt. After the parade, a memorable moment was getting to try In-N-Out Burger, which Blain hopes to eat again soon. Additionally, she also enjoyed experiencing Disneyland, as well as the ocean for the first time, where she collected seashells. “I think I still have sand in my duffel bag,” Blain laughs. For Fred Schurman, a sophomore majoring in music education from Casper, he was ecstatic when he initially learned about going to California. “Marching the Rose Parade was
nowhere near as physically demanding as I anticipated,” Schurman says. “It was surprisingly fun to march, and hearing random people from the crowd yelling out compliments to the bass trombone section really made my day.” Not only did Schurman look forward to marching in the parade, but also the prospect of visiting Disneyland. “I distinctly remember they had these really good churros. They were so good, I got a few,” he says. As someone who is typically prone to motion sickness, Schurman recalls being extremely skeptical of some of the rides at first. “The rides were also amazing. It was, rather begrudgingly, my first time on an actual roller coaster, and it awakened a love of roller coasters that I wouldn’t have suspected myself to have,” he says. “I have terrible motion
sickness, yet I never got sick on the Incredicoaster or the Matterhorn Bobsleds!”
Moments to Remember When Carver reflects on the trip, he’s grateful for the immense donor support that helped make the experience more affordable for each student. “These students will remember this experience for the rest of their lives,” he says. “They will talk about it every Jan. 1 when they watch future parades, and they might tell people about it when they are summarizing their time at UW.” During UW’s annual 2024 Giving Day, WTMB raised funds to minimize band members’ out-ofpocket expenses for the trip. Donors who wanted to support the band could make a gift of any amount, or
they could contribute a fixed amount to cover a specific cost for a student, such as $500 for a student’s airfare; $1,250 for half of a student’s trip expenses; or $2,500 to fully sponsor a student’s trip. “To know that our supporters and hard work provided a memory of a lifetime for students who otherwise wouldn’t have experienced it is very impactful for me as a teacher,” he says. Carver also has a few memories, from travelling to California to the actual performance, that stand out to him. “When we loaded the plane and I walked up and down the aisle of a 767 that was just for us — that was an incredible sight,” he says. “There were 237 seats that were full of Wyoming band students and staff members. Our students see other bands traveling like that for bowl games and big
performances, and it was nice to treat them to the same type of experience.” Carver also loved visiting the beach in Santa Monica and seeing how happy the students were to be near the ocean and take photos with their friends. Some of the band members even swam and played in the waves, despite the cold water of the Pacific. “They are from Wyoming, though, so it didn’t seem to bother them,” he says. He describes the day of the parade as magical. The weather was perfect, and the band was performing exceptionally well. Band members’ family and friends sat together, creating a blanket of brown and gold in the grandstands. “Hearing their cheers and seeing the joy on their faces as they waved our iconic Steamboat flags with Western Thunder playing ‘Should’ve UW College of Arts and Sciences • 11
PHOTO BY MICHAELA DOYLE
In Sept. 2023, band members erupt with cheers after learning they would be performing in the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
Been a Cowboy’ — it gives me chills just talking about it again! It was the best of memories,” he says.
A Rose-Filled Reveal The journey to march in the Rose Parade has been long anticipated by many. Carver originally found out during the fall of 2023 that the band had been selected to perform and wanted to tell the members in a creative way. One afternoon in late September, more than 200 members of Western Thunder filed into the band room in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts on campus, which was filled with red roses. Staff members passed out the flowers, and many students laughed with confusion, wondering what was going on. When Carver announced that WTMB was marching in the Rose Parade in 2025, the room erupted with cheers. “When I got the phone call from the president of the Tournament of Roses inviting us to the parade, 12 • Elevations 2025
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I knew I wanted the announcement to be special,” he says. “It was a bit of a gamble to buy 200 red roses, but I don’t think anyone had a clue what was going on. I love a good surprise, so it was great to see their faces when we played the official welcome video from the president.”
as entertainment for college athletics rather than military ceremonial needs. Before being called Western the Western Thunder Thunder Marching Band, it was Marching known as the Cowboy Director Band Joe Carver Marching Band. Over the years, the band has appeared at both Denver Broncos and A Band for Everyone San Diego Chargers football games. WTMB is open to all students on Carver says that marching campus regardless of academic major band has provided him with many and does not require past experience incredible experiences and that he’s in a high school marching program. a better person because of it. Each year, there are several students “From the feeling of powerful who participate even though it is their performances to the social first marching band experience. connections that I have made which The University of Wyoming have lasted to this day, being a part Bands began in 1913 as a ROTC of a college marching band changed unit and remained as a part of the my life,” he says. “I’m passionate about campus military science area until providing the same experiences for after World War II. The University my students — it’s why I love being Bands then became part of the a teacher.” Department of Music with the For more information about leadership of Professors Edgar Lewis the band, visit www.uwyo.edu/ and Charles Seltenrich and served marchingband.
FREEDOM THROUGH LEARNING Through the Wyoming Pathways from Prison program, A&S faculty bring college-level arts and humanities courses to incarcerated students, proving that education — and creativity — are for everyone. By Michaela Doyle Access to education and the arts is for everyone. That idea is at the heart of the Wyoming Pathways from Prison (WPfP) program, the University of Wyoming’s prison education program. WPfP is a collaboration between UW and the Wyoming Department of Corrections that seeks to provide highquality, for-credit college courses to incarcerated women and men at no cost through support from Pell Grants. The ultimate goal of the program is to transform lives, both within and outside prison walls, by creating opportunities for skill-building, personal growth and selfreflection. Unfortunately, most incarcerated individuals face a high likelihood of returning to prison after release. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 80 percent are rearrested within five years. But access to
higher education can change that trajectory. Research consistently shows that the more education a person receives — especially college degrees — the less likely they are to return to prison. “For every $1 spent on education in prison, it saves taxpayers $4 to $5 in costs associated with recidivism,” says Rob Colter, who leads the WPfP program and also serves as head of the UW Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Colter became involved in the program about eight years ago by teaching a philosophy class. He modeled his class after his Stoic Camp, which is a weeklong retreat in Centennial that combines the study of ancient stoic texts with outdoor activities such as hiking and sunrise meditations. Participants explore what it means to live intentionally and return with a deeper sense of philosophical calm and purpose.
Matthew Greenberg (left), an assistant professor of theater and dance at UW, and Rob Colter (right), who leads the WPfP program and also serves as head of the UW Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, stand outside of the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington.
“I would modify it for this context and bring students from campus with me, and we’d do a weeklong intensive workshop,” he says. “The first course was at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle, which is a minimum-security facility, so the students could do conservation work in the community as part of the experience.” Shortly after, WPfP began offering some forcredit courses through agreements that the Wyoming Department of Corrections had with community colleges in the state, and the program began to blossom. WPfP Flourishes The program has been part of UW for nearly a decade and started by offering inmates enrichment courses. In fall 2021, Colter learned about the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative meant to expand access to federal Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in participating programs. He applied and proposed that UW would launch a bachelor’s degree in general studies for two separate cohorts — one at the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk and another Wyoming Medium Correctional Facility for men in Torrington. “I found out in June of 2022 that UW had been accepted to the program and that we needed to start in August,” he says. “Between June and August, we had to get faculty officially lined up. We had to do admissions and financial aid eligibility. It was a great scramble, but there were a lot of people who bought in and helped make it happen.” The first cohort — 20 women — began the degree program that fall, followed a year later by a cohort of 23 men. The women are expected to graduate in spring 2026, and though the exact details of the commencement are not certain yet, the celebration will be as close to a traditional graduation ceremony as possible. “Ninety-six percent of the people incarcerated in the Wyoming Department of Corrections are going to get out,” Colter says. “Do we want them out better than when they went in? They’re going to come out and be our neighbors, and we want to give them the tools to be successful, positive influences on their community.” 14 • Elevations 2025
A&S Courses As part of the program, incarcerated students can enroll in a variety of courses offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, taught by A&S faculty in-person or on Zoom. While a general studies degree is often seen as limited to core subjects, incarcerated students have the opportunity to explore their creativity through courses in acting, Spanish, music and more. For Matthew Greenberg, an assistant professor of theater and dance at UW, the experience of teaching Introduction to Acting for the past two years in the program was an opportunity to teach in a new environment and learn from nontraditional students. In order to teach for the WPfP program, he had to ensure that all musicals, class activities and any other course materials were approved by the Wyoming Department of Corrections. “I found the students to be very kind and had an open mind with me and the work that we were doing,” Greenberg says. “There were some really brilliant performances in the class based on their lived experiences.” One of the first things Greenberg does in his class is have the students play a game called “The Sun Shines On.” This game is played in a circle (often seated with one fewer chair than players). A facilitator, or the person in the center, calls out “The sun shines on…” followed by a characteristic (e.g., “anyone wearing glasses”). Everyone matching the description must quickly stand and find a new seat, while the center person tries to sit. The person left without a chair then becomes the next caller. The game continues until time runs out or everyone has had a turn. “It always starts pretty surface level, but then it gets more serious — for example, ‘anyone who’s lost someone,’ ‘anyone who is a person of faith.’ At the end of that
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exercise, the students realize that outside of the classroom, even if they have separate cliques, they are more alike than they originally thought, and they build a sense of trust with each other,” Greenberg says. For the main assignment of the semester, Greenberg asks that students write a personal monologue to someone living or dead and perform it in front of the class. “A lot of times, it’s pretty cathartic for the students. Sometimes they’re speaking to family members who are no longer present, victims, children or parents,” he says. The students then have to perform someone else’s monologue, and Greenberg often finds that the students root for each other and work hard to honor one another’s stories and experiences. “The greatest actors are the best storytellers, and these students have stories to tell,” he says. “I think providing them with an opportunity to learn how to be better storytellers and reclaim their voices is something that is profound.” Chelsea Escalante, an associate professor of Spanish at UW, taught an eight-week Spanish course at the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk during the first part of the spring 2025 semester. She taught 11 women and was impressed by their motivation throughout the entirety of the course. “The students have full-time jobs inside of the prison, so class is something they look forward to,” Escalante says. Although she is not currently teaching a course, Escalante says that her students truly touched her heart, and she thinks about them often. “On our last day of class, it was my birthday,” she says. “They gave me a birthday card, and everyone signed it, and some of them even wrote in Spanish. It was just really moving to feel like I had made a connection with them.” Irene Checa-Garcia, an associate professor of Spanish at UW, says the students are very motivated and GPA conscious. “It’s just pure learning and the possibilities of rehabilitation while they are in prison,” she says. Much like Greenberg’s acting class, all materials had to be pre-approved for the Spanish courses. Delays in approval could sometimes lead to challenges distributing the course materials, but the students were patient. Former Inmates’ Experience Some inmates enroll in the bachelor’s program, while others opt to just take one or two classes.
Alumnus Tommy Rivera, of Cheyenne, took Colter’s course on stoicism, which encourages students to experiment with living in a philosophical way and to explore what it means to live intentionally. He recalls Colter teaching the Wyoming Pathways principles of stoicism and helping the from Prison students understand what they do and don’t have control over. “Those are principles that I already learned and lived in real time throughout my experience being incarcerated because when you’re locked up, you have no control over anything,” Rivera says. While incarcerated, Rivera learned to weld through a community college program and initially planned to pursue it as a career, but after apprenticing with a friend, he discovered a passion for tattooing and now works as a tattoo artist in Cheyenne. The welding program was extremely competitive since there were limited spots, he explains. “I found that many incarcerated men, when they do get into these programs, it actually builds their self-esteem to achieve something,” he says. “It kind of changes the trajectory of their life.” Rivera believes that even for those serving life sentences, access to education fosters personal growth, helping individuals become more positive, constructive members of the prison community. For WPfP alumna Darla Rouse, of Casper, the opportunity to take a wide variety of college courses, including acting, geology and psychology, was exciting. Reflecting on her experience in Greenberg’s acting course, she explained that many of the women were skeptical at first. “My sister is a theater teacher, so I was all about it,” Rouse says. “I think there’s power in numbers, and even power in encouragement, and it gave us the courage to stand up and participate.” Although many of the students hadn’t been in a school setting for many years, she noted that the instructors did a good job of tailoring the courses to the students’ needs. For those who might be considering taking college courses while incarcerated, Rouse advises them to “go for it.” “It really is your best chance of being successful,” she says. “A real education, especially while you’re still incarcerated, is your best chance at opening the world to you.” To learn more about WPfP, visit uwyo.edu/wpfp. UW College of Arts and Sciences • 15
The University of Wyoming’s Department of Psychology has launched Campus Connections, a mental health and mentorship program for at-risk Laramie youth, where graduate students provide supervised therapy and undergraduates serve as trained, credit-earning mentors.
By Cameron Johnston
Me an me ing nt fu or l sh ip
Every Thursday afternoon at the University of Wyoming, something extraordinary takes place. Campus Connections is a one-of-a-kind, traumainformed mentoring program that pairs university students with young people navigating adversity and mental health challenges. And for mentors and mentees alike, it’s nothing short of life changing. Campus Connections isn’t just a mentoring program. It’s an immersive, therapeutic experience that fuses mental health services with learning by experience. Designed for youth referred through mental health systems, the program blends clinical therapy with both professional and student mentorship, providing four hours of weekly therapeutic services to young people on campus. A primary goal of the program is to promote the resilience and life success of young people who have experienced adversity through strengthening social bonds, increasing academic engagement and performance, decreasing substance use and delinquency, and improving sense of self. With strong support from the program developers at Colorado State University and generous funding from the Etchepare Family Foundation, the initiative is grounded in a collaborative spirit that continues to drive its growth and innovation.
Tracking Impact
The process starts from day one. During the intake appointment, each participant completes a series of clinical measures assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use. These same assessments are repeated at the end of the semester, providing a clear, comparative look 16 • Elevations 2025
at change over time. That’s the quantitative side. But it’s not the whole picture. Each time young people meet with their mentors, they are familiarized with the university campus and the vast opportunities it provides. Through art projects, cooking classes, sports, dance, yoga and more, they equip youth with niches, hobbies and skills that prepare them to give back to the community, while growing in personal confidence. “We also ask about their experience,” says Anne Stevens, clinical assistant professor at UW. “Do they feel safe? Supported? Do they feel like they belong? Have they had fun?”
Young people answer those questions through end-ofsemester evaluations, which also include space for openended feedback. What did they enjoy? What helped most? What could be better? “We listen,” Stevens says. “If a teen says they wish there were more art nights, or they loved the one-on-one walks, we take that seriously.” Wrapped in a structure that feels more like family dinner than formal treatment, mentees meet with undergraduate mentors and graduate-level therapists each week in a supportive, structured environment. Activities range from individual therapy sessions and creative workshops to games, group time and a shared meal. Behind the scenes, families are engaged, schools and social workers are looped in, and every young person is met with personalized care.
and developing leadership and communication skills through engaging with various community agencies,” says Lucas Marinack, a graduate student in the clinical psychology program from Almond, Wis., and mentor coach. “I also find it very fulfilling to be able to work with families in the Laramie community and make a positive impact. My favorite part of Campus Connections is seeing the youth connect with their mentors and grow in many different ways.”
Training the Next Generation
Campus Connections is also a training ground for tomorrow’s behavioral health professionals. Undergraduate mentors begin the semester with a three-week intensive training, including role-playing, reflective journaling and weekly didactic sessions. Selected through an interview process, they commit to being more than just volunteers — they become role models and positive influences in their mentees’ lives. “Being a part of Campus Connections has not only helped me gain immense hands-on experience and knowledge with children and families facing adversity, but it has also allowed me to grow close to the youth, teach them skills, play with them, help them with schoolwork and just be present for them,” says Aspen Fraughton, a senior psychology major from Mountain View, Wyo., and a mentor in the program. “There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I am making a difference in a child’s life, and I would be a part of Campus Connections a million times over again if I could.” Undergraduate mentors foster a sense of camaraderie and approachability, where young people feel comfortable sharing challenges and seeking guidance. Meanwhile, graduate students deliver trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and receive clinical supervision from Stevens and Clinical Psychology Lecturer Tara Clapp. It’s a hands-on, high-impact experience that prepares them for real-world therapeutic practice. “As a graduate student, Campus Connections has allowed me to gain valuable skills by working with the youth directly
Academic Professional Lecturer Tara Clapp (left) and Clinical Assistant Professor Anne Stevens (right) direct UW’s Campus Connections program, an evidence-based mental health and mentorship program for at-risk youth in Laramie.
Meeting the Needs of Albany County
The young people served on campus often face adversity, behavioral challenges and mental health obstacles. But at Campus Connections, they’re seen, supported and surrounded by people who genuinely care. According to data from the statewide Prevention Needs Assessment, youth in Albany County report higher-thanaverage levels of hopelessness and depression, and low rates of having a trusted adult to turn to. Arrest rates for minors exceed state averages, and substance use, adverse childhood experiences and poverty negatively impact both short- and long-term trajectories. To help decrease these rates and improve outcomes, Campus Connections takes a holistic approach that combines therapy, mentorship, academic support and family engagement — all packed into a thoughtfully structured weekly session. At its core, the program creates a consistent, affirming environment where young people can form meaningful relationships and gain access to critical resources.
Moments That Matter
For programs aiming to make a meaningful impact, data provides important insight. But for Campus Connections, it’s not just about numbers — it’s about capturing the full, UW College of Arts and Sciences • 17
complex story of young people who are growing, healing and showing up against the odds. “We want to know: Are we really making a difference?” Stevens says. “Not just in how youth feel about the experience, but in how they’re doing — emotionally, mentally and even academically.” The program kicks off each week with “walk and talks,” where young people and their mentors explore the university campus, visiting places such as the Geology Building or Coe Library. This not only builds familiarity with college life, but it also provides valuable one-on-one time with a caring adult. As many of these young people lack consistent, positive adult attention, this simple act of walking and talking becomes deeply impactful. Another key pillar is academic support. The program carves out a full hour dedicated to schoolwork, complete with teacher coordination, assignment tracking and hands-on tutoring. Whether young people have been suspended or simply fallen behind, Campus Connections works directly with schools to bridge the gap. Recognizing that families are often under immense strain, the program goes beyond youth mentorship. Weekly contact with parents or guardians, updates about progress and even direct parenting support via trained graduate students all aim to strengthen the home environment. The semester culminates in a formal graduation banquet, where each mentee is individually recognized by their mentor. Families, probation officers, teachers and caseworkers are all invited, turning the event into a powerful moment of pride and recognition. “It’s a chance for these kids to feel seen, valued and honored in front of the people who matter in their lives,” Clapp says. “For many, it’s the first time they’ve experienced that.” But sometimes, the most meaningful results aren’t found in spreadsheets — they show up in the form of a young person, standing at the door. “There was a student this semester we were really worried about,” Clapp says. “They hadn’t been going to school. We weren’t sure where they were staying. They didn’t show up the first week.” But then, something remarkable happened. One of the mentees arrived on campus by themselves, looking for Campus Connections. “They remembered the dinosaur statue outside the museum from the previous semester,” Clapp says. “They remembered where therapy was and walked to us.” That moment was transformational and a reminder of why Campus Connections exists. Other stories echo the same theme: showing up, connecting, growing. Students
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make sure they’re at school on Campus Connections days, so they don’t miss the bus to campus. Some show their appreciation in their own teenage way. “One said, ‘Of all the stuff I’ve had to do, I guess this one’s my favorite,’” Stevens laughs. “Which, coming from a teen, is actually very high praise.”
A Hopeful Future
Stevens and Clapp’s hope for Campus Connections is that the program will continue to grow in the future, expanding its reach to serve more youth in Albany County. “It is a joy to see the kids and their growth through the program every week,” says Annette Harlan, a senior psychology major from Lakeview, Ore., and mentor in the program. “This program has allowed me to pursue a passion for working with children and has inspired my career path. Being a mentor in Campus Connections has allowed me to gain experience working with children and learning skills that I can take with me into my future.” Campus Connections accept referrals year-round, and the program is at no cost to youth and their families. Originally developed and licensed by Colorado State University, the program has also been successfully implemented at the University of Northern Colorado; the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Colorado State University-Pueblo; and the University of Auckland, New Zealand. To learn more about Campus Connections at UW, visit bit.ly/uw-campus-connect To give to Campus Connections, scan the QR code! bit.ly/uw-cc-giving
Campus Connections graduate and undergraduate mentors for the 2024-25 academic year.
Top graduates in the UW College of Arts and Scienc es pose for a photo at the 2025 Outsta nding Gradu ate Luncheon. From left are Jessica Yang, Jessica Petri, Sophia Destef ano, Hanna Needles, Daniel Wozne y, Jolie Straha n, Wolfg ang Wuerker, Aurora Gearhart, Reuben Haas, Cariss a Foster vold, Amelia Marlatt and Ashley Laugh lin.
PHOTO BY MICHAELA DOYLE
OUTSTANDING GRADUATES
13 Students Honored in Annual Tradition of Academic Excellence Each year, the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences honors graduating students who exemplify academic excellence within their class. These students are nominated by their departments and selected by the college based on scholarly achievement, commitment and contributions to their programs in and out of the classroom throughout their scholarly career. The names of the recipients are placed on a plaque by the A&S auditorium. “I’m so proud of this incredible group of top graduates,” says Adrienne Freng, former interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Their hard work and intellectual curiosity truly set them apart. They exemplify the spirit of excellence that defines our college.” Following are the outstanding graduates from the class of 2025.
Samuel Benton, psychology Sophia Destefano, secondary education (social studies/history) Carissa Fostervold, sociology and psychology Aurora Gearhart, anthropology Reuben Haas, anthropology and environment and natural resources Ashley Laughlin, English and gender studies Amelia Marlatt, studio art Hanna Needles, theater and dance with a concentration in dance science Jessica Petri, political science and secondary education (social studies) Jolie Strahan, English and philosophy Crystal Torres, criminal justice Daniel Wozney, communication Wolfgang Wuerker, psychology and physiology Jessica Yang, political science and international studies UW College of Arts and Sciences • 19
s g n i r B s e n o J l i e N How O’ y t i l a t i p s o H n a c i Ja ma to Wyomin g Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, O’Neil Jones — now a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wyoming — has followed his musical talent across countries and states, carrying with him a spirit of hospitality that he now shares through music to create community and belonging on campus. By Michaela Doyle A native of Montego Bay, Jamaica, University of Wyoming Visiting Assistant Professor of Music O’Neil Jones isn’t just focused on making music — he’s committed to building community in the classroom. But long before he ever stepped onto a conductor’s podium or earned awards for teaching, Jones was a student in Jamaica who loved classical music but had nowhere to study it formally. That passion carried him thousands of miles, from the Caribbean to Mississippi, then to Colorado, and now to the plains of Laramie, where he’s taught music at UW for the past two years. But for Jones, making music is rarely the end goal. Beloved by students throughout the music department for his warmth, check-ins and support, he’s known just as much for the way he shows up for students as he is for what he teaches them. In less than two years, that devotion has earned him not one, but two Promoting Intellectual Engagement awards, which honor instructors who inspire excitement, inquiry and autonomy in firstyear courses. “I always ask how my students are doing or check in with them because they’re humans first,” Jones says.
20 • Elevations 2025
“With me, they share the most private and personal instrument and allow me to shape their voices. I take that as an incredible privilege and not something that I do lightly, and so I want to be sure that they are fully whole and OK as human beings before asking them to be musical artists.” At the end of the day, Jones finds that building rapport with his students is more important than making music. Students are always the top priority, he explains, and often reminds them that the voice isn’t like a violin — it’s part of the body and is the most imprecise instrument; that’s what makes it so beautiful. Jones’s Path to Making Music Jones is an active baritone soloist and conductor, and he’s taken on many lead roles throughout his robust career as a musician; however, his career path wasn’t always linear. Though he didn’t have many opportunities to sing formally when he was young, there were moments when the adults in his life were surprised by his talent. Jones’ musical journey began almost by accident. In elementary school, when he corrected a classmate’s singing during a rehearsal for a performance, his teacher immediately selected him for the solo. A few years later, he was asked to sing for his middle school graduation. In high school, his music teacher — who was also a family friend and knew Jones was extremely introverted — encouraged him to sing, rather than play recorder in class. “That is probably one of the most pivotal moments in my singing journey,” Jones says.
O’Neil Jones
PHOTO BY TRACY HOLT DOTY
The College Years Once Jones started college at the University of the West Indies, Mona, in Kingston, Jamaica, that’s when he met Noel Dexter and his music career really began taking shape. “I joined his choir, which was dubbed the ‘Thursday choir,’ because they only met once a week, and it was just a group of people who like to sing,” Jones says. “It was not a professional choir.” Eventually, Jones taught a piece to the choir, and the following year, Dexter approached him and said, “You’re going to take this choir over next year,” and Jones replied with, “That’s not happening.” After some convincing, Jones ultimately agreed to lead the University Chorale and did so for five years before emigrating to the U.S. As Jones was wrapping up his time at the University of the West Indies, Mona, he was preparing to go home
to Montego Bay when the president of the university created a position on campus for him so he could stay and lead the choir and also continue to work with Dexter. “Noel Dexter was the grandfather of Jamaican choral music, essentially,” Jones says. “Working with him led to the research for my doctorate. Since most of Jamaica’s choral legacy is undocumented, having been under British colonial rule for 355 years, most of the music we would have been learning at the time would have been European or British in nature.” Jamaica was granted independence in 1962, and the country started looking more toward understanding the influences that its Afro Caribbean roots have had on not just food and language, but on music as well. As a result, Dexter and many others started using Jamaican rhythms, text and other elements in their music, which is how Jamaican choral music came to be. “Working with him is literally why I’m here studying
Several UW choirs rehearse together before a performance.
22 • Elevations 2025
“I always ask how my students are doing or check in with them because they’re humans first.”
choral music right now, because up to that point, I had never had a voice lesson. I never had many instances of formal musical training,” Jones says. He was eventually offered a scholarship to study at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, where he studied voice. Jones was encouraged to keep studying, so he spent three years at the University of Southern Mississippi and studied voice and conducting. “Toward the end of the program, I was performing at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference at University of Colorado Boulder in 2017, where I met my voice teacher, Andrew Garland. He said, ‘Well, if you ever need somewhere to study, you can come and study with me,’” Jones says. Shortly afterward, he took Garland up on the offer and went on to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting and literature at CU Boulder.
A Cultural Journey Over the course of his music career, Jones has journeyed from Jamaica to Mississippi, then to Colorado and finally to Wyoming — each move bringing its own set of cultural shifts. He often reflects on how starting out in Mississippi shaped his perspective. “Going to Mississippi first allowed me to see how people of color interacted with everyone else around them, which was unlike my own country” Jones says. “Our national motto in Jamaica is ‘Out of Many, One People.’ We treat all people the same.” Arriving in a place where that sentiment wasn’t always reflected was eye-opening. Still, Jones chose to carry forward the values he was raised with, treating everyone with the same dignity and respect. “In the South, people are all engaging with everyone around them, even if they don’t know who you are,” he says. The bigger cultural shift came when he moved to the University of Colorado Boulder, as there were approximately nine people of color in a population of over 400 music students. Still, Jones felt supported by both the faculty and his peers. His committee invested significant time in him, spending several hours helping him prepare for his future. The move from Colorado to Wyoming wasn’t as significant an adjustment, but overall, he says he’s been fortunate to find strong support wherever he’s gone.
— O’Neil Jones Fostering Community and Hospitality Through Music in Laramie Jones has only been in Laramie for two years, but he immediately began making connections on both the campus and local community. Just one example of his impact at UW is his leadership of the Laramie Civic Chorus, a group made up of both students and community members. When he started, the chorus had 38 singers, and he set a goal of reaching 6065. Thanks to ongoing outreach and a focus on building community, membership quickly grew: 65 singers by the next semester, 87 by the following fall and now a roster of over 100 singers. Jones emphasizes that his goal is not just to make music, but to create a welcoming community through which music can flourish. The Civic Chorus now draws participants from across the university — including faculty from multiple departments — and from the wider Laramie area. The reputation of the Civic Chorus has spread widely, with people traveling up to three hours from Rock Springs just to participate in weekly rehearsals. His work with the Civic Chorus has strengthened his ties to the community and contributed to growing interest in the choir at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, which he also directs, in Laramie. “I want to be sure that everyone with whom I interact in all of these choirs has an educational and fun experience,” Jones says. At UW and in the wider Laramie community, Jones is doing just that — creating spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging and their voice matters. To learn more about music at UW, visit www.uwyo. edu/music.
UW College of Arts and Sciences • 23
PHOTO BY MICHAELA DOYLE
Before the ceremony, the Student String Trio — featuring Bryce Allen, of Aurora, Colo.; Giovanna Volpi Schmeiske, of Ourinhos, Brazil; and Kiara Sheffield, of Orlando, Fla. — performed.
a r w d A s B S a & nquet A 5 2 0 2 The University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences held its annual awards banquet at the end of the spring 2025 semester, honoring current and former faculty members, as well as alumni. The annual A&S awards banquet is held each May to honor the tradition and history of excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences and to celebrate current individuals within the college. Before the ceremony, the Student String Trio — featuring Bryce Allen, of Aurora, Colo.; Giovanna Volpi Schmeiske, of Ourinhos, Brazil; and Kiara Sheffield, of Orlando, Fla. — performed. Former interim Dean Adrienne Freng handed out awards that recognized outstanding alumni; outstanding former faculty; extraordinary merit in teaching and research; and the Beatrice Gallatin Beuf Golden Apple Award. “This year’s 24 • Elevations 2025
award recipients come from all corners of the College of Arts and Sciences,” Freng says. “Their passion for teaching, research and creative work really captures what makes our academic community so special.” This year’s College of Arts and Sciences’ award recipients are:
Outstanding Alumni Awards Kyndra Rotunda, who was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award, is a professor of military and international law and executive director of the Military and Veterans
Law Institute at Chapman University. She was born and raised in Wyoming and attended UW, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and her law degree. Her top academic honors included admission to the American Law Institute and Phi Beta Kappa. After law school, she began her legal career in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, where she held the rank of major. She went on to serve in several missions related to the Global War on Terror, including roles as a legal adviser to investigators, a military commissions prosecutor and an advocate for wounded troops at Walter Reed Army
PHOTO BY MATTHEW IDLER
Extraordinary Merit in Research Awards Kyle De Young, Department of Psychology Kenneth Hanson, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology Ricki Klages, Department of Visual Arts Tracey Owens Patton, Department of English Bradley Rettler, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Extraordinary Merit in Teaching Awards
Kyndra Rotunda
Medical Center in Washington, D.C., as well as completing tours in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Rotunda also served as the Wyoming state planning coordinator under Gov. Dave Freudenthal, leading the policy team and helping to expand opportunities for women in Wyoming. She is the author of several books and is regarded as a leading expert in military/veterans’ law. Rotunda is a regular radio and television commentator regarding military law, matters related to veterans, national defense policy and military trials.
Outstanding Former Faculty Awards Wyoming native Michael Brown, who received the Outstanding Former Faculty Award, joined the UW Department of Communication and Journalism in 1994. He had previously served as an instructor at UW-Casper and returned to UW after completing his Ph.D. He was recognized for his teaching excellence, receiving the
PHOTO BY MATTHEW IDLER
Allison Caine, Department of Anthropology Dan Fetsco, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology Alyson Hagy, Department of English Erin Harrington, Department of Psychology Barbara Logan, Department of History
Beatrice Gallatin Beuf Golden Apple Award
Michael Brown
Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award and the Seibold Professorship. He served as editor for two international journals and established a cooperation agreement between UW and the Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan. The partnership yielded several collaborative research projects, including a media literacy program in Kazakhstan funded by the U.S.
Yan Zhang, Department of Modern and Classical Languages
Embassy. This has been the longest continuing partnership between a U.S. university and a Kazakh university, with many Kazakh students serving international internships at UW. As a scholar, he studied media history and was active in the broadcasting field, helping to establish the radio and audio division of the Broadcast Education Association. UW College of Arts and Sciences • 25
A COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEGREE EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION AND ADAPTABILITY SKILLS THAT ENABLE ALUMNI TO THRIVE IN DIVERSE AND SOMETIMES UNEXPECTED CAREERS.
Unexpected Paths
Forrest Cole Forrest Cole grew up in Wheatland and graduated from UW in the spring of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, focusing on camera work. His passion for photography and photojournalism began with outdoor sports media — watching ski films and reading mountain biking magazines. While photographing action sports felt like a natural fit, studying with Shane Epping, UW Bobby Model Photojournalism Professor, showed him the deeper impact a camera can have beyond the thrill of a great action shot. In fall 2024, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) founder Laurie Marker visited UW and shared her organization’s need for a communications and media intern in Namibia. After receiving the application from UW Professor Cindy Price Schultz, Cole applied and began his internship in early June. He’s loved every moment since he arrived. At CCF, Cole documents the work of departments ranging 26 • Elevations 2025
from cheetah care to ecology, genetics and the vet clinic. He primarily focuses on photography but also shoots video, conducts interviews and edits content. A couple of days each week, he joins staff to work in a more hands-on capacity and leaves the camera behind. Located 40 kilometers from the nearest town, CCF is a live-in workplace where staff come together once the day is over for meals, soccer games and wildlife drives through the game reserve. Cole says it’s inspiring to work and live alongside people so committed to conservation. His UW journalism education has been essential to his work at CCF, helping him shoot in fast-paced environments, frame stories visually and write clearly. More importantly, his professors at UW taught him to care deeply about the subjects he documents — an approach that currently guides his work every day.
ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY PHOTOS
Ismael Dominguez
Born and raised in rural Wyoming, Ismael Dominguez began his arts education at Northwest College in Powell, earning an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to UW, where he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in sculpture and metalsmithing. Following his graduation in 2020, he served as a post-undergraduate assistant in UW’s metalsmithing department during the 2020-21 academic year. His work has been featured in exhibitions at ART321 in Casper, 2022 Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition in Cheyenne as well as other spaces and galleries. Currently based in Laramie, Dominguez maintains an active studio practice and is dedicated to expanding access to arts education. In collaboration with the Albany County Public Library and Creative Aging, he created a free sculptural beading course aimed at dismantling barriers to creative learning. His latest installation, “Migración: Betabeleros,” was on display at the Laramie Plains Civic Center’s Gorgon Gallery throughout this past spring. The exhibition explores the histories, resilience and cultural contributions of migrant agricultural workers — specifically betabeleros who labored in the region’s sugar beet fields. Through textile-based sculptures, archival photographs and recorded narratives, Dominguez honors the enduring legacy of these workers and the foundation they laid for today’s Latino communities in the Rocky Mountain West. Alongside viewing the exhibition, community members are encouraged to share their own stories connected to
Wyoming’s sugar beet industry — whether through personal or family histories, memories of fieldwork or reflections on the impact this labor had on local communities. These shared experiences will help enrich and preserve the legacy of the betabeleros, ensuring their resilience and cultural contributions are honored well into the future. To learn more about this project, visit https://ismaels dominguez.com/betabeleros.
John Kreller
When John Kreller graduated from UW with a degree in anthropology in 2006, he wasn’t entirely sure what came next. What he did know was that his liberal arts education had equipped him with a strong foundation in understanding people, building systems and solving problems — important skills that would eventually guide him toward a career in supply chain management. Originally from Cheyenne, Kreller discovered anthropology through
a high school elective and was immediately drawn to the subject. At UW, he explored several subfields and ultimately focused on cultural and linguistic anthropology. As graduation approached, Kreller began considering a range of career paths. Rather than pursue a master’s degree right away, he decided to enter the workforce. A friend introduced him to a post-graduate training program through Lowe’s Home Continued on page 28
Continued from page 27
Improvement focused on supply chain operations. The program combined hands-on distribution center training with classroom-based professional development and proved to be a strong match for his skills and interests. That early experience led to an ongoing career in logistics and operations. Today, Kreller serves as the general manager at Crafty, a techenabled food and beverage company in the Chicago area. His role spans
Natasha Trujillo
everything from warehouse and delivery management to procurement, client services and market strategy. His days are split between supporting dayto-day operations and leading longterm planning, process development and expansion efforts as the company grows into new markets. Kreller also remains very involved with UW. He is the current treasurer of the UW Alumni Association and serves on the advisory board for the
UW alumna Natasha Trujillo recently published a book titled “And She Was Never the Same Again,” which explores the deeply personal and varied ways people experience grief and loss. Born and raised in Laramie, Trujillo earned undergraduate degrees in education and psychology, as well as a master’s degree in counseling from UW. She then received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Purdue University. During her time on campus, she was active in Multicultural Affairs, served on the Shepard Symposium for Social Justice committee and was a McNair Scholar. 28 • Elevations 2025
College of Business’ new supply chain program. He also frequently travels back to Laramie for football games. Although the shift from anthropology to operations might seem surprising, Kreller’s career highlights the versatility of a liberal arts education — one that fosters essential skills like critical thinking, collaboration and cultural understanding, which apply across many industries.
Trujillo is now a counseling and sport psychologist dedicated to helping individuals, teams and organizations build awareness of self, others and the world to reach their full potential in and out of their craft. She owns a private practice where she seeks to educate, consult and provide mental health and sport psychology services that are evidenced-based and collaborative. She works primarily with athletes, performers and highachievers to help them find balance in their pursuit of success and acceptance of their own humanity. She strives to help people learn how to simply “be” and get better at what they do. She has specializations in grief/loss, eating disorders, trauma, anxiety and identity development. To learn more about Trujillo and her book, visit www. npttherapy.com and andshewasneverthesameagain.com.
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