Elevations – UW College of Arts and Sciences – Fall 2022

Elevations

Volume 8: Fall 2022

1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3254 Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-4106 asdean@uwyo.edu

Interim Dean J. Scott Turpen

Associate Dean Susan Aronstein

Associate Dean Karen Bartsch Estes Associate Dean Narina Nuñez

Editor Robert Brent

All articles written by Robert Brent unless indicated.

From the Dean

Dear Friends of the College of Arts and Sciences:

It is with great excitement that we share with you this edition of the Elevations magazine. Our students, staff, and faculty are the people who make our college a success and it is inspiring to see some highlights of their great work this year. The College of Arts and Sciences has been, and will remain, a core component of the University of Wyoming and our people help us continue to fulfill our land grant mission for the State of Wyoming.

This magazine illustrates some of our greatest achievements, shares the breadth of programming we offer, and touts our diversity. It also demonstrates some of the impactful work we do inside and outside of the classroom. We take our teaching, research, creative activity, and service missions seriously and it is valuable to reflect on these important accomplishments.

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.

Currently, A&S is going through a rebirth of sorts and we are using this as an opportunity to reshape and focus our mission on the social sciences, humanities, and arts. We will redefine and focus our mission while remaining true to our core values and past successes. We look forward to future opportunities to prepare the next generation of creative thinkers, innovators, and professionals for the modern workforce.

Your generosity and support continues to be important for the future of the College of Arts and Sciences. I invite you to reach out and learn more about our programs and the opportunities our wonderful college provides.

Sincerely, J. Scott Turpen Interim Dean

College of Arts and Sciences

Graphic Design Michelle Eberle, Emily Edgar, Hallie Davis and Brittny Wroblewski

Photography All photos by Ted Brummond and Kyle Spradley unless otherwise noted.

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.

UW Giving Day is about creating a culture of philanthropy, gratitude, and giving back,” says Jack Tennant, Executive Director of UW Alumni Association. “It’s about bringing together all those who love Wyoming and its university and uniting them behind the common purposes of education, research, and service.”

UW Giving Day 2022 will take place October 19–20, noon to noon, in conjunction with Homecoming. Matches and challenges will be available to double the impact of your gift or unlock challenge funds. Go to uwyo.edu/givingday for more information.

Cowboys in the Classroom. The initiative was started in order to create a permanent scholarship fund for music education majors. During last year’s Giving Day Campaign, Cowboys in the Classroom raised $14,930 with 66 donors.

Western Thunder Marching Band. The UW “Western Thunder” Marching Band is composed of students involved in almost every academic major offered on campus. The band performs at all football home games and occasionally at away games.

Wyoming Debate. The Wyoming Speech and Debate Team, also known as UW Debate, is a co-curricular activity sponsored by the Communication and Journalism Department and the College of Arts and Sciences. The team travels nationally to from 15 to 20 intercollegiate tournaments each year.

Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement K–12 Curriculum Project. The Wallop Civic Engagement K-12 Curriculum Project is a partnership with the College of Education’s Trustees Education Initiative designed to provide free multimedia lessons for social studies teachers, tied to state curriculum standards, as well as professional development opportunities to support teacher licensure.

Department campaigns. Along with campaigns for specific initiatives and groups, college departments also can be supported during Giving Day. Last year, departments that took part included the Department of Anthropology, The School of Culture, Gender, and Social Justice, the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, the Department of Psychology, the Theatre and Dance Department, and the History Department. 42.5%

The College of Arts and Sciences faculty serve as the heartbeat of the college. Over the last year, our faculty have amassed monumental and countless achievements. It would be impossible to feature everything the college’s outstanding faculty has accomplished over the last year, but we would still like to feature a selection of accolades that showcase how our professors and instructors make such a difference for students, the university and the global community at large.

Black Studies Center

Frederick Douglass Dixon and the Black Studies Center continue to fulfill their mission of focusing on culturally responsive teaching, rural communityfocused engagement and evidencebased research while adding to the University of Wyoming’s tapestry.

In March 2022, the Black Studies Center hosted Khalid El-Hakim and his Black History 101 Mobile Museum, which featured a collection of over 10,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the TransAtlantic slave trade era to hip-hop culture. This marked a recent highlight of the Black Studies Center’s continued contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion at UW.

Theatre and Dance

Cecilia Aragón has published a new book: Borderlands Children’s Theatre: Historical Development and Emergence of Chicana/o/MexicanAmerican Youth Theatre.

Botany

Claudia Richbourg has been awarded the John P. Ellbogen Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award. This award is the university’s highest honor conferred for graduate student teaching.

Criminal Justice and SociologY

Eric Wodahl and Kim Schweitzer have been awarded a $400,000 grant from Arnold Ventures to conduct a study on the value of incentives in promoting behavioral change and successful outcomes among adults under probation supervision. This involves a research partnership with the Denver Adult Probation Department.

History

Melissa Morris has been selected for the Fulbright Scholar Award. The Fulbright Scholar Program is one of the most recognized international study and research programs in the world. Morris will travel to the Netherlands for this award.

FREDRICK DOUGLASS DIXON

CECILIA ARAGÓN

Art

Kathleen Frye was awarded the 2022 Pacific Region Higher Education Art Educator Award by the National Art Education Association. NAEA President James Haywood Rolling Jr. stated, “This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Kathleen Frye exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession.”

(Read more on page 12)

Chemistry

With funding from the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Jing Zhou is working to develop economical, thermally stable and active catalysts for the dry reforming of methane technology.

Philosophy

Franz-Peter Griesmaier and Jeffrey Lockwood recently published a book on philosophy: This is Philosophy of Science: an introduction

Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies

Eric Nigh has secured a $350,000 STARTALK grant to further fund the STARTALK Arabic Camp over the next two years. This grant will allow for greater outreach, promotion and hiring.

Psychology

Kasey Stanton was recently recognized by the Association for Psychological Science as a “Rising Star” in the field. This designation features exemplars of the exciting work being done by the field’s newest researchers.

Physics and Astronomy

The UW Foundation Stewardship Award recently recognized Chip Kobulnicky for his work running summer science camps for Wyoming and regional youth. Kobulnicky restructured “Astrocamp,” a program that former UW Honors College Dean Donal Skinner deemed the No. 1 pre-college experience for recruiting future honors students to UW, into a weeklong experience for 24 high school students.

Physics and Astronomy Professor Chip Kobulnicky leads an active learning project with Danielle Schurhammer of Plainview, Minn. (left), and Logan Jensen of Greybull, Wyo. (right).

KATHLEEN FRYE

Extraordinary Merit Award

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.

Extraordinary Merit in Research

Adam Blackler History

Jay Chapman Geology and Geophysics

Lauren Shoemaker Botany

Jennifer Tabler Sociology

Jennifer Turpen Music

Jifa Tian Physics and Astronomy Arielle Zibrak English

Extraordinary Merit in Teaching

Laura De Lozier

Modern and Classical Languages

Christina Knox Mathematics

Jason McConnell Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies

Chris North Life Sciences

Nancy Small English

Mortar Board 42 Annual Top Prof Night Awards

Every year, Mortar Board holds a night to honor “Top Profs,” an event that gives students the chance to recognize faculty who have been especially influential to their academic careers. These professors go beyond normal classroom expectations to help their students succeed.

Mark Person Modern and Classical Languages

Mark Ritchie

Visual and Literary Arts

Catherine Hartmann Philosophy and Religious Studies

Marsha Knight Theatre and Dance

Kimberly Schweitzer Criminal Justice and Sociology

Joe Carver Music

Ginka Kubelka Chemistry

Golden Apple Award

UW ANTHROPOLOGY BUILDING IN THE HONOR OF LEGENDARY

The Anthropology Building is now named in the honor of storied archaeologist George Frison.

On Friday, May 6, students, faculty and alumni came together for a ceremony to honor one of the great figures in the long and storied history of the University of Wyoming with the renaming of a building on campus. The Anthropology Building now bears the name of legendary archaeologist and UW professor George Frison.

The newly named George C. Frison Building is a 53,000-square-foot facility that was completed in 2007. The building houses the Department of Anthropology, the State Archaeologist’s Office, the cultural records section of the State Historic Preservation Office, the Frison Institute, the State Archaeological Repository and the Anthropology Museum.

The naming of buildings after people is a rare event at the University of Wyoming. That being said, there is perhaps no one that deserves it more than Frison. Frison left an unmatched legacy in his field as well as an indelible mark on the University of Wyoming.

A LEGENDARY CAREER IN ARCHAEOLOGY

Frison was born Nov. 11, 1924, in Worland and grew up on his grandparents’ ranch near Ten Sleep, spending his early years working sheep and cattle. His interest in archaeology began at a young age,

PHOTO BY MARY JUNG

Inset above: George C. Frison left a legacy that continues to be crucial for the College of Arts and Sciences.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UW DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

as he spent his spare time collecting arrowheads, exploring caves in the Bighorn Mountains and developing a love for the history and prehistory of Wyoming. This interest originated when Frison first spotted an arrowhead while he was on horseback at the age of 4 or 5.

Frison’s journey at UW started when he enrolled in 1942, but his education was initially cut short when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the amphibious forces of the South Pacific during World War II. After being honorably discharged in 1946, he returned to his family ranch.

While operating the ranch, Frison joined the Wyoming Archaeological Society and was an avocational archaeologist, discovering numerous artifacts including atlatl and dart fragments. His interactions with UW Professor William Mulloy prompted Frison to enroll at UW in 1962 at the age of 37 to finish his undergraduate work.

After earning his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Michigan, Frison returned to UW in 1967 to head the new Department of Anthropology and serve as the first state archaeologist, a position he held until 1984.

His many awards include the lifetime achievement award from the Society for American Archaeology; a Regents’ Fellowship Award from the Smithsonian Institution; UW’s George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award; UW’s Medallion Service Award; and the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award. He was named to the National Academy of Sciences in 1997.

During his decades of work at UW, Frison made major contributions to the understanding of the prehistory of the northwestern Great Plains in the areas of chipped stone technology, bison bone beds, Paleoindian systematics and Plains chronology. His many books and papers, which include “Prehistoric Hunters of the High Plains,” made

him an internationally recognized figure in archaeology.

Frison’s contributions extend far beyond his career as an archaeologist, however, as he also played a very important role in the development of the Department of Anthropology at UW.

“It’s only right that the university honors Dr. Frison’s decades of service to UW and the state by putting his name on the building that houses the programs that would not exist if not for his efforts,” says Professor Todd Surovell, former head of the Department of Anthropology. “Our department would be a shadow of its current self if not for his efforts. Dr. Frison’s contributions to the field of archaeology, the Department of Anthropology, the University of Wyoming and the state of Wyoming cannot be overstated.”

More than 70 students graduated with the Master of Arts degree in anthropology during his tenure at UW, and many more students attended his classes and graduated with undergraduate degrees from the Department of Anthropology.

Among his legacies is the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at UW, which funds archaeological research; supports student and faculty participation in international research and education opportunities; sponsors an annual lecture and public talks; and provides for volunteer participation in field and lab programs.

REMEMBERING GEORGE FRISON

Of course, Frison was an integral figure for much more than his storied professional career. His impact on the university as a person was just as apparent as his contributions as a professional during the naming ceremony, with many colleagues, friends and former students coming out for the event.

Former Dean Camellia Moses Okpodu spoke to how the

Left: Former Department Head of Anthropology Todd Surovell and Julie Francis, along with friends, colleagues and former students, gathered to celebrate the legacy of George C. Frison during the renaming ceremony. Right: Former Dean Camellia Moses Okpodu spoke about the inspiration she drew from Frison’s work.

work of Frison influenced her decision to become a plant physiologist. It was a fond memory of George sitting at a specimen table, identifying fossils that influenced former Dean Okpodu’s early decision to try to name all the flora in her community. Frison’s influence was beyond his discipline. When Surovell approached Okpodu and shared this idea of renaming the building in honor of Frison, she was more than happy to present this idea to the Provost Kevin Carman.

Julie Francis, friend and longtime colleague of Frison, remembered the impact the archaeologist had on the department as a person.

“Doc (Frison) was immensely proud of this building and department. There was no place he would have rather been. He spent nearly every waking moment of his retirement here, continuing to do research, writing and publishing,” Francis said. “If you think about it a little further, this building is kind of the perfect metaphor for George Frison—not for his career, but who he was and how he went about life. Outwardly he was soft spoken, a man of few words. He never abandoned his roots as a rancher from Ten Sleep, Wyoming.”

This is how many remember Frison: a man who never outgrew his roots despite his towering stature in the scientific field. Frison may have been a legend in American archaeology, but he was also just a man who loved natural history, of the world and of Wyoming specifically, as well as sharing this passion with students, colleagues and the curious public.

Those who knew Frison also know that any tribute and discussion about him would be incomplete without mentioning his wife, June. June and George married in 1946 and remained married until her death in 2011. June would

often work with Frison as a cook on his field projects and accompanied him on countless expeditions. In 1997, when Frison was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the Wyoming Legislature declared a “George Frison Day.” During his speech, Frison acknowledged all the people who had helped him to such momentous achievements. He finished by thanking June, claiming that he couldn’t have done any of the things he had accomplished without her.

KEITH KANBE MEMORIAL STUDENT POSTER SYMPOSIUM

While the day served as an opportunity to honor Frison, it was also an event that recognized and remembered Office Associate Keith Kanbe. Kanbe was a beloved employee who passed away Oct. 19, 2021, after suffering from a brief illness. Kanbe was beloved by students and fellow staff alike, making him the perfect person to honor with a celebration by the whole department. See page 24 for more on Kanbe.

In the newly named George C. Frison Building, students had the opportunity to showcase the hard work and research they’ve done over their academic careers with a poster symposium. The event was a great success and served as an appropriate tribute to Kanbe, who will be very missed by all in the Department of Anthropology and the university at large.

The event to honor Frison was a tremendous opportunity to honor him and all the great staff, faculty and students who have come together over the years to make UW Anthropology what it is today. That list of people includes Kanbe as well as countless others. The event may have been chiefly focused on Anthropology’s past, but it also provided a reason for great optimism about the department’s future.

Students spotlight their recent research during the Keith Kanbe Memorial Student Poster Symposium.

PHOTO BY ROBERT

The University of Wyoming stands out as having some of the best faculty in the nation.

The instructors, professors and lecturers of UW are no strangers to being recognized for their achievements. One of the many to be acknowledged over the last year is Kathleen Frye, an assistant professor in art education. Recently, the National Art Education Association (NAEA) selected Frye to receive the 2022 Pacific Region Higher Education art Educator Award.

The NAEA was founded in 1947 and is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. NAEA President James Haywood Rolling Jr. spoke about bestowing this distinction upon Frye, saying, “This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Kathleen Frye exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession.”

Frye was hired at UW in 2018 as an assistant professor and coordinator of the Art Education Program. She previously worked at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, as a lecturer and program coordinator, where she also developed community-based art initiatives and founded summer art programs for K-12 students. Frye has worked in a myriad of other settings, and with students of all ages, in places including Colorado, New York City, and Bali, Indonesia. This wealth of experience led to Frye being hired by UW to spearhead the development and implementation of a new Art Education Program in the Department of Visual and Literary Arts.

Since enrolling its first cohort of students in the fall of 2019, the Art Education Program has grown to include over 50 art education majors. The program produces high quality art teachers who are consistently hired immediately upon graduation. To what does Frye attribute this success? First, the program is based on a progressive, well-rounded art education curriculum that includes active, experiential learning experiences, opportunities for integrating the arts with other disciplines across campus, visiting artists and guest lecturers, and hands on teaching experiences through Practicums and community-service teaching.

Equally important, Frye believes that educating art teachers in Wyoming is a statewide endeavor. It involves the community of K-12 art teachers throughout the state who mentor student teachers, the higher education faculty at UW and our community colleges who train them in art history and studio art, and education programs in museums around the state who guide our students in ways to teach art with objects and images. This entire “village” of Wyoming art educators prepares our students for fulfilling and extremely relevant careers in art education. In turn, our graduates go back into the community to teach art and inspire young artists to pursue the arts—and the cycle begins again.

Underlying Frye’s approach to developing the art education program is a teaching philosophy that is based on “the notion that teaching and learning in the arts are collaborative, student-centered and are inquiry-based processes.” Frye believes that “my role is to serve as a guide and facilitator for these processes. Collaboration is fundamental to creating a successful learning cohort of students, faculty and community mentors who come together to create an environment that fosters mutual respect, open-mindedness, and risk-taking.” Further, she remarks that “as an art teacher in K-12 and community settings, I’ve had the opportunity to share my love of arts with groups of individuals. In my position as a professor, I educate art teachers who will engage hundreds of young students with a love of the arts far into the future. I am proud to be part of the process that inspires the future art teachers of our state, in our region, and beyond.”

This philosophy and her hard work are driving forces in Frye’s success, and ultimately what makes her an instructor deserving of honors like the Pacific Region Higher Education Art Educator Award. It’s an honor that Frye doesn’t take for granted.

“I am extremely honored to receive the National Art Education Association (NAEA) 2022 Pacific Region Higher Education Art Educator award. It affirms my choice of career that has involved a commitment to learn about, make, and teach the visual arts in a wide range of settings with diverse groups of people across the country and abroad. I’ve made this choice as a matter of personal commitment to the arts but also with the desire to share with others what I believe to be the transformative power of the visual arts.”

I.D.E.A.S. Charts New Path for College of Arts and Sciences

While Elevations is generally a place to celebrate the important events and the achievements of the students, faculty and staff of the College of Arts and Sciences, it is also important to not shy away from more serious issues facing the college. Perhaps the most pressing issue is the impending reorganization of the college, which began in the summer 2022.

This undertaking can be difficult, but the College of Arts and Sciences is choosing to face this herculean task head on. In April 2022, faculty, students and special guest speakers came together for the I.D.E.A.S. (Imagining the Development and Evolution of Arts and Sciences) Symposium, an event designed to give stakeholders in the college an opportunity to take control of their destiny as well as affirm the college’s place as “the heartbeat of the university.”

PHOTO BY BRIAN HARRINGTON

A Celebration of Arts and Sciences

The I.D.E.A.S. Symposium came together with the theme of “What Arts and Sciences Can Become.” Former Dean Camellia Okpodu commented on this theme, as well as the college’s obligation and true mission to provide a practical and liberal education as part of a land-grant institution.

“The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 requires land-grant colleges to provide both a practical and a liberal education to its students,” Okpodu says. “As we move forward to establish a new college focused on the humanities, arts and social sciences, we must be mindful that we are building for the long-term success of UW and its true historic mission.”

The symposium featured keynote addresses from Feisal Mohamed from Yale University and Gordon Hutner, who is a University of Illinois English professor and also directs the Trowbridge Initiative in American Cultures. Hutner received his undergraduate degree from Kenyon College and his postgraduate degrees from the University of Virginia. Hutner also has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Kentucky and has been a visiting professor at Cornell University and Sapienza University of Rome. He has lectured throughout Europe, Israel, Japan and in the U.S., focusing on topics in American literature.

Mohamed is a Yale University English professor and previously taught at Texas Tech University, the University of Illinois and the City University of New York Graduate Center. He has written six books, including “Sovereignty: Seventeenth-Century England and the Making of the Modern Political Imaginary”; and also co-edited a book with Hutner, “A New Deal for the Humanities: Liberal Arts and the Future of Public Higher Education.”

Along with the keynote addresses, the symposium featured a myriad of presentations from faculty revolving around their recent research in four key areas for the college, including digital humanities; community and global engagement; transdisciplinary studies; and diversity, equity and inclusion.

In addition to the research and updates that were presented, the symposium provided an opportunity for those in attendance to enjoy a performance by the Helios Trio over lunch. The trio, made up of Cellist Beth Vanderborgh, violinist John Fadial and pianist Chi-Chen Wu, is a dynamic ensemble renowned in the world of music that recently was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The performance was yet another example of the excellence currently housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.

IMAGINING the DEVELOPMENT and

Former Dean Camellia Moses Okpodu addresses a crowd of Arts and Sciences faculty, staff and students at the I.D.E.A.S. Symposium.

The Beginning of a New Legacy

While the symposium spotlighted several current and recent achievements of those in the college, ultimately, the event was focused on looking forward. While it is a time of turmoil, it is also a time of opportunity to come together and forge a new path. Guest speaker Faisal Mohamed spoke about this opportunity and how the College of Arts and Sciences is already seizing it.

“This was a wonderful day. You can sense faculty pulling together to find ideas to chart a path forward—a path they’re eager to make the most of,” Mohamed says. “Seeing that kind of commitment to campus and their mission in humanities, arts and social sciences is wonderful. I hope to come back in five years to see how this college has developed.”

The faculty who attended shared this sentiment and believe that there is a much more positive outlook on the future of the college after the event.

“I thought the event was a real success. I’m very excited to see the future direction of this new college and how all the wonderful ideas that were generated today can come together,” says Nevin Aiken, associate professor in the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies. “Having the opportunity to meet with so many colleagues today, and having the chance to sit on their panels and see all the good work that’s going on here, I feel very optimistic about the future of this college.”

The College of Arts and Sciences is one of the longestrunning institutions on campus. While we are going through some changes, the college will continue to strive to be a shining example of what makes the University of Wyoming so great. This symposium is one example, the first of many, that will show the college’s resilience, innovation and, ultimately, desire to control its destiny.

EVOLUTION of ARTS and SCIENCES

John Fadial, Chi-Chen Wu and Beth Vanderborgh of The Helios Trio performed for symposium attendees over lunch, bringing their award-winning music back to UW after recently playing at Carnegie Hall.

PHOTO BY ROBERT BRENT

Scott Henkel, director of the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research, along with Arts and Sciences faculty, staff and students came together at the I.D.E.A.S. Symposium to discuss and collaborate on the future direction of the storied college.

PHOTO BY BRIAN HARRINGTON

In April, the U.S. government recognized Second Chance Month, a movement to acknowledge the importance of providing resources to and reintegrating formerly or currently incarcerated members of society. In a press release for this movement, the White House discussed the duty and importance of this endeavor.

“America is a nation of second chances, and it is critical that our criminal and juvenile justice systems provide meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation and redemption. It is also vital that we address both the root causes of crime and the underlying needs of returning citizens using resources devoted to prevention, diversion, reentry, trauma-informed care, culturally specific services and social support.”

One way the government attempts to fulfill this mission is through the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative meant to expand access to federal Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in participating programs. In the most recent round of these grants, the University of Wyoming’s Pathways from Prison program was selected as an approved recipient for this transformative project.

Wyoming Pathways from Prison

Wyoming Pathways from Prison is a collaboration between UW and the Wyoming Department of Corrections that seeks to provide high-quality college courses to incarcerated women and men at no cost through generous volunteer support provided by UW faculty, staff and students.

While Wyoming Pathways from Prison was formed and has been serving incarcerated members of the Wyoming community since 2016, this Second Chance Pell Grant will provide an opportunity for expansion of the program. Robert Colter, associate lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and co-executive director of Wyoming Pathways from Prison, says the grant will help the program develop a cohort of about 20 students at the Wyoming Women’s Center working to attain four-year bachelor’s degrees in general studies starting in fall 2022.

Beyond the specific objectives of the grant, Colter also spoke about the mission of Wyoming Pathways from Prison and UW’s obligation to provide opportunities like this.

“There are two ways to think about the benefits we provide. First, an institution like UW exists to serve our state. The people in our prison system are human beings. They deserve to be treated like human beings. We have an obligation to reach out to our most vulnerable and marginalized fellow citizens of Wyoming,” Colter says. “But beyond the moral obligation, there are also very practical benefits to programs like these that by themselves would make it worthwhile.”

One of the main benefits Colter refers to is that this access to education greatly improves the chance that individuals will not be incarcerated again after they are released. According to the Northwestern Prison Education Program, “about twothirds of released prisoners were rearrested within three years of release, and more than three-fourths were rearrested within five years.” However, “there is a 43 percent reduction in recidivism rates for those prisoners who participate in prison education programs.” These numbers continue to go down the more education that a person receives while incarcerated. On

top of that, Colter states this is also a very efficient movement economically.

“One of the things we’ve learned is that the cost of prison education is far cheaper than recidivism costs. Most recent studies have shown that for every dollar we spend on prison education, we save 4 to 5 dollars on recidivism costs. I don’t know of anything that gives us a better bang for our buck.”

Looking To a Better Future

While Wyoming Pathways from Prison has already been a success, Colter and the rest of the program remain optimistic that there is potential for much more to be accomplished. For example, there are already more people interested in being a part of the program than there currently are spaces in it.

“As far as recruiting students goes, there’s no problem there. They are hungry. I recently taught a class on Zoom that had room for 12 students, and we had 30 applicants,” Colter says. “As we get better technology and solve some issues we’ve had so far, I can envision at some point having a graduating class of 30 students between men and women every year.”

Issues the program currently faces include access to technology in prisons as well as being able to provide ancillary, but necessary, materials to students such as textbooks, secure learning management systems and supplies.

While the Second Chance Pell Grants will help kickstart this process, a lot of work remains to be done to be able to fulfill the full potential of the program.

“The Pell Grant allows us to take Wyoming Pathways from Prison to a whole new level,” Colter says, “but it doesn’t solve everything. Still, I can’t emphasize enough how amazing this is for the university’s ability to serve our communities. I can’t think of anything that could have more impact.”

If you wish to contribute to Wyoming Pathways from Prison, you can do so at the program’s

website: uwyo.edu/gwst/wpfp/donate/

UW Jazz Ensemble Goes Global

The Department of Music is a storied institution for the College of Arts and Sciences that provides Laramie and the surrounding area with regular performances featuring accomplished student and faculty musicians. While these performances commonly contribute to the unique art culture of Laramie and Wyoming, the UW Jazz Ensemble recently went global, with Ben Markley, director of jazz studies, and 15 top young jazz musicians embarking on a tour of Europe to showcase the talent cultivated at the University of Wyoming.

UW Jazz Ensemble Embarks on International Tour In Italy and France

The Jazz Ensemble’s European trek, which happened July 6-15, was headlined by performances on the main stage of the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, and at the Vienne Jazz Festival in Vienne, France. The events are two of the most prestigious music festivals in the world, with artists such as B.B. King, Prince, James Brown and Miles Davis having performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival alone. The Jazz Ensemble also performed in more intimate settings across Italy and France. Between these smaller performances and the festivals, the students performed five of the 10 days the group was there.

Markley says the experience was transformative for the budding group.

“As our jazz area has grown, one of the things I have made it a point to do is get out and perform in places we may not have before to spread our brand,” he says. “To do that on an international stage in multiple cities was just fantastic. We played at two of the most prestigious jazz events in the world, and you could hear the inspiration in the band’s performance.”

Markley says the tour nurtured rapid growth within the group.

“As the tour went on, the ensemble hit their stride. The difference between our performances on night one and the final night was tangible,” he says. “Experiences like these bring out the best in our students.”

The Jazz Ensemble entertained crowds throughout Italy and France with a repertoire of classics, original songs by Markley and, notably, a composition by one of the students in the ensemble, Micah Miller.

Miller, a Casper native going into the second year of his graduate studies in trumpet performance, had worked on the composition since late 2020 and finally shared it with audiences during European concerts. Miller says it was exciting to share his piece, “Old West,” a big band adaptation of a Brad Mehldau work, with an international audience.

“It was an incredible experience to have that music played not only by a large group of my peers, but also to have the opportunity to perform it to an overseas audience. I was so grateful to perform that piece outside a school setting,” Miller says.

Despite the focus on performing and the music from Miller and the ensemble, Markley says the trip was just as important in another way.

“It was just about music as much as it was about life. We had the opportunity to experience other cultures briefly. One of the students had never flown before, and many hadn’t been out of the country,” he says.

The Experience of a Lifetime

As Markley says, the Jazz Ensemble’s tour was a landmark experience for the group beyond just music. In addition to performing, students had the chance to immerse themselves in different cultures. The food was a highlight, as were traveling to Rome and spending time in villages in the south of France and Northern Italy.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN MARKLEY

Additionally, the ensemble had moments to experience the festivals as attendees. Markley and the entire ensemble had the privilege of attending any performance by the other artists with a performer’s pass. These experiences proved to be inspiring and entertaining.

While the band enjoyed the opportunity to be spectators, perhaps the most essential part of the trip was bonding with one another.

Miller cites this aspect of the trip provided memories that will last forever for him and the whole band.

“In our studies in the Department of Music, sometimes we get separated—especially with how much we practice and work on our craft,” he says. “We were together on a bus for eight days in a place where we didn’t know the language and customs. We stuck together, learned a lot about each other and came together closer than ever.”

Between the occasion of performing abroad and taking in the travel, festivals and bonding with his peers, Miller reflects on the experience as refreshing and inspiring.

“Being around that much music and artistry was very inspiring. I remember a moment during the tour when we were watching (world famous jazz bassist) Christian McBride perform in the sweltering heat. It was an amazing performance, and I remember thinking that this is absolutely what I want to do with my life. It was great to have those moments of re-inspiration,” Miller says.

The UW Jazz Ensemble performs at the renowned Vienne Jazz Festival.

UW Rises to the Occasion to Face GRAND CHALLENGES

In last year’s edition of Elevations, we featured the launch of the Grand Challenges Committee in spring 2019.

The Grand Challenges initiative is a program that seeks to put the University of Wyoming at the forefront of solving, or at least helping aid, some of the major problems that face Wyoming from a high-level view. These problems included addressing five specific themes: biodiversity and Earth system change; energy transition and economic diversification; rural health issues; public trust in research and information; and quality of democracy and equality.

The Grand Challenges Committee

looks to aid these problems uniquely, promoting transdisciplinary collaborations spanning the entire university, bringing together departments and colleges that generally don’t work together to help find solutions to the themes set out by the committee that affect the entire state. This collaboration not only brings new perspectives together, but also builds camaraderie at a time when many in the university feel disconnected from one another due to the pandemic.

This transdisciplinary approach has been invaluable, according to Danny Dale, former associate dean of the

College of Arts and Sciences as well as a co-chair of the Grand Challenges Committee.

“It’s been a way to connect us in a time that has been very trying and kept everyone apart, both physically and emotionally. This has been a way to reconnect us and even connect anew. We’ve seen a lot of excitement and new connections being formed around campus to take on this research,” Dale says. “It’s fun to see faculty and students from across campus come together in this way. We have great minds coming together, who may never have worked together, to form new solutions.”

Recipients of a Grand Challenges grant, Assistant Professor Jacob Hochard and undergraduate research assistant Gary Gassaway use spotting scopes, digital technology and social media-driven crowd-sourced conservation fundraising to provide live-streamed access to Wyoming’s remote wildlife.

Mike Borowczak, the Loy and Edith Harris Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and his team earned a grant for their project, titled: Next-Generation Secure Digital Ecosystems at the Nexus of Climate and Energy.

Grand Challenges Committee Funds First Round of Grants

In summer 2021, this vision came together when the Grand Challenges Committee announced the first round of projects to be funded via planning grants, with one project representing each of the five themed challenges the program intends to provide solutions for.

The Democracy Lab

The Democracy Lab is building a pipeline for rising leaders. a structure that channels the innovation and energy of students; deploys the wisdom of senior researchers and public servants; and builds from the talents, skills and needs of community members to improve the quality of democracy and equality throughout Wyoming and the world.

Adapting Pandemic-Driven Technological Advancement to Expand Ecosystem Service Reach and Virtual Access to

Wyoming national Parks Impact

This project aims to integrate digital technology with social media-driven and crowd-sourced conservation fundraising to build global and virtual access to Wyoming’s world-class but remote wildlife viewing experiences.

Innovative Methods to develop Adaptive Capacity through Transdisciplinarity

This project aims to transform UW’s approach to research and enhance public trust in research and information through a cross-cutting, institutionally empowered, transdisciplinary approach in which science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, humanities and social sciences are equal partners.

Unlocking Community Health Access Together

The UCHAT Project Climate and energy

This project seeks to build community support for health improvement strategies through an inclusive, deliberative process, with the ultimate goal of increasing health access and outcomes in rural communities.

These charter projects fulfill the Grand Challenges goal of taking on the “tough problems” facing our world today collaboratively and innovatively. According to former Vice President for Research and Economic Development Ed Synakowski, the official funding of projects is a step towards taking the Grand Challenges Committee out of the idea stage, and into making a real impact.

“We can take this exciting step with the Grand Challenges because of the fantastic campus wide response in identifying great problems most appropriate for this university to tackle, and through which we can organize and exert statewide and national leadership.

Given the high quality of the proposals and their rigorous review, we are now at the stage of getting down to the hard, creative work of making Grand

Next-Generation Secure Digital Ecosystems at the Nexus of

This project aims to develop next-generation, secure digital platforms and promote sustainable energy production, transport and consumption via secure, decentralized monitoring and control systems.

Challenges work impactful realities,” says former Vice President Synakowski. “The success of the Grand Challenges enterprise is central to President Seidel’s vision for a university that generates impact by embracing the toughest problems of the day. The quality and range of these proposals show that the passion and intellectual resources on this campus are up to this great task.”

Looking to the Future

While the projects funded in the first round of the Grand Challenges initiative have already proven to be a success, Dale says there’s room to be positive for further developments.

“The Grand Challenges grant has been a great jumping-off point for many of the projects chosen,” Dale says. “These grants have been used to spur activity to

lead to further grant proposals outside of UW, whether it be state or federal. Some of our projects have written grants and have also already been funded to continue the work on their Grand Challenges projects.”

Beyond the current projects, Dale, along with committee co-chairs John Kaszuba, Isadora Helfgott and Scott Henkel, remains optimistic that there will be further rounds of the grant given to continue this project that has already been so successful.

“We’re proud of the approach we took in making this a bottom-up, grassroots effort. This is a great model for approaching big issues in academics and society,” Dale says. “The buy-in from campus, faculty and the different departments has been a crucial part in making this successful.”

Each year, the College of Arts and Sciences recognizes a selection of students who represent excellence in the class of graduates. 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. Please join us in recognizing the Class of 2022 Outstanding Graduates.

Kyler M. Arriola, Criminal Justice and Sociology

Kailee Behunin, Anthropology Alexandra Box, Visual and Literary Arts

Marcis J. Bravo, Music

Riley T. Coburn, School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies

Stephanie C. Diamond, Criminal Justice and Sociology

Alexandra N. Higley, Physics and Astronomy

Elena Lompe, Anthropology

Wendy Luna Garcia, School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies

Anna Lisa Naig, Visual and Literary Arts

A. Stone Olguin, Mathematics and Statistics Tommi Olson, Chemistry

Kyle T. Rehmeier, Geology and Geophysics

Taylor B. Skiles, Zoology and Physiology

Drew W. Stratton, Communication and Journalism Isla P. Skinner, Psychology

Katarina J. Tyler, Theatre and Dance Kasen G. Urhammer, Communication and Journalism Enoch E. Williams, Philosophy and Religious Studies Sara Williams, History and American Studies

Along with the outstanding graduates selected by the college, the university also designates three undergraduates with the Tobin Memorial and Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Outstanding Undergraduate Award as outstanding graduating students. The award recognizes students for exhibiting the finest leadership, academic integrity and citizenship qualities. This year, the university has chosen two College of Arts and Sciences students to be honored with this award. Please join us in recognizing these two students for their monumental achievements as they wrap up their undergraduate careers.

Hannah Rhymes, Zoology and Physiology

Wendy Luna Garcia, School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies

In Memoriam KEITH KANBE

The College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Wyoming remember beloved Senior Office Associate for Anthropology Keith Kanbe. Kanbe passed away Oct. 19, 2021, in Laramie, Wyo., after suffering from a brief illness, surrounded by his close friends and family.

Kanbe was born in and grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, earning his degree in psychology, with honors, from the University of Hawaii in 1981. Kanbe later moved to Laramie to work at the university, going on to earn his master’s degree in counseling in 1990.

He first worked in the Department of English before moving to the Department of Anthropology as an office associate, where he was beloved by co-workers, peers and students alike.

A close friend and longtime co-worker, Faith Camargo, senior office associate in the departments of Geology and Geophysics and Anthropology, remembers Kanbe as a person who was always positive, helpful, caring and loved by all in the office.

“You always knew where Keith was because he had the loudest laugh. He had the biggest heart and was always positive,” Camargo says. “He was everybody’s rock here. Keith was the one person you could always go to and have a bad day, and he would turn it around.”

Those who worked with him in the Department of Anthropology remember Kanbe as a positive influence in the office and a dedicated worker who even continued to attend important department meetings when he began to feel ill. More than just the care he put into his work, people around him also remember his dedication as a father and family man.

Kanbe’s care, positivity and contributions to the university have been and will continue to be missed.