Dear colleagues,
It is an exciting week in the College of Education. As dean, convocation is easily my favorite day on the job; the energy and joy are unmatched. I hope to see many of you at Kingsbury Hall on May 2 to share in this celebration of our students' and faculty's achievements!
Read on for news about your colleagues' success and upcoming events--and, as always, don't forget to submit news of your own.
Warmly,
Frankie Santos Laanan
Dean
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Aaron Fischer’s Sandy Hook Promise Funding |
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Congratulations to Aaron Fischer, co-director of the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, on receiving funding from Sandy Hook Promise to lead a national literature review on rural gun ownership, school safety, and violence prevention.
This project, hosted in the U-TTEC Lab at the University of Utah, will spotlight the unique needs of rural communities and inform national efforts to create safer, more supportive school environments.
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Andrea Rorrer and UEPC Team Publish Chapter on Advancing STEM Education in Utah |
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Congratulations to Andrea Rorrer, Director of the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) and Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy, and her UEPC colleagues on the publication of their chapter in STEM Century: It Takes a Village to Raise a 21st Century Graduate – Utah Edition.
Their chapter highlights the UEPC’s collaborative work supporting STEM education across Utah. Drawing on years of partnership with educators, policymakers, and community leaders, the chapter explores how the STEM Action Center bridges policy and practice to expand access to quality STEM learning.
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Professor Jason Taylor Elected President-Elect of CSCC |
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Congratulations to Jason Taylor, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy, on being elected President-Elect of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC).
This national honor recognizes his impactful research and leadership in advancing equity and student success in community colleges. He will also be leading the planning of the next CSCC conference during his term, which takes place in Salt Lake City.
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| Associate Professor Leticia Alvarez Gutiérrez has been named the 2025 recipient of the Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award.
Her research in immigrant education and participatory methodologies has made a lasting impact on the communities she serves. Her work, published in AERA Open, Urban Review, and Theory into Practice, bridges the gap between researchers and practitioners to address critical educational challenges.
Congratulations to Professor Gutiérrez!
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Professor Larry J. Parker has been honored with the Division G. AERA Lifetime Achievement Award. This national award recognizes his outstanding career dedicated to examining how social contexts shape education.
Through decades of influential research and leadership, Professor Parker has advanced understanding of equity, policy, and justice in education.
Congratulations to Professor Parker on this recognition!
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| Distinguished Professor William A. Smith has been selected as a 2025 Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), one of the highest honors in the field of education research.
AERA Fellows are recognized for their exceptional contributions and commitment to excellence in advancing knowledge in education. Professor Smith will be formally inducted at the AERA Annual Meeting in Denver this April. He joins Professor Parker in this designation, who was named a fellow in 2021.
Congratulations to Professor Smith on this prestigious achievement!
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On Wednesday, April 9, a webinar was held in support of the new report, Blueprint for a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders, co-authored by Professor Paula Smith for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The report outlines a vision for building a coordinated national system to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders before they emerge.
Watch the full webinar here!
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Koeun Park Wins First Place for 2025 AERA Outstanding Dissertation Award |
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We are proud to celebrate Koeun Park, a 2024 graduate of the Department of Education, Culture & Society, who has been awarded First Place for the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award by AERA's Bilingual Education Research Special Interest Group (SIG).
Park was honored at the Bilingual Education Research SIG’s Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, April 26.
Check out her defense flyer from 2024.
Congratulations Koeun Park!
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Maeve Wall Receives 2025 AERA Division K Outstanding Dissertation Award |
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We are proud to announce that Maeve Wall, a 2024 graduate of the Department of Education, Culture & Society, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division K: Teaching and Teacher Education.
Wall was formally recognized at the Division K Business Meeting during AERA’s Annual Meeting.
Check out her defense flyer from 2024.
Congratulations Maeve Wall!
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CoE Faculty Contribute to AERA Handbook |
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We’re excited to share that Professors Dave Woo, Laura Rogers, and Larry Parker, have contributed to the newly released AERA Handbook of Education Policy Research. As the largest book project in AERA’s 109-year history, this book includes 79 chapters written by more than 230 authors and supported by over 100 reviewers across the field.
Their contribution was highlighted during the AERA Annual Meeting. We’re proud to see their voices featured in this volume and grateful for the insight they bring to both our college and the broader research community.
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2025 Jones Endowed Lecture |
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On April 7, Professor Endia J. Lindo, a leading scholar in special education, recently delivered a powerful presentation titled "Identifying and Bridging the Gap: Advancing the Science of Reading for Culturally, Linguistically, and Neurodiverse Learners."
The talk explored critical gaps in research and practice at the intersection of race, disability, and culture in reading intervention outcomes. By highlighting these challenges, Lindo emphasized the urgent need to advance the science of reading to better serve all learners.
Missed the lecture? Watch it here.
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Dean’s alumni (Bringing the U to You!) in St. George and Las Vegas |
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| Dean Laanan and Dean Michelle Camacho (CSBS) attended this Utah Alumni Association Event in St. George.
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St. George Graduate Center: U of U Southern Region Alumni Dinner & Graduate Celebration |
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Aaron Fischer (center) was the keynote speaker.
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Rachael Walker | Graphic Designer |
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Rachel supports all departments in the College of Education and loves the variety her role brings. Since joining the college almost two years ago, she’s worked on everything from launching the first-ever EDU magazine with the dean to creating a brand that helps people connect more easily with the college.
She grew up moving around 15 cities across Utah, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Brazil. She graduated in May 2024 with a BFA in Graphic Design from the U, where she was named the top student in the College of Fine Arts. Outside of work, she enjoys crocheting, sewing, 3D printing, and spending time with her four sisters. Rachel says one of the best parts of her job is the people she gets to work with every day!
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TODAY | Collegewide Townhall: Redesign for Excellence
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| Join us at the Utah State Capitol on Monday, May 6 from 9:00 AM to Noon for an advocacy event in honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
Help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote well-being for Utah youth and families. Light refreshments provided!
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| Date: Thursday, May 1
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Jon M. Huntsman Center
More details.
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| Date: Friday, May 2
Time: 12 - 2 p.m.
Location: Kingsbury Hall
More details.
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Centralizing Finance and Administration Questions |
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Are you a faculty or staff member with questions about HR, finance, or administration?
Please email: CoEdu.Support@utah.edu.
By newly centralizing these services, the dean's office aims to ensure that faculty and staff won’t have to navigate institutional systems on their own when in need of assistance.
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Student Social Media Survey |
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We are collecting feedback on our social media channels from CoEdu students.
Please consider sharing this survey with your undergraduate and graduate spring classes:
CoEdu Student Social Media Survey.
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CoEdu Virtual Anonymous Suggestion Box |
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The College of Education values open communication with you. We invite you to take advantage of this simple and anonymous way to share success stories, suggestions, and informal feedback that do not require a direct or immediate response.
All entries will be routed to the email address coe-feedback@utah.edu.
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