Not displaying correctly? View online.

Pictured above, center: Tim Shriver and students from local school districts, as well as their families, who have participated in Special Olympics. Bottom left: Dean Laanan and the UNITE team. Bottom right (L-R): Tim Shriver, First Lady Abby Cox, Dean Laanan, and Associate Dean Mary Burbank.

Dear hardworking staff and faculty,

Thank you to all who joined us for Dr. Tim Shriver's event last month. The title of his talk was “All the Walls You Cannot See: An Exploration of the Mental Health, Political, and Educational Implications of Our Crisis of Connection.” As events on the global stage continue unfold and as we continue to feel their effects here on our home campus, I think again and again of the Shriver team's Dignity Index—the eight-point scale for measuring how people speak to each other when they disagree. For those of you who missed the event, you can read more here.    

And still, College of Education events and faculty activity continue to inspire me and deserve celebrating. Read on to learn of your colleagues' impactful work and don't forget to submit news of your own. 

Warmest regards,

Frankie Santos Laanan
Dean

Through the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Professor Laurence Parker (center right) of Educational Leadership & Policy was invited to speak at the 3rd Utah Amyloidosis Symposium dinner on the evening of October 20. He gave a brilliantly received speech titled "The Journey through Diagnosis and Treatment: From a Patient's Perspective" in support of the symposium's goals to catalyze, advocate, and provide education that promotes change, development, and improvement for the early diagnosis and management of amyloidosis.

Dean Laanan and Associate Dean Mary Burbank spoke with UITE Connect's new teachers at the top of their Oct. 26 meeting. U of U alum in their first three years of teaching had gathered to learn from one another and explore topics relevant to their new careers under the guidance of  Professor Udita Gupta of UITE and U alum Kelly Haskerson, a Social Studies teacher at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education. UITE Connect teachers went home with College of Education swag, including bound journals, pizza cutters, and reusable storage sleeves.

Along with her colleague Lisa Thompson of the Natural History Museum of Utah, Professor Lynne Zummo was interviewed on Nov. 7 for KPCW's "This Green Earth" radio show. Zummo and Thompson discussed the museum's brand-new exhibition titled "A Climate of Hope." The permanent exhibition opened over the weekend (Nov. 11) and sets the stage for Utahns living amidst climate change to discover a path to rational hope and continuing to thrive in the state we call home. Listen here. 

Professor Erin L. Castro, co-founder of the Utah Prison Education Project and its director, Dr. Andy Eisen, helped bring October's annular eclipse to 750 incarcerated people at the Utah State and Central Utah Correctional Facilities. With donations from NASA and Clark Planetarium, Castro and Eisen held a viewing party for students complete with eclipse glasses, moon pies, sun chips, and sandwiches. UPEP is now in its seventh year at the U.  

Each semester, the University of Utah Reading Clinic in the College of Education (UURC) trains work-study students to be placed in SLC school district classrooms. With UURC's training and robust reading intervention model, these students give effective instruction to many struggling readers. This semester's second training was held at the Marriott Library. 60 students were trained by the UURC through the Bennion Center and in partnership with Utah Reads.

On Oct. 26, College of Education alum Dr. Bruce Eschler received the Canyons District APEX Award for 2023 School Administrator of the Year. Eschler is the principal of Jordan High School and holds both an undergraduate and master's degree from the College. "I'm about relationships," Eschler says. "I'm here today because someone advocated for me." Watch Eschler's award interview here. 

 Professor William A. Smith received the 2023 Albert B. Fritz Civil Rights Worker of the Year Award on Friday, October 27, 2023, from the NAACP Salt Lake Branch Life Membership and Freedom Fund. 

This prestigious award recognizes dedicated service to the community and humanity by an individual and is named for Albert B. Fritz, a civil rights leader and former president of the NAACP Salt Lake Chapter. Read more. 

Professor Lauren Liang, who studies censorship and selection in literature for children and young adults, was interviewed in an extensive article on banned books in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read more. 

Associate Dean Kirsten Butcher was featured for her work with the NHMU Research Quest team in the Fall, 2023 issue of University of Utah Magazine. Read more. 

President Randall's Vision Matrix and Six Commitments to Our Community came up during the Oct. 26 CoE Council Meeting for Faculty and Staff. As a reminder, they are: 

Vision Matrix

The University of Utah pursues excellence in education, research, service and patient care. We become a top 10 public with unsurpassed societal impact by INSPIRING student success, INNOVATING to create new discoveries, and SERVING every Utahn. This matrix summarizes the foundational pillars, strategic objectives, targets, initiatives and metrics that maximize our impact.

Six Commitments to Our Community

1. COMMITMENT to lead 
2. COMMITMENT to educate 
3. COMMITMENT to research 
4. COMMITMENT to serve 
5. COMMITMENT to patient care 
6. COMMITMENT to unify with sister institutions 

The UAAC Advisor Awards Committee is excited to announce that it is now accepting nominations for the 2024 UAAC Outstanding Academic Advisor Awards.

Nominations are due December 8. 

Questions?
Email uaacawards@advising.utah.edu.

Dean Laanan visited Professor Lynne Zummo at the University of Utah Natural History Museum of Utah, where she holds a joint appointment as the Curator of Learning Sciences.  

Pictured (L-R):  Dr. Jason R. Cryan, The Sarah B. George Executive Director, Natural History Museum of Utah; Professor Lynne Zummo; Dean Laanan.

Tuesday, November 14

1 - 2 p.m.

First floor HUB

Hors d'oeuvres and assorted deserts  

After 18 years in the College of Education, Rose is moving on to the next chapter. Come bid her farewell and wish her luck! 

Monday, November 27

Reception   4-4:30 p.m.
Research Hub (Floor 1, right of Jeeva's Cafe)

Lecture        4:30-5:30 p.m.
Art Works for Kids Auditorium 

First floor HUB

Dr. Teresa McCarty's lecture is titled "A Viable Path for Education: Centering Relational Accountability in Indigenous Education and Education Research." 

Wednesday, November 29

12-1:30 p.m. 
SAEC 2155

Faculty Mentoring Discussion - Structures and Best Practices for Mentors and Mentees

Ongoing throughout the month of November.

Find a full calendar here. 

Tuesday, December 5

1-2 p.m. 
SAEC Auditorium

1721 CAMPUS CENTER DRIVE, SAEC 3202
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112
801-581-8221