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Deans Notes - April 28, 2022

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Letter from Dean Pamela Jansma

Congratulations to the Department of Ethnic Studies

As I mentioned briefly in my note two weeks ago, at its most recent meeting the Board of Regents approved our Ethnic Studies program to become a department. This move recognizes the long history of Ethnic Studies’ contribution to the campus and our student body. I am proud to be dean in a college that is putting the important teaching and research done in Ethnic Studies at the fore.

Ethnic Studies was established as a program within CLAS in the early seventies. From 1991 to 2002, the program’s direction was under the generous and steady hand of the incomparable Cecil Glenn. Cecil handed the reins over to Donna Martinez, who served as the program’s first dedicated full-time director from 2002 to 2017. Under her leadership, the interdisciplinary minor grew quickly – increasing from 2 in the fall of 2002 to 89 in the fall of 2012. The program’s Bachelor of Arts degree proposal received Regent approval in November 2012. Over the past decade, the program has grown in both majors and rostered faculty members. 

It took many dedicated people many, many years to accomplish this milestone. In addition to Cecil and Donna, the recent success of Ethnic Studies has been due to the tireless effort of Chair Faye Caronan. While running the department, Faye also spent the past year serving as a Faculty Fellow to the chancellor and leadership, advising them on issues concerning underrepresented and diverse students, faculty, and staff. Her herculean efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. I’d like to also recognize another recent retiree, Paula Espinoza, who was also instrumental in the formation and success of ethnic studies at CU Denver. And I would be terribly remiss not to also acknowledge the long-time selfless service of Dennis Green. The heart and soul of every department is its faculty and staff, and so I’d like to thank all of those who’ve taught and administered Ethnic Studies, making it the success it is today.

Ethnic Studies is currently the only academic unit on campus whose faculty is majority BIPoC and whose curriculum centers the histories and experiences of BIPoC in the United States. Moving forward I’m excited to see how our Ethnic Studies department will take a lead in helping the university achieve its goal to become the nation’s first equity serving institution. So please join me in celebrating the tireless work of the faculty, staff, and students in the Ethnic Studies department to make our campus and our world better.

Update from the Inclusive Teaching Practices Journal Club

In this study Le et. al. interviewed students in five introductory courses to better understand the process of science identity production in those courses. Identity production is defined as a process where an individual determines who they are through their own understanding and participation in a specific context, the science classroom. They found that some aspects of identity development can be influenced by the practices, expectations, and language of the instructor, as such instructors should consider their goals and intentions with those aspects of their courses.

Investigating Undergraduate Biology Students’ Science Identity Production

CLAS in the News

photo of addyson zhang

Ai Addyson-Zhang is Using Her ICB Education to Create Classrooms Without Walls

News

As a former professor, International College Beijing Communications alum (BA, 2003) Ai Addyson-Zhang saw firsthand how a traditional school curriculum wasn't serving her students—who were terrified of failure, stressed, and lacking real-world skills. Addyson-Zhang shares how these observations, along with her own struggles as a student, inspired her to launch Classroom Without Walls, a curriculum that focuses on making students "life-ready." In addition, Addyson-Zhang was this year’s recipient of the Communication Department’s Barbara J. Walkosz Distinguished Alumni Award.

Watch This Former College Professor Wants To Shake Up Education in a Major Way
Glamour
, April 12

Spotlight

Join Candidate Conversations for the Next CLAS Associate Dean for Student Success Next Week

Spotlight

The Search Committee for the next CLAS Associate Dean for Student Success is pleased to announce the three finalists and dates of the public Zoom meetings for CLAS staff and faculty to engage with them.

Devin Jenkins, May 3, 3-4pm  https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/92946022849

John Swallow, May 4, 9-10am  https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/92741558493

Stephen Hartke, May 6, 2-3pm  https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/98199403803

Please note, this is the only opportunity for public interaction with the candidates. There will be a feedback survey link sent out to collect your input after the public sessions. We hope that you will be able to make time in your busy schedules to participate!

Food Security and Prices from Sasha Breger Bush

Spotlight

Associate Professor of Political Science Sasha Breger Bush’s article on food security and food deserts in Denver recently won the Editor’s Choice Award in the Journal of Economic Issues. In addition, Breger Bush had an opportunity to address food prices and food security earlier this month in her lecture to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at DU about the global supply chain crisis.

Sarah Manassee Wins Scholarship to Continue Studies in Anthropology

Spotlight

Anthropology undergrad major Sarah Manassee recently won third place for outstanding academic achievement with the XLVII Senior Scholarship. The CU Denver chapter of the Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honors Society, Zeta Colorado (sponsor of the contest) was founded by Assistant Professor Anna G. Warrener in 2020 to provide scholarship and grant opportunities for students. This award provides Manassee with $2000 in funding to apply to her MA program, which she will begin with Professor Jamie Hodgkins (also her undergraduate mentor) this fall.

Events

Todd Talks: A Budget Conversation with the CFO, April 29

Events

1:00 pm
Virtual (
register for link)

We are excited to host the third Todd Talks in a series to keep our campus community informed and updated on our financial state. Join CFO Todd Haggerty and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Teri Engelke for a discussion on compensation and benefit changes for 2023, how the university is addressing pay equity, and other measures underway that support goal 5 of the 2030 Strategic Plan, becoming a people-centered best place to work.

Event in Support of Ukraine, May 2

Events

2:00 pm
Meet in front the Golda Meir House Museum (just north of the 9th Street Historic Park)

Please join the Golda Meir House Museum, CU Denver Public History Program, Ukrainians of Colorado, and the chancellors of CU Denver, MSU, and DCC for an event in support of Ukraine featuring a series of speakers and a moment of silence. This will provide a chance for the Auraria community to come together to learn more about the situation in Ukraine and pay respects for the lives that have been upended and lost.  For more information, please contact Lena Fishman of the Golda Meir House Museum (lena.fishman@ahec.edu) and/or Peter Kopp (peter.kopp@ucdenver.edu) of the CU Denver History Department. 

The Learning Assistant Program at CU Denver 10th Anniversary Celebration, May 5

Events

2:00 - 4:00 pm
City Heights Learning Commons RH1-2230 Learning Lab

Please join the Learning Assistant Program for a celebration of our Learning Assistants and the sucees of the program. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary of supporting student success and excellence in teaching at CU Denver.

•             Remarks from CLAS Dean Pam Jansma
•             Learning Assistant awards
•             Recognition of graduating LAs, and distribution of LA Program Graduation Cords
•             Faculty recognition
•             Cupcakes

Annual Dean's Awards Ceremony, May 6

Events

4:00 – 6:00 pm
Lawrence Street Center Terrace Room

Each year the CLAS dean gathers the community to celebrate the excellence of faculty, staff and students in areas related to teaching, research, creative activities and service. Light refreshments are served and all are welcome!

Commencement, May 14

Events

9:00 am
Tivoli Fields

Tickets are not required, and seating will be first-come-first-served. Everyone can visit the Commencement website for other details on activities, registration, academic regalia, and more.

Bob Damrauer's Retirement Celebration, May 16th

Events

Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Lawrence Street Center Terrace Room

Please join the Chemistry Department to celebrate CU Denver legend Bob Damraurer's 54 years of service. RSVP and more information on the website.

Discussion About Open Educational Resources (OER), May 17

Events

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm
Virtual (
register for link)

Auraria Library invites you to learn more about OER, with an energized lecture by Alegria Ribadeneira, Professor in the English and World Languages department at Colorado State University Pueblo.  She will share her story about using OER, “nuts and bolts” strategies for finding and using OER in your courses, and students’ responses to OER.  We will also share information about OER projects happening at CU Denver that were funded by the latest Colorado Department of Higher Education OER grant. We invite you to attend, learn, and ask questions about OER!  Plus, attendees will leave with resources to help further explore using OER in their courses.  We hope this workshop will be a launching point for an Auraria Library and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS)-led OER Community of Practice for the 2022-2023 academic year. For any questions, please contact Ronica...

SAVE THE DATE: Colorado OER 2022 Conference, June 24

Events

History Colorado and Virtual
Register 

Keynote speaker Tanya Spilovoy, who has a two-decade career in higher education leadership, focuses on numerous education technology and open education initiatives. She currently serves as Director of Open Policy for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) where she leads the National Consortium for Open Educational Resources (NCOER), a collaboration among the four regional compacts (MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, and WICHE), all 50 US states and associated territories. 

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Deans Notes

Editor: Tracy Kohm
Marketing, Communication and Outreach Professional
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
tracy.kohm@ucdenver.edu

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