UW College of Health Sciences Honors 2024 Outstanding Faculty and Staff

The University of Wyoming’s College of Health Sciences recently honored faculty and staff members for having gone above and beyond in contributions to teaching, research and administrative support.

The College of Health Sciences Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony, held April 25, also recognized those in the college for excellence in professional development and helping students achieve academic success.

Honorees are selected each year by the College of Health Sciences Faculty Development Committee. While considering a wide range of qualifications for those nominated, the committee also considers letters of recommendation from peers and students.

“The committee derived great satisfaction from meticulously reviewing the remarkable accomplishments, contributions and services detailed in the nomination packets,” says Corri Sandoval, an associate clinical professor, speech clinic director in the Division of Communication Disorders and Faculty Development Committee chair. “Each submission showcased a variety of excellence, making it challenging to select a single recipient for each category.”

Michelle Hilaire, interim college dean and clinical professor of pharmacy, began the awards ceremony by noting that, despite the continued challenges faced by an ever-evolving landscape of higher education, faculty and staff in the UW College of Health Sciences always meet those challenges and excel in their efforts to support one another and students in the college.

“You have demonstrated extraordinary courage and strength, embodying the very essence of what it means to work in the College of Health Sciences,” Hilaire said. “We have confronted uncertainties, adapted to new realities and continued to serve all with unwavering dedication.

“We also celebrate the remarkable achievements and milestones attained by you,” she added. “This day is a testament to your perseverance and hard work, highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments that have emerged.”

Recipients of College of Health Sciences awards are:

-- Outstanding Staff (0-5 years): Gwen Cotterman, senior student advising coordinator, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

-- Career Achievement: Sandy Root-Elledge, senior lecturer, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND).

-- Outstanding Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Mark Guiberson, professor and director, Division of Communication Disorders.

-- Distinguished Teacher: Esther Hartsky, assistant lecturer, American Sign Language, Division of Communication Disorders.

-- Outstanding Staff (5-plus years): Gisele Knopf, assistive technology program specialist, WIND.

-- Meritorious Service: Christine Porter, professor, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

-- Early Career Teacher: Angela Simonton, assistant lecturer, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

-- Early Investigator: Kelly Simonton, assistant professor, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

-- Distinguished Investigator: Tristan Wallhead, professor, Division of Kinesiology and Health.

About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences

UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.