The Department of Nursing Director and School of Health Sciences Director Kim Chacon, D.N.P., earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from CSU-Pueblo, the title of her dissertation is “Suicide prevention though identification of at risk Youth.”
Associate Professor of Nursing Oluwatoyin Akinlade, D.N.P., finished a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from CSU-Pueblo, her dissertation is titled “Enhancing Mental Health Literacy among Middle School Teachers.”
Associate Professor of Nursing Fallon Crowther, D.N.P., finished a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Capella, her dissertation is titled “Improving Patient Satisfaction with Discharge Teaching Using a Standardized Nurse-Led Communication Process.”
Creative Services Manager Haden Gillespie received recognition:
Kick-Ass 72-Hour Film Festival Success:Haden recently competed in the Kick-Ass 72-hour Film Festival as the team’s camera operator. The short film was nominated for nine awards and took home five major wins, including Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Score, Best Actor, and Best Short Film. Watch the winning film: .
Regional Emmy Nomination:Haden was also recently nominated for an Emmy Award for a news story he shot in collaboration with KRDO covering a local non-profit flying veterans in hot air balloons. Watch the featured segment: .
The World Shakespeare Congress invited Director of the Center for Teaching, Innovation, and Research Artemis Preeshl, Ed.D., to present her paper, “Tragic Dames: Consent in Medieval Times” in the seminar, International Shakespeares: Soft Power and National Cultural Identities, on Wednesday, July 22, in Verona, Italy. This paper is part of the next book in the trilogy on Consent in Shakespeare following the Routledge publication of Consent in Shakespeare’s Classical Mediterranean:Women Speak Truth to Power (2025) and Consent in Shakespeare:What Women Do and Don’t Say and Do in Shakespeare’s Mediterranean Comedies and Origin Stories(2022).
Men’s Wrestling Head Coach Jason Ramstetter received the Colorado Collegiate Coach of the Year at the Colorado Wrestling Hall of Fame Banquet. Aaden Valdez ’26, received the Medal of Courage Award; and wrestling alumni Pat Laughlin ’85 ’93, and Mike Jurny ’92, received Lifetime of Service Awards.
Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Nick Saenz, Ph.D., joined Dr. Gwen Lockman and Dr. Jared Orsi for a great conversation on the Bill of Rights recorded as part of the Colorado Magazine podcast series “.”
The Department of Sociology attended the 16th Annual Sociology Undergraduate Research Conference at Western Colorado University in Gunnison. Four students presented original sociological research:
“Evaluating Latino Student Persistence at a Hispanic-Serving Institution” by senior Michelle Aguirre, chemistry major
“Challenges that Rural Female Law Enforcement Officer Face and the Perceptions from Male Law Enforcement Officers,” by senior Angelica Chacon, sociology major with emphasis in criminology & social work
“Belonging in Prison Education Programs: The Impact of Letter-Writing Exchanges,” by sophomore Ivy Evanson, sociology major with emphasis in criminology & social work
“Sexual Geographies of Campus Life: An Analysis of Power and Space at 91è,” by sophomore Jenelle Hernandez, nursing major with a minor in sociology
Associate Professor of Sociology Billy Ulibarri, Ph.D., and sociology students Ivy Evanson and Angelica Chacon traveled to Long Beach, California to present original research at the annual Pacific Sociological Association conference.
Sociology graduate Shawna Johnston ’10, is a child and adult protection caseworker for Conjeos County and was recently given the Outstanding Child Welfare award from the State of Colorado.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
On behalf of all the departments within the School Humanities and Social Sciences, including Languages, Literature, and Media Communication; Psychology; Sociology; and History, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Political Science: Happy Retirement and thank you to Elaine “Wenta” Wasinger, administrative assistant III, for your dedication to helping countless students, staff, and faculty. Elaine has been responsible for numerous faculty, staff, and students joining and staying at Adams State. She cheerfully and positively bridges people and communities. We will all miss Elaine, but we are also happy for her.
On behalf of Languages, Literature, and Media Communication, First-Year Writing, and the Writing Studio: Vin Mora and Jasmin Barnes were wonderfully involved in Spring 2026 English 101 classes as student mentors–providing crucial feedback and insights to both students and instructors. Their work is instrumental for student retention and instructor growth.
