Jenna Min Shim

Jenna Min Shim is the John P. 'Jack' Ellbogen Dean and Professor at the School of Teacher Education, University of Wyoming. She holds a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education from the University at Albany (2009), an M.M. in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music (1996), and a B.A. in Piano Performance from California State University (1994). Her research focuses on psychoanalytic approaches to education, intercultural pedagogies, and sociological dimensions of schooling. She teaches courses such as EDST 2480: Diversity and Politics of Schooling and EDCI 5430: Theory and Methods of ESL I.

Her work interrogates systemic inequities in education through anti-racist frameworks, examining how whiteness operates in educational institutions and how teachers navigate racial dynamics. She has developed place-based curricula integrating environmental science with ecological literacy, exemplified by her sagebrush ecosystem educational modules. Her scholarship bridges theory and practice, emphasizing emotional labor, transference in teaching, and structural barriers faced by English language learners and culturally diverse populations.

Shim’s publications span 20+ years, addressing topics like parental engagement strategies for rural ELL communities, teacher preparation for multicultural contexts, and the role of reflexivity in intercultural education. She has collaborated on projects funded by the Trustees Education Initiative, advancing teacher training programs that emphasize critical consciousness and culturally sustaining practices.

Her administrative leadership includes overseeing the School of Teacher Education’s accreditation and curriculum development, ensuring alignment with Next Generation Science Standards and inclusive pedagogical frameworks. She advocates for teacher education programs that confront systemic racism through transformative learning strategies.