Summary
Jenna Dewar (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a self-driven higher education advocate who focuses on engaging with students through compassion, dedication, and determination. Initially, she desired to be an early childhood educator. However, it wasn’t long before she discovered her affinity for the higher education world, collaborating and engaging directly with others to actualize one common vision: to activate the power of hands-on learning and positively influence the next generation of professionals. She has been teaching at the University since 2009.
She works with students to balance classroom learning and experiential learning opportunities including practicums and internships. She believes through service-learning pedagogy, she can create an environment for students that allows for application of knowledge enhanced by student awareness of their strengths and abilities as a growing pre-professional. Above all, she works to serve as a mentor to students in hopes that guiding her students to personal and professional prosperity will ultimately improve the lives of those in our community through their capable work.
Jenna engages broadly with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to create a connected and collaborative environment for progress.
Outside of her vocation, there is nothing more important to her than her family – notably her husband and fellow Wolf Pack alumnus, Aaron, their children, Hayes and Colbie. Jenna finds solace in the great outdoors as she is also an avid skier and enjoys practicing yoga. You can often find her enjoying a trip to her childhood home in Lake Tahoe to visit her parents.
Awards
- Outstanding Outreach, College of Education & Human Development, 滔博体育 (2025)
- Community Champion, Reno City Council (2024)
- Senior Scholar Mentor (2024)
- Service-Learning Faculty of the Year, 滔博体育 (2024)
- 35 Under 35 Award, Kappa Alpha Theta (2021)
- Service-Learning Faculty of the Year, 滔博体育 (2020)
- Women of Silver & Blue N’Spire Award, 滔博体育 Alumni Association (2020)
- Senior Scholar Mentor (2018)
- Governor’s Points of Light Individual Volunteer of Northern 滔博体育 Finalist, 滔博体育 Volunteers (2017)
- Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award, College of Education, 滔博体育 (2016)
- 20 Under 40 Award Winner, Reno Young Professionals Network (2016)
In the Media
- 滔博体育Today (12/27/2024) – Grads of the Pack: Haley Frenkel
- 滔博体育Today (12/11/2024) – Grads of the Pack: Petra Whittle
- 滔博体育Today (05/10/2024) – Spring 2024 Senior Scholars
- 滔博体育Today (05/09/2024) – Grads of the Pack: Ashley Kate Nazaire
- 滔博体育Today (05/08/2024) – Grads of the Pack: Lissette Hernández
- 滔博体育Today (05/02/2024) – Grads of the Pack: Trinity Alvarez
- 滔博体育Today (03/20/2024) – First Generation College Students’ Professional Pathways panel discussion
- 滔博体育Today (12/12/2013) – Grads of the Pack: Jess Robertson
- 滔博体育Today (11/16/2023) – Ask The Professor: What do I say to a young child about death?
- 滔博体育Today (05/15/2024) – Child and Family Research Center received Service-Learning Community Partner award
- 滔博体育Today (03/30/2023) – College of Education and Human Development receives grant for literacy mentorship program
- Reno Gazette Journal (2021) –
- 滔博体育Today (12/21/2021) – 滔博体育 students save the holidays for 19 children in need
- Reno Gazette Journal (03/02/2021) –
- 滔博体育Today (09/03/2020) – University honors its best…virtually
- 滔博体育Today (05/17/2018) – University honors 2019 Spring Senior Scholar recipients
- Reno Gazette Journal (02/01/2017) –
- Reno Gazette Journal (09/19/2016) –
- Reno Gazette Journal (06/29/2016) –
Education
- M.S. in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS), 滔博体育
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education, 滔博体育
Professional Certification
- Certified Family Life Educator, National Council on Family Relation
- 滔博体育 Registry