Tess (Stanton) Kyner started her collegiate journey at Pikes Peak State College as a dual enrolled high school student. Her first semester there, she took Public Speaking and loved it! She switched her major to communication and never looked back.

After earning an Associate of Arts in Communication at PPSC, she transferred to UCCS where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Communication. Tess’s master’s research, under the mentorship of Dr. Erica Allgood and Dr. Sherry Morreale, was focused on public speaking pedagogy and remediating public speaking anxiety. During her time as a student at UCCS, she also worked in the Residence Life and Housing Office, the Department of Communication, and the Excel Communication Center (before it merged with the Excel Writing Center to become the Excel Multiliteracy Center). Her roles included mentoring students and teaching Public Speaking.

After graduating, Tess trained organizations on the Americans with Disabilities Act before returning to UCCS for her current role. She loves working on such an amazing team of people who help students succeed every day. Tess believes communication education benefits everyone both personally and professionally, which is why she’s so passionate about the mission and work of the center.