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"Everything's Gonna Be All Right" Uplifting Performance By Mnu Choir

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Joseph Kim

Heritage Choir, conducted by Dr. Christopher Smith, recently visited Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park, Kansas to experience the exquisite acoustics of the temple. The church sanctuary’s soaring ceiling and cupola provided the perfect venue for the choir to record several songs.

The lyrics of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” are especially meaningful in this time of uncertainty as we face the COVID-19 pandemic and social and political unrest. May the hope captured in the performance of this song bring a renewed spirit to all who hear it.

Watch this uplifting performance here.

Conducted by Dr. Christopher Smith Soloist Brin Eisele, junior music major Lyrics by Dolly Parton, arr. by Craig Hella Johnson

More About Visit to Holy Trinity

Fr. Timothy Sawchak, rector at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, gave Heritage Choir members a fun lecture about the church and its history. The event was held on a WIRED Wednesday and is a great example of ways that MNU uses its new class schedule to enrich the student experience.

Classes at MNU are now held Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Friday. This leaves WIRED Wednesdays (Wednesday Integrative Relational Experiential Days) for academic departments to provide experiences including internships, practica, job shadowing, research and field trips. Providing students with opportunities to sing in various locations has been nearly impossible this year due to COVID. Special thanks to Fr. Sawchak and the congregation at Holy Trinity for opening their sanctuary for this purpose!

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Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University 
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University 
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.