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Academic Success Center Achieves Crla Certification

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Joseph Kim

MidAmerica Nazarene University is pleased to announce that its Academic Success Center has been awarded certification as a Level 1 certified tutor training program by the internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).

The Academic Success Center developed a tutor training program that meets CRLA’s rigorous standards and has successfully completed the International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) peer review process. Achieving certification means that Academic Success Center has met CRLA’s high standards for tutor selection, training, direct service, and evaluation as an integral part of their overall tutoring program.

MNU’s Director of Persistence, Gieselle Taylor, says that research shows students may achieve better grades when they are able to connect with a trained tutor.

“We are honored that the Center’s tutoring and tutor training program has been recognized for its high standards,” Taylor says. “Research shows that meeting with trained and certified tutors often means that students benefit from a higher grade point average (GPA) than students who do not utilize tutoring provided through student success centers like the ASC. Achieving certification means students and the faculty that refer them can have full confidence that the ASC is providing academic support that meets internationally accepted standards.”

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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.