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MNU Students Among The Kansas Teachers Of Promise

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Joseph Kim

MNU students Kayla Dailey, senior elementary education and Stephanie Ruley, senior secondary education, are among only 45 students from 23 Kansas colleges and universities to be recognized this year as Teachers of Promise by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).

Colleges and universities across the state that offer teacher preparation programs are invited to select two teacher educations students each, for the honor.

Heather Ozias, MNU teacher education department, says faculty in the department vote to nominate outstanding education senior students, one elementary and one secondary.

“Usually the two nominated students attend a conference in Topeka and are honored at a banquet,” Ozias said. “Due to COVID this year, they received their certificates were mailed and the KSDE sent them a congratulatory video message from the Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.”

Watson’s message called the winners some of the “best and brightest of the teacher candidates coming out of our colleges and universities.”

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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.