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Students Rise To Challenge Of Teaching

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Joseph Kim

Teacher education students in the RISE (Reach, Inspire, Support future Educators) program met and interviewed with local school district representatives from Kansas City, Kansas, Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Olathe November 11 at MNU’s Mabee Library. RISE is a program designed to introduce talented students of color to prospective employers in the field of education.

RISE helps students develop professional networks with peers and experts who are focusing on the same issues and challenges they will encounter in the educational workforce.

Employers from area school districts that partner with MNU’s Teacher Education Department provide placement sites and mentors for selected teacher candidates. The interview day allowed district representatives to identify the teacher candidates they would like to equip for the classroom through clinical placement. Once completed, those chosen will complete their student teaching experiences in that district and have an opportunity to interview for a full-time teaching position upon graduation.

The next step in the RISE program will be Teacher Draft Day when school districts offer positions to MNU teacher candidates and upon acceptance, draft those candidates for placement.

Apr
9
Early College Open House
MNU Campus
8:30 am

12:00 pm
Apr
10
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Cook Center
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11
MNU Percussion Ensemble | Percussion Show 2026
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16
MAX Improv 4/16
Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall
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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.