By Abigail Vannatta, Staff Writer
Seven professors have recently been recognized with promotions in academic rank or tenure.
Tenure is a permanent job status for professors, awarded after a rigorous review process. It not only recognizes their teaching, research and service but also provides job security that allows them to continue their work with the assurance that they’ll keep their jobs.
Newman’s Board of Trustees approved the promotions in late February, following recommendations from the Faculty Evaluation Committee.
Here are the names of those recognized:
- Mallory Arellano, School of Education & Social Work — promoted to associate professor
- Ryan Huschka, School of Arts & Sciences — promoted to full professor
- Shannon Johnston, School of Arts & Sciences — awarded tenure
- Larry Straub, School of Business & Technology — awarded tenure and promoted to full professor
- Teresa Wilkerson (Pictured Above), School of Business & Technology — promoted to associate professor
- Huachuan Wen, School of Education & Social Work — promoted to full professor
- Lori Steiner, School of Arts & Sciences — awarded professor emerita status
Professor reflections
Arellano is a Newman alumna who earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2016 and has been teaching at Newman’s Western Kansas Center since 2018, primarily leading courses in education.
“This promotion to associate professor is incredibly meaningful to me,” she said. “As a first-generation college graduate, this milestone holds special significance, and I am proud to continue my journey.”
Arellano’s work also includes partnerships with PreK–12 schools across Kansas and service on statewide committees focused on early childhood and K–12 education. She said she hopes to continue expanding access to teacher preparation programs in southwest Kansas as well as strengthening connections between Newman and local school districts.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my work has been seeing our graduates thrive in the field,” she said.
For Wilkerson, a promotion to associate professor is a reflection of her passion for teaching and commitment to student success.
“This promotion means a lot to me,” she said. “I truly love teaching, and my experience at Newman has been incredibly rewarding.”
Wilkerson teaches a variety of business and communication courses at Newman and is both the director of Adult and Professional Studies and the lead internship coordinator in the School of Business & Technology.
“I just want to keep making a difference for our students, especially our adult learners,” she said. “I love helping them connect what they’re learning to real life and building their confidence along the way.”
She added that her work at Newman goes beyond a career.
“It is truly my vocation and an opportunity to serve others and watch them develop to meet their next professional or academic challenge,” she said.
Johnston, who was awarded tenure as an assistant professor in arts and humanities, has been at Newman for eight years, despite that not being the original plan.
“Through the tenure application process I had a lot of time to reflect on my relationship with Newman,” she said. “When I first came to Newman … I did not expect to stay in Wichita or at Newman for more than a few years.”
She started out as a part-time director for the Steckline art gallery before becoming a full-time faculty member in fall 2019, primarily teaching art classes.
“But over my time here I fell in love with the culture at Newman. It's grounded in its mission and values. Achieving tenure, in a way, feels like Newman as an institution reciprocating that affection for me,” she said.
Part of her continued work at Newman is bringing the arts further than just to art majors. “It has been a real joy in my teaching experience at Newman to see lots of non-art majors or art minors taking painting and drawing classes and I hope to see that continue,” she said. “I see arts and humanities as vital for shaping thoughtful, curious and well-rounded individuals who will be able to go out into the world and transform society.”
On top of teaching, Johnston said that Newman has supported her role as a parent.
“I’ve been able to raise my children on this campus,” she said. “I love that as a full-time working mom I’ve been able to integrate my personal and my professional lives and that the community of Newman has supported that.”
In addition to the tenure and promotions, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Steiner was presented with professor emerita status, an honorary title awarded for distinguished service, following her recent retirement. She worked 22 years at Newman as both a dean and a professor in mathematics.
PHOTO: Courtesy, University Relations
