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Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker, dean of the College of Education and Human Services

10 Questions with CEHS dean Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker

Dr. Jennifer (Wade ’92) Shewmaker, recently named dean of the College of Education and Human Services, believes the university is uniquely poised to take on the challenges facing higher education today. “I believe ACU has the flexibility and ingenuity to step into the future with hope and excitement,” she says. “Our mission is timely, and … Continued

Oglesby enjoys mountaintops whether at work or play

    Robert Oglesby (’81) likes viewing life from the seat of a fast moving Harley or atop a 14,000-foot mountain peak. He likes taking risks. And that makes him a perfect fit with his chosen avocation – youth ministry. Mentoring, guiding and developing young people is definitely a high-risk undertaking, but one that Oglesby … Continued

Jeanene Reese

Reese has special interest in mentoring women for Christian leadership

Whether counseling students in her office, leading ACU’s Center for Women in Christian Service, or uplifting women missionaries and Christian leaders around the world, Dr. Jeanene Reese (’74) is answering God’s beckoning. “My call is to be a faithful woman serving in the opportunities God has given me,” she said. And those opportunities are many. … Continued

Teacher of the Year Ashlock known for genuinely caring

One of the student comments that led to Dr. Rodney Ashlock’s selection as ACU’s 2018 Teacher of the Year must have been especially pleasing. When the award was presented in May, several of the comments were read, but one may stick with Ashlock forever. “He is supportive of all students, recognizes their success publicly, remembers … Continued

Bible professor finds healing, answers through solitude

A young Jerry Taylor spent a lot of time wrestling with the same question over and over, “Why me?” An older Dr. Jerry Taylor finally got his answer. “I now understand why,” he said, sitting in his office in ACU’s Biblical Studies Building. Taylor discovered his “why” through years of questioning – and listening. He … Continued

Dr. Denise Barnett | Communication Sciences and Disorders

Dr. Denise Barnett is one of the first faces to greet incoming students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department. And she can definitely relate to these students. After graduating high school, Barnett left her hometown of Monahans to come to ACU and major in speech-language pathology. She had never even seen the campus before … Continued

Dr. Cynthia Powell | Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

“A very important movement in science education is the inclusion of inquiry-based experiments,” says Dr. Cynthia Powell, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of the prehealth professions program. “Inquiry-based experiments require students to plan and execute their own experiments. And a lot of research has shown that this type of experiment helps students … Continued

Dr. Rebecca Hunter | Associate Professor of Biology

Dr. Rebecca Hunter, associate professor of biology, has traveled to many places in her search for learning, including the deep waters of the Antarctic. She spent four months on a research vessel in the Southern Ocean, earned a master’s degree in wildlife and fishery sciences and a Ph.D. in biological sciences, and did research on … Continued

Haley brings advertising experience into the classroom

Having a great professor can change a student’s outlook on college. Joyce Haley, who teaches advertising in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, is that and more. Students love her spunky attitude and the way she brings an advertising agency feel to life in the classroom. In addition to teaching, she also serves as … Continued

Dr. Fred Aquino

Aquino’s love of teaching stems from love of learning

The irony of the last name isn’t lost on Dr. Fred Aquino. It’s pronounced “Aqueeno” and comes from the same root as “Aquinas,” as in Thomas Aquinas, the 13th century Dominican friar who heavily influenced Western thought and is regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Both names derive from the town of … Continued