2008 Woodie Awards
New faculty bring new experience
Allison Ullmann/Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
There will be a number of new faces in the faculty next year in a variety of departments. Those joining the faculty include Tracy Lucht, Communications Studies; Heidi Feller, Mathematics; Clinton Meyer, Biology; Mike Eckerty, Instrumental Music; Kate Lerseth, Education; and Emily Skow, Psychology.
Lucht, who recently finished her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, will be joining the Communications Department. Brian Steffen, professor of Communications Studies and chair of the department, said Lucht has a lot of experience in the media world to draw from.
"First of all, she has a wide range of experience," Steffen said. "This is her first full-time teaching experience but she has a lot of professional experience. She's worked for USA Today, the Washington Post and the Des Moines Register. Her second job was at the Storm Lake Tribune, so she made her way through Iowa journalism to the big stage at the Washington Post."
Steffen said Lucht comes out of print background but has worked for both the USA Today and Washington Post's web sites and her expertise will allow the Communications Department to explore more multi-media opportunities.
"Adding Tracy to the faculty is going to give us the ability to finally fully embrace this multi-media model of journalism education, which really puts us out front of virtually all small colleges in Iowa with what we're going to be doing," Steffen said.
Senior Ali Jepsen is excited about the addition of Lucht to the department and said she is someone students should get excited about.
"She has a lot of experience with the hands-on elements of media, and is interested in creating new classes for the communications curriculum," Jepsen said. "The combination of her experience in the field as well as her academic background is going to be a real asset to students."
Jepsen was one of the students who was able to meet Lucht in her on-campus interview.
"When I met her, she was very excited about Simpson and eager to meet the students' needs in whatever way she could," Jepsen said. "I was impressed by her classroom style and emphasis on writing and other skills that students will need when they go on to careers in media."
Lucht, who recently finished her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, will be joining the Communications Department. Brian Steffen, professor of Communications Studies and chair of the department, said Lucht has a lot of experience in the media world to draw from.
"First of all, she has a wide range of experience," Steffen said. "This is her first full-time teaching experience but she has a lot of professional experience. She's worked for USA Today, the Washington Post and the Des Moines Register. Her second job was at the Storm Lake Tribune, so she made her way through Iowa journalism to the big stage at the Washington Post."
Steffen said Lucht comes out of print background but has worked for both the USA Today and Washington Post's web sites and her expertise will allow the Communications Department to explore more multi-media opportunities.
"Adding Tracy to the faculty is going to give us the ability to finally fully embrace this multi-media model of journalism education, which really puts us out front of virtually all small colleges in Iowa with what we're going to be doing," Steffen said.
Senior Ali Jepsen is excited about the addition of Lucht to the department and said she is someone students should get excited about.
"She has a lot of experience with the hands-on elements of media, and is interested in creating new classes for the communications curriculum," Jepsen said. "The combination of her experience in the field as well as her academic background is going to be a real asset to students."
Jepsen was one of the students who was able to meet Lucht in her on-campus interview.
"When I met her, she was very excited about Simpson and eager to meet the students' needs in whatever way she could," Jepsen said. "I was impressed by her classroom style and emphasis on writing and other skills that students will need when they go on to careers in media."
Be the first to comment on this story