05/09/16 lds
HAYS, Kan. -- After a national search, Dr. Chris Jochum was selected in April to become Fort Hays State University's new chair for the Department of Teacher Education.

"I'm honored to join the award-winning Teacher Education Department at FHSU," said Jochum. "The faculty's student-centered focus and commitment to quality pre-service teacher preparation is outstanding. I'm also excited to become a part of the FHSU community and its entrepreneurial spirit, which is truly forward thinking and world ready."

Jochum is coming to FHSU from the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he spent the past eight years as an associate professor of Spanish and foreign language education. In 2015, Jochum was inducted into the Academy for Teacher Education Excellence, a prestigious award for those who have made significant contributions to teacher education and preparation at UNK.

Jochum's previous professional appointments include assistant professor of secondary education at the University of Central Missouri, Spanish teacher and chair of the World Languages Department at Salina South High School, and a K-12 English as a second language teacher in Kearney Public Schools. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at UNK and holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University.

Jochum's research interests focus on the preparation and professional development of pre-service and in-service educators, with primary emphasis on self-efficacy, mentoring and the value of study abroad. His research has appeared in a number of peer-reviewed journals as well as being presented at both national and international conferences.