02/20/19
HAYS, Kan. – Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University, presented two sessions at the recent Annual Academic Chairpersons Conference in Houston.

The first session was “Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Tips for Addressing Conflict,” which gave advice on faculty development, managing conflicts, academic accreditation, initiating new programs, working with higher administration, and time management for active teacher-scholars.

The second session, “Leading from the Middle: Lessons Learned for New Chairs,” focused on how to effectively address conflict with faculty, staff, and students using tips and experiences from mentors, colleagues, and personal research.

These sessions were selected for presentation from a competitive group.

Jochum, department chair since 2016, has led one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state of Kansas through virtual and on-campus degree programs in elementary education, early childhood unified, special education, and secondary education.