In addition to a large freshman class, ACU is welcoming 24 new faculty members for the 2010-11 school year, after adding 20 new faculty last year.

Among the new faculty, 11 have doctoral degrees and 17 of the new faculty earned at least one degree from ACU. Vice Provost Ken Cukrowski is excited about what the new faculty can bring to ACU.

“They come with good academic prep and excitement for teaching,” he said.

Cukrowski said when hiring new faculty, the search committee looks for faculty who have excellent teaching and research skills, will contribute to their department, and possess strong collegial attributes. He said each of the 24 new staff members exhibit all of these qualities.

Lauren Lemley, Ph.D., is one of several new faculty members who hold at least one degree from ACU. Lemley, who will serve as an associate professor in ACU’s Department of Communication, said she is glad to return to the school where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“The thing that’s most exciting is being back at ACU,” Lemley said. “So it’s really nice to be back working with people who taught me a lot. I enjoy being back in the ACU community.”