KU welcomes new Edwards, Lawrence faculty members

LAWRENCE — On Aug. 19, the Office of Faculty Affairs welcomed new University of Kansas faculty at its Fall New Faculty Orientation, held at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. This year’s cohort includes representatives from all 12 academic units across the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.  

“This year, we are excited to welcome more than 100 new faculty to KU,” said Amy Mendenhall, vice provost for faculty affairs. “New Faculty Orientation, our kickoff event for the academic year, provides faculty with the opportunity to connect with campus partners and each other, while beginning their careers at KU.” 

The day began with a welcome from Chancellor Douglas A. Girod and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara A. Bichelmeyer. New faculty members engaged in sessions that highlighted the support available to them and to their students, as well as opportunities for professional growth in research and teaching. 

New this year, the orientation included an optional coffee and campus tour the following day. This event allowed new faculty to network and connect with each other and campus leaders in a more informal setting, and explore Jayhawk Boulevard and learn KU’s history through a guided tour. 

“We have looked forward to offering new faculty the chance to explore campus while learning about our buildings and campus history,” said Mary Banwart, associate vice provost for faculty affairs. “We hope that our ‘coffee and campus tour,’ along with our other new faculty events, help all new faculty feel connected and a part of our KU community from the start.” 

This fall and spring, the Office of Faculty Affairs will host monthly New Faculty Foundation events for faculty in their first and second years. First-year events will expand on orientation and provide an opportunity to better acquaint faculty with the resources available to them to support their work at KU. In the fall, second-year events will focus on mentoring at various levels while spring events will center on career development. 

 A list of 2024-2025 new faculty, along with New Faculty Foundation events, can be found on the Office of Faculty Affairs’ new faculty page.