After teaching in Emporia State for 26 years, Joella Mehrhof, professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), is now the new Faculty Senate President.
“My personal goals for the faculty are to connect to the community, students and the colleagues and renew collections,” Mehrhof said.
As a new Faculty Senate President, Mehrhof said she is looking forward to going to faculty offices. She said Faculty Senate will try to connect with the students better by attending to certain issues of ASG and offering assistance or gaining student insight.
“Hopefully, we are going to do things to recognize members, and become more involved in the community,” Mehrhof said.
Mehrhof received a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Missouri Western University, a master’s degree in dance at Colorado State University and her doctorate at Kansas University. Mehrhof said teaching is always the only thing she knew she wanted to do, even when she was little.
“It was something in the heart, it just came out. It was something I supposed to do,”Mehrhof said.
Shawna D. Shane, assistant professor of HPER, has known Mehrhof for 13 years. She said Mehrhof looks out for everybody and students call her “Mama Mehrhof.”
Marci Henderson, junior physical education and health major, said that Mehrhof is welcoming and interested in getting to know her students.
“In Mehrhof’s dance and elementary classes, she takes pictures of students to learn their names easier,” Henderson said.
Henderson said last year Mehrhof was named the AAHPERD (American Alliance Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance) Physical Education Adviser of the Year.
“At the local level, every student I have talked to respects and looks up to Dr. Mehrhof,” Henderson said.
Having been the adviser for the undergraduate students for a long time, Mehrhof now is the graduate adviser.
“I love the students and they make my day. It’s just nice to see them in the hall, yell at you and ask you how are you doing and give you a hug,” Mehrhof said.
Lauren Lau
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