Baker University welcomed three new staff members to the College of Arts and Sciences campus this summer.
Carrie Coward-Bucher, coordinator of academic achievement and assistant professor of liberal studies, Adjunct Professor of Theater Scott Stackhouse and Adjunct Professor of Language and Literature Stephanie Scurto have all began work at Baker.
Coward-Bucher comes to Baker University after working for three years at Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kan., where she taught as a sociology professor.
Even though she is new to Baker, she isn’t new to the campus and the Baker community. Coward-Bucher’s husband, Jake Bucher, is an assistant professor of sociology at the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I’m just excited about this community of faculty who care about students,” Coward-Bucher said.
Coward-Bucher will take on some of the work that Sandy Tugman did at Baker. She will be coordinating all the student tutors, offer support to students and will be teaching part time.
“Sandy was so successful,” Coward-Bucher said. “So, there are some big shoes to fill. Sandy was just great.”
While her office isn’t completely moved in yet, Coward-Bucher said it is a work in progress.
“I’m just looking forward to being able to work with students,” Coward-Bucher said. “Working with them one-on-one is a passion of mine. I get to work with (students) and they can come and hang out with me.”
Coward-Bucher will be teaching courses along with her duties as the coordinator of academic achievement.
“With a new position, comes new challenges,” she said. “For me, it’s the relationships and helping people.”
While it is a new position for her, Coward-Bucher wants students to know that they can still come to get help.
“It’s called Student Academic Success,” she said. “Any student can come and get help. If you want to get better, if you need something. They can all come.”
Academic Success Assistant Kathy Wilson said getting to know Coward-Bucher has been a pleasure.
“She has a very easy style and is very approachable,” Wilson said. “She has a real sense for what is needed.
She is in the process of implementing some great ways to students to use the SAS resources, like the tutors and the workshops. She has really great ideas and she is taking those ideas and making it her own and really making it relevant to the students.”
