In Utah Tech University’s weekly newsletter from Feb. 10, readers learned the news of some changes within the English department.
Lacy Hope, an assistant English professor, has been promoted to the director off first-year experience curriculum, replacing Jim Haendiges. She will officially take her new position in July.
The FYE curriculum director coordinates the classes for Trailblazer Connections, which exists to help incoming freshmen transition into their first year of college. The classes teach useful skills such as time management, degree planning and introduces first-year students to all of the resources available on campus.
Hope graduated from former Dixie State University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She later went on to receive her English rhetoric and composition doctorate from Washington State University.
She was approached about applying for the position after being recommended by other Utah Tech faculty members. She also said during her time as a student, she was enrolled in one of the earlier iterations of the Trailblazer Connections class.
“I know the positive experience that this kind of program and this type of curriculum can have on students,” Hope said. “And I’m just very excited to take my experiences from way back when as well as my experience actually teaching the course to see how we can make it just as relevant and fitting for incoming students.”
Part of Hope’s job will be to identify more challenges that first-year students face and create solutions in the form of new Trailblazer Connections curriculums. She is excited to introduce a few new details that she thinks will greatly benefit new students.
“One thing I would really like to stress and see how we might more thoughtfully integrate into the curriculum are components of digital literacy,” Hope said. “Helping students understand how they can utilize the digital tools and platforms that they already have access to, to make their college experience that much more meaningful and that much more successful.”
Alongside this promotion, the English department has experienced another change in leadership positions. Mike Peterson, who was department chair and will move to professor, will be replaced by Haendiges.
Peterson served as the department chair for seven years, and he said according to Utah Tech policy, department chairs can serve two three-year terms. Peterson’s first year at the helm was as the interim chair and was not counted toward the six-year cap.
He said when asked about his transfer out, “Since the English department is so large, we have lots of great faculty that could serve as the chair, so there is no reason for me to try to stay longer.”
Haendiges, professor of English, will take his new position in July as Hope fills his former spot. He said he felt it was his time to serve after 15 years as a faculty member.
“That’s about the time where a lot of people start thinking, ‘All right, I’m going to be less involved. I’m just going to teach my classes. I’ve done my time of service,’” Haendiges said. “So I really thought it was time for me to get involved instead of withdraw.”
He also said he’s hoping to enhance the sense of community within the department and build an environment of trust.
Both Hope and Haendiges are hopeful for the future and will officially be in their positions for the 2025-2026 school year.
