The beginning of a new semester brings excitement on many different levels. Students begin with a fresh slate of grades, classes and new opportunities to get involved in various activities around campus.
A new semester also means reuniting with friends and meeting new ones on campus as well. Some people worthy of note who are new to campus aren't students, but professors.
Dr. Sacha Pence, a professor in the department of psychology, began in the fall. Pence, a Michigan native, received her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology at Northern Michigan University in 2004.
Pence was interested in studying how to help children with behavioral disorders. During the second year of Pence's undergraduate studies, she worked in a home with children who were diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
"That was the first time I really worked with kids and I really enjoyed it," Pence said.
Pence then received her masters in applied behavior analysis at Northeastern University. It is then that she started working with children who showed severe aggression.
"Most of my research is with children, but it is also on how to train staff and adults on how to handle children with behavioral disorders," Pence said. "I want to figure out what is really going to work when we show instructors ways to handle the children."
Prior to last semester, Pence had no previous ties to the university before coming to teach.
"I was attracted to Auburn because of the quality of the university and the psychology department," Pence said. "I liked the strength of the program and the community."
Dr. Alexander Richter is also new to Auburn as of the fall semester. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics. He completed undergraduate degrees in economics, mathematics and political science at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point campus.
Richter then came to Auburn once he received his Ph.D. at Indiana University in Economics.
Richter said he came to Auburn because it was ultimately the best opportunity for his family.
"I like Auburn in particular because the cost of living was affordable and it is a good place to start a family," Richter said. "The town is small enough to where I can get to work and it's big enough that there are places to eat and shop."
A majority of Richter's work is research, but he will be teaching applied macroeconomic policy analysis in the spring.
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