Classes started this week for the students at Eastern Mennonite University, and the new students aren't the only ones getting a warm welcome to the Valley.

There's nearly a dozen new faculty members this year.

Julia Halterman, a new professor at EMU, came from Texas and is teaching in Harrisonburg for the first time.

Halterman earned her bachelor's in biology at Texas A&M University and her master's in biological and physical sciences at the University of Virginia.

She is teaching human anatomy and physiology, animal form and function, and nutrition at EMU.

Halterman said she likes the fact that EMU is a smaller university where the faculty and staff have a close bond with the students.

"I've learned a lot about myself in the last couple weeks. Mainly that I love teaching - it is a passion of mine, and I really get to express and enjoy that passion being here at EMU with the students," said Halterman.

Halterman will also teach with EMU's new program - a two-year master's in biomedicine for people who want to get into the medical field.

She said this is good for students who want to make a transition to careers like nursing and physical therapy that are in high demand.

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