This regular feature recognizes achievements, activities, and accolades of Austin Community College District (ACC) faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below.

ACC Adjunct Art Professor David Thornberry received the Kent State University (Ohio) 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes KSU graduates for their professional accomplishments and community involvement. He graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1986, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in 1988. Thornberry is a painter, poet, artist, photographer, and teacher who has taught painting and drawing at ACC since 2020. His art has been recognized across the country and his works have appeared in exhibits throughout the United States and in numerous publications.

ACC Geology Adjunct Professor Kusali Gamage just concluded a National Science Foundation GEOPATHS grant she was awarded. Her project, the summer undergraduate research experience course (SUREC), was published in the Journal of Geoscience Education: Supporting STEM transfer students through cross-institutional undergraduate research experiences. Learn more about the project and hear what our students have said about the experience in this video

Dr. Rodney Rohde, ACC associate adjunct professor of Biology and Texas State University Clinical Lab Science Program chair, co-wrote an article on herd immunity for The Conversation.

ACC received a Bronze Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan student voter registration and participation during the 2020 Election, a reflection of the commitment of our students to make their mark and also of the college’s Public Affairs team which helps support voter registration drives on our campuses. The voter registration rate at ACC went from 70 to 77 percent in 2020. The voting rate of our registered students went from 64 percent in 2016 to 76.5 percent in 2020.

ACC’s Rio Grande Campus has been recognized with a Preservation Austin award for rehabilitation. These awards recognize ambitious and innovative approaches to preserving the city’s historic places. We started renovations to the Rio Grande Campus Building 1000 in summer 2017 as part of ACC’s 2014 bond. The updates we made preserved the building’s history, while providing state-of-the-art classrooms, innovative labs, and accelerated learning environments. Learn more here.

Do you know a student or faculty or staff member who has accomplished something notable outside the classroom or in their community? We want to hear about them. Contact Victoria Garza Gonzalez at [email protected].