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

ACC Music Business Performace Technology Professor Brian Donohoe composed the theme music for the Naturally Curious podcast, created by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The latest podcast episode, “Totality in Texas,” discusses tips and tricks on how to experience the next solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

ACC Economics Professor Luke Armstrong received national Quality Matters certification for his ECON2301 course. It is the first course in ACC’s Economics Department to receive this designation.

ACC Business Studies Assistant Dean Larry G. Stephens received the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award in the Community College Category by the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA) Accounting Education Foundation. The annual award recognizes Texas accounting educators who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and have distinguished themselves through active service to the accounting profession. 

ACC Chancellor, Dr. Richard Rhodes, spoke to the Texas Commission on Community College Finance in October. The commission approved a new state funding model for outcomes and is working to develop a new finance model that distributes state funding based on measurable outcomes. He shared with them how the recommendations may impact ACC and other community colleges.

ACC District Board Chair Dr. Nan McRaven, Trustee Gigi Edwards Bryant, and ACC’s Vice Chancellor of Strategic Partnerships Garret Groves attended the National Association of Community College Trustees Conference last month to present about the college’s partnerships with businesses and industries.

Also in October, ACC’s Facilities & Construction team was invited to present to the University of Texas at Austin’s Building Information Modeling class about innovations in capital facilities planning and management. Deb Massaro and Holly Wiese spoke about how ACC students are working to incorporate GIS, laser scanning, and drone flights for ACC’s facilities plans and construction project, and talked about how this effort is helping to save the college time and money while also increasing information accuracy. Learn more about the project HERE.

The ACC men’s basketball team won the Basketball Invitational Tournament on Saturday, November 12. The team beat Trinity University, Central Texas College, and College of the Mainland, and won against Central Texas College again in the championship game. The ACC team is made up of coaches Edgar Gutierrez and Tracy Partin and players:

  • Jake Tolfa
  • Anthony Guyton
  • Aidan D’Eimon
  • Darrell Sanders
  • Malachi Dames
  • Eric Moreno
  • Marcus Mireles
  • Cory Price

ACC’s Art Galleries and Arts & Digital Media Division participated in and sponsored the annual Austin Studio Tour. The college hosted a series of events both on-campus at ACC Highland Campus and off-campus in November. 96 ACC faculty, students, and alumni opened their studios to the public or at public exhibition spaces. Find the list by visiting austinstudio.org and clicking on the “Themed Tours” link.

ACC Rio Grande Campus, Building 1000 renovation received the highest accolade this year at the Austin Green Awards — Project of the Year. The Austin Green Awards highlight sustainably inspired best practices and heighten the visibility of a broad spectrum of exemplary initiatives in Austin.  This year’s awards were announced in a ceremony held on October 26, 2022. Learn more HERE.

Do you know a student, 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, ACC internal communications coordinator, at [email protected].