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.
The Aspen Institute selected Austin Community College District over 4,000 others in its most recent technology case study. The article highlights ACC’s newest Quality Enhancement Plan project, Digital Fluency for Today’s Jobs. The project will provide a short-term, stackable, four-course Occupational Skills Award (OSA) that offers high-demand digital workforce competencies in a shorter, skill-focused, work-relevant manner to support student access, retention, and completion. Learn more and read the Aspen Institute post here.
ACC Student Government Association (SGA) students Isaiah Smith, president, and Justin Parker, parliamentarian, had the opportunity to travel to Boston to participate in the Harvard National Model United Nations February 10-13. ACC was the only college from Texas and one of two community colleges nationwide to attend this event. ACC’s delegation represented the country of Grenada, and Smith served as the head delegate. This is the first year that ACC has participated in the Harvard Model UN. Smith and Parker received support to attend the conference from ACC’s SGA, International Programs, and Student Engagement and Academic Success. View their social media takeover on ACC’s Instagram account here.
Dr. Samuel Greer, Employer Outreach & Experiential Learning Programs director, joined the Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) and Nonprofit Austin at ACC boards in January 2022. These positions enable ACC to extend the capacity of our service-learning and internship programs.
ACC Communication Studies Professor Theresa Glenn authored an article titled “Inclusion of Student Voices in the Faculty Hiring Process.” The article appeared in the League for Innovation in the Community College’s March 2022 Leadership Abstract. Read the article here.
ACC Anthropology students Faizan Khan and Averi Muhr were selected as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cook Undergraduate transfer scholarship, a highly-selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students who want to transfer to a four-year university. Our students will each receive up to $55,000 per year for up to three years.
Dr. Giao Phan, Public & Social Services dean, was accepted into Leadership Women Texas. Celebrating 40 years in action, Leadership Women Texas is the longest-running program to develop women leaders in the country, providing exceptional opportunities that enhance participants’ value to their organizations and fields of interest.
ACC’s Paralegal Program is now fully accredited by the American Bar Association. This is their initial accreditation. Congratulations to Paralegal Department Chair Shawn Slack, Paralegal Professor Mario Aguilar, Public & Social Services Dean Dr. Giao Phan, and their team.
One of our students was featured in the most recent issue of the American Association of Community College’s Community College Journal. Brandy Lewis is a Paralegal major and member of Phi Theta Kappa. She shares her experience with ACC’s Adult Education College Prep program and how it helped her gain confidence in returning to school.
Charlotte Gullick, Creative Writing department chair, co-authored a book on creativity with former adjunct faculty Melinda Rothouse, “Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities.” Additionally, she had a piece published in The Forge Literary, “A Word for the Future,” and was awarded a May 2022 residency at the Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow.
Adeena Reitberger, Creative Writing instructional associate, was awarded a residency at the Vermont Studio Center for the spring of 2022. The literary magazine that Adeena co-edits, American Short Fiction, was a 2021 finalist for the National Magazine Award for Fiction.
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 at [email protected].