Earning A’s: Faculty and Staff Activities, Accomplishments, and Accolades

This regular feature recognizes the activities and honors received by ACC faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below.

Hot off the Press

Adult Education instructor Dennis McCown’s first book is now available. “The Goddess of War:Â A True Story of Passion, Betrayal and Murder in the Old West,” tells the story of John Wesley Hardin, one of the most famous gunfighters of the wild west, and his disastrous relationship with Helen Beulah Mrose.

McCown is one of the first writers to research Mrose and her connection with Hardin. He spent more than 16 years researching and writing the book.

“The Goddess of War” is available on amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com, or at any bookstore.

Liz Scanlon’s latest children’s book, “Happy Birthday, Bunny!,” was published in January. An adjunct associate professor of creative writing, Scanlon has written several children’s picture books, including Noodle & Lou,” “Think Big,” “A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes,” and “All the World” (a Caldecott Honor recipient). She recently was honored at the Austin Public Library Friends Foundation’s Illumine 2012 benefit recognizing outstanding literary achievement. Scanlon’s poetry also has been widely published in literary journals. She has taught at ACC since 1994.

Sharing Insight

Loretta Edelen

Loretta Edelen, director of community outreach, took part in the City of Austin’s first Diversity Symposium on Jan. 30. The symposium provided a forum for examining the impact of diversity and inclusion on the city’s success. Edelen participated on a panel focusing on ways the community addresses diversity and inclusion through economics, education, and business. Click here to view a video of the symposium presentations (Edelen’s panel is in part 3).

Adjunct Art Professor Claude van Lingen presented the Paul Hanna Lecture at the Texas Association of Schools of Art annual conference in San Antonio last fall. Van Lingen described his progression from the strict academic training he received from Royal College of Art instructors to exhibiting internationally in venues such as the Sí£o Paulo Biennial. He also discussed principles of the creative process, which he explores in his forthcoming book, “Art, Creativity and Controversy.”

Joe Liro, adjunct professor of Russian, presented his paper “Poetry in the Russian Classroom” at the South Central Modern Language Association’s annual conference in San Antonio in early November. Liro teaches his students several masterworks of Russian poetry, as well as how to write poetry in Russian. By the time students finish the ACC sequence in Russian language and culture, Liro says, most have memorized a few key works of Russian poetry while appreciating the historical context in which they are written.

Faculty in the News

History professor Al Purcell was featured in the Austin American-Statesman for his role as a Lakeway Police Department reserve officer. Purcell joined the department 16 years ago after earning a degree in criminal justice from ACC. In fact, the article notes that four of Purcell’s nine undergraduate and graduate degrees are from ACC. He has taught at the college since 1976. Read the full story.

Biology Professor Dr. Steve Muzos and his wife, Anne, recently were recognized for donating blood to benefit service members. The two are featured on the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) website for their new tradition of donating blood on Anne’s birthday. They traveled to Robertson Blood Center at Fort Hood specifically to give blood to support and honor service members, including those killed or injured at Nov. 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting. Read the ASBP story to learn more.

Austin Visual Arts Association Honors

Sam's photo

Sam Coronado

Visual Communication Professor Sam Coronado recently received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Austin Visual Arts Association.

Coronado is a recognized Austin artist and co-founder of the Mexic-Arte Museum. In 1992 he established the Coronado Studio, a commercial printmaking facility, and the following year launched the Serie Project, a non-profit organization that allows Latino artists to learn and practice serigraphy in a workshop environment at no cost.

Coronado teaches and lectures on Chicano art in museums, art schools, and universities around the country. He has been with ACC since 1991.

Two other ACC faculty members were finalists for AVAA awards. Adjunct Art Professors Ishmael Soto and Claude van Lingen were finalists for the Collectors Circle Award recognizing career artists who consistently create outstanding series of works.

The AVAA awards recognize local artists who have achieved excellence in a range of media. Finalists are selected by representatives of Austin’s arts communities. Visit the Austin Visual Arts Association website for more information about the organization and the awards.

Creating an Impactful Design

Lisa Rehbein, a graphics design specialist in Public Information and College Marketing, received an American Graphic Design award from Graphic Design USA magazine. Rehbein received the award as lead designer for Impact Living Local, a publication of Community Impact Newspaper, where she worked before joining ACC last year.

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

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