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

Woman of the Rock

Round Rock Living magazine named Dr. Louella H. Tate, dean of student services at Round Rock Campus, one of its 2017 Women of the Rock. The award celebrates women who live or work in Round Rock and have “broken glass ceilings, worked diligently to remove barriers for other women, and are disrupting established industry norms through a high degree of professionalism, intellect, and innovation.” She will be honored on October 21, 2017, at the Women of the ROCK Awards Gala. Watch her profile video>>

Newly Minted Ph.D.s

Student services is excited to announce two newly minted Ph.D.s! Dr. Ruth Reinhart and Dr. Michael Acosta have both completed their doctoral programs. Be sure to congratulate them.

Dr. Reinhart completed her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) from National American University-Roueche Graduate Center.

Dr. Reinhart successfully defended her dissertation, “Exploring the Trajectory of Latinas into the Role of Community College President: Perspectives from Current Community College Leadership,” on August 11. Her research is critical given the impending community college leadership gap and the increase of Latino students accessing community colleges throughout Texas.

From 2006 to 2016, Dr. Reinhart held the position of professor and counselor at South Austin Campus. She currently serves as dean of student services at Riverside Campus. As a dean and professor, she still makes time to serve on the Board of St. David’s Ethics Committee, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Patient Services Committee, the American Cancer Society- Austin Metro Division Executive Board and Patient Services Committee, and holds the seat of vice president for the ACC Chapter of Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE).

Dr. Acosta successfully defended his dissertation on July 21. This was the final step toward completing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.

His dissertation, “In Plain Sight: An Analysis of First-Generation Student Academic Success in a University Administered Dual Enrollment Program,” provides context and guidance to the continuous improvement of early college intervention programs across the state while identifying key programmatic efforts that might serve to benefit first-generation student populations.

Dr. Acosta has served as dean of student services at Highland Campus since February 2017. He earned his Master’s in Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University and his Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. His continuing research interests include underrepresented student population academic success, innovative enrollment management, and continuous improvement of operational processes.

In Print

The paperback edition of the book by adjunct professor Philippe West published last year, The United States of Soccer from The Overlook Press, is out on October 17.

Professor Tim Dittmar publishes new book to educate future sound engineers. Read more>>

Experts in their fields

Associate professor John Nation, MSN, RN, presented at the “Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies” in Breckenridge, Colorado on July 14. His presentation, “Look All Around Us: The Rise of 360-Degree Immersive Video and its Potential Uses in Nursing Education,” explained the technology, demonstrated its use, and explored how it could revolutionize simulation in nursing.

Adjunct professor, artist, and blacksmith Colby Brinkman has an exhibit, Mimicry, at the Dimension Gallery. Mimicry is his second final show at Dimension Gallery, and is resumed development of sculptures from his first, Hexapoda, which merged metal, carbon, and fire into creepily familiar and fantastic forms. The show held its opening night October 4 and will close November 4.

Biology adjunct professor Sanghamitra Mohanty was interviewed at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Barcelona in August about The PRECISION-ABPM trial. Watch the interview>>

Dr. Rodney E. Rohde was named a Fellow of the Association of Clinical Scientists and received the Swinney Faculty Teaching Award. He has been an adjunct associate professor of biology with ACC since 1995. Read more>>

Dr. Lillian Huerta, associate professor and director of service-learning, received a $1,500 grant from UT Austin’s Globalizing the Curriculum initiative to attend the 2017 American Colleges and Universities conference on Global Engagement and Social Responsibility Conference. The conference will be held October 12-14 in New Orleans.

Giving back

Welding professor Tom Gingras has worked with the Austin Society of Sculptors to establish scholarships for students in the Architectural and Ornamental Metals program. This scholarship will assist students enrolled in ACC’s Architectural and Ornamental Metals program with tools and supplies.

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 Madelyn Duhon, [email protected].

Tags: accolades, FacStaff Accolades, in print