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

Angela Robertson receives birthday greetings from students.

Riverbats Employee of the Year

Student Life Coordinator Angela Robertson is the 2015 Riverbats Employee of the Year.

In addition to developing a mission, vision, and plan for Student Life, Robertson has spearheaded districtwide service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. She created the ACC chapter of the Circle K international collegiate service organization and served as advisor for two years. Now in its fourth year, ACC’s Circle K chapter and has won more than 10 awards.

Robertson, who joined ACC in 2010, has worked with and served on several other student organizations and college committees. She is a recent ACC Leadership Academy graduate.

National honors in welding education

Dr. Warren Donworth, professor of welding technology, has received the 2015 Excellence in Welding Award – Educator from the American Welding Society and WEMCO (an alliance of welding equipment manufacturers). The prestigious award is given to one individual nationwide. Over a 45-year career, Donworth has operated his own home-building company and taught music history, theory, and music literature. He has taught welding at ACC since 1985; ACC Professor of Welding Timothy Strouse was among those in his first class.

A lifetime of achievement in developmental education

Mary Leonard, professor of developmental reading, received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Texas Association of Developmental Education (TADE) and the Texas College Reading and Learning (CRLA) Association. The award is given at the annual College Academic Support Programs (CASP) conference and honors recipients for their contributions to CASP, TADE, and CRLA. Leonard has taught at ACC since 1977.

NAACP honoree for community service

The Austin NAACP has selected ACC District Police Sgt. Clayton Harris to receive its 2015 Captain Louie White award. The award recognizes Harris for his service to the community and his work to ensure residents have better police protection. Harris has had leadership roles in numerous organizations during his 38 years in law enforcement. He has been with ACC since 1999 and currently serves at the Elgin Campus.

Sharing expertise and talent

Director of Service Learning Dr. Lillian Huerta presented “Service Learning: A Teaching Method that Can Help Foster Student Engagement” at the sixth annual Texas Higher Education Symposium in August.

Haley Woodward, adjunct associate professor of welding, led a weeklong blacksmithing workshop at New Jersey’s Peters Valley School for Craft in August. Woodward has taught metal arts and metalsmithing at ACC since 2006. See his work at haleywoodward.com.

Lyman Grant, professor of English and creative writing, was one of three area poets featured at a recent poetry reading at the Round Rock Public Library. Read about the event.

Charlotte Gullick, associate professor and chair of the Creative Writing Department, discussed “Character and Place: How Setting Shaped Personality and Perspective” at a Texas Writes panel discussion sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas.

Joe O’Connell has taught at ACC since 1997.

Joe O’Connell, associate professor of English and creative writing, was featured on KOOP 91.7 FM’s “Writing on the Air.” O’Connell’s articles and photos have appeared in Texas Monthly, Kirkus Reviews, Variety, and Texas Parks and Wildlife magazines. He received the North Texas Book Festival award and was a finalist for the Writers League of Texas Book award for his novel “Evacuation Plan.” O’Connell has taught at ACC since 1997; he currently teaches at the Hays Campus.

In the media

Renee Cornett, professor and chair of the Dental Hygiene Department, discussed local career opportunities for dental hygienists on KVUE-TV. See the interview.

Vice President of Human Resources Geraldine Tucker’s essay on learning to be present in the moment appeared in the Austin American-Statesman.

The American-Statesman also featured an editorial by Nina Butts, adjunct professor of English, addressing funding for Austin’s public swimming pools.

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].

Tags: accolades