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<\/p>\nPhoto courtesy AFD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Fire Officer of the Year<\/h2>\n
Adjunct Professor of Fire Protection Technology Chris Watson<\/strong>, who also is an Austin Fire Department (AFD) Battalion Chief, was named Fire Officer of the Year at AFD\u2019s recent awards ceremony. Watson, who manages the daily operations of AFD\u2019s Battalion 1 on A-shift, helped revamp the department\u2019s policy manual and establish several standard operating guidelines. Chief Watson has taught at ACC since 2005.<\/p>\n Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has reappointed Renee Cornett<\/strong>, chair of the Dental Hygiene Department, to the State Board of Dental Examiners. The board oversees the licensing and regulation of dental-care providers and enforces state laws regulating dentistry. Cornett is a member of ACC\u2019s HIPAA Task Force and several professional associations. She is a dental hygiene examiner for the Western Regional Dental Examining Board and past chair of the Texas Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee.<\/p>\n The Liquidation Channel, a TV shopping channel selling jewelry and accessories, will feature designs by jewelry instructor Gay \u201cSugar\u201d Isber. <\/strong>The channel will donate a portion of the proceeds from Isber\u2019s pieces to alleviate hunger in India. Isber\u2019s jewelry is sold in more than 3,000 stores in the United States. Read more about her in the recent Austin American-Statesman article Liquidation Channel bringing local jewelry to world audience<\/a>. See her designs on her website Gay Isber Designs<\/a>.<\/p>\n John Albers<\/strong>, adjunct professor of engineering, presented \u201cCalculating the Volume of a Regular Polyhedron\u201d and \u201c’Triangle \u2018Reconciliation’: Adjustments to Fit the Laws\u201d at the 2015 Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching in Houston last fall.\u00a0The presentations were based on projects he developed while teaching gifted high school students. Albers has been a math and chemistry tutor at ACC since 2013 and an adjunct professor since last year.<\/p>\n Four ACC faculty were panelists for \u201cService Learning: Alive and Well in the Communication Department\u201d at the Texas Community College Teachers Association annual convention in Houston in February. Lisa Marie Coppoletta<\/strong>, adjunct assistant professor of speech; Lisa Fitzgerald,<\/strong> adjunct assistant professor of speech; Theresa Glenn<\/strong>, associate professor of speech; and Jason Vidrine<\/strong>, associate professor of business and professional communication, discussed how they incorporated service learning into their courses. Projects range from Austin Public Library reading buddies to gardening at Adelphi Acre. Glenn, who also serves as chair of the Speech Department, estimates her students have contributed almost 1,500 hours of volunteer service over the past 10 years.<\/p>\n Executive Vice President\/Provost Dr. Charles Cook<\/strong> in March participated on a SXSW.edu panel discussing \u201cUnderprepared Students on the Pathway to Success.\u201d The panel addressed the challenge of improving student performance and completion rates.<\/p>\n A paper by Dr. Rodney Rohde<\/strong>, adjunct professor of biology, was selected for the Zika Virus Resource Center<\/a> by the online database and academic publisher Elsevier. The paper \u201cZika Cases Confirmed in North America: Time to Panic?\u201d examines the cause of the virus and appropriate measures for prevention. Read the paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brian Yansky<\/strong>, associate professor of developmental writing, recently led two workshops for the Writers\u2019 League of Texas: \u201cBuilding a Novel Out of Scenes\u201d and “Plot in Character-Driven Fiction.” Yansky has written five young adult novels and has received the Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Novel. His stories have appeared in Literal Latte, The Crescent Review, and other magazines.<\/p>\n Darien Clary<\/strong>, sustainability coordinator, led a workshop about campus Green Teams at the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability Summit in South Padre Island in February. Also attending were Mauri Winters<\/strong>, Student Life specialist, and Tim Kelly<\/strong>, South Austin Campus manager.<\/p>\n Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, third from right, accepts a Digital Inclusion Leadership recognition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Austin Mayor Steve Adler presented ACC with a Digital Inclusion Leadership award for its participation in the \u201cUnlocking the Connection\u201d initiative to provide technology access to public housing residents. Vice President of External Affairs Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm<\/strong> accepted the recognition on behalf of the college at a recent Austin City Council meeting. Unlocking the Connection provides computers and internet access to 4,300 residents in Austin\u2019s 18 housing properties. ACC donates its retired computers to the program, and ACC students learn technical skills by refurbishing the computers. President\/CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes<\/strong>, Malcolm, and Neil Vickers<\/strong>, executive vice president of finance and administration, each received certificates for their involvement with the program.<\/p>\n Dr. Preston Cooper<\/strong>\u2018s book, \u201cPlaying with Expectations: Postmodern Narrative Choices and the African American Novel,\u201d has been published by Peter Lang Publishing as part of its series on Modern American Literature. Cooper is an adjunct professor of English.<\/p>\n The publication lists individuals who earn awards or recognition on the national, regional, state, and local level as well as those who present, author, exhibit, add to their educational credentials, and receive grants or sabbaticals.<\/p>\n To be included, go to the Achievements of Faculty & Staff<\/a> webpage and click on the applicable category to access an online submission form. Activities must have occurred between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016.<\/p>\n Contact the Faculty Development Office, facdev@austincc.edu, for questions about the directory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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, jpowers@austincc.edu.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This regular feature recognizes activities and honors of ACC faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below. Fire Officer of the Year Adjunct Professor of Fire Protection Technology Chris Watson, … Continue reading Providing oversight<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nGems for a cause<\/h2>\n
Sharing Expertise<\/h2>\n
Bridging the digital divide<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nICYMI: Austin theater screens faculty-produced film<\/h2>\n
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A new feature film written and co-produced by Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing John Herndon<\/strong> was screened in March at Galaxy Highland 10 Theatres in Austin. Several from the ACC community worked on the film: Drew Thomas<\/strong>, web designer in the Arts and Humanities Division, was director and co-producer; former ACC French Professor Raquel Gavia has a speaking role, and Adjunct Professor of English Richard Price<\/strong> plays the flute in a flash mob scene.\u00a0 View the \u201cFrame Switch\u201d movie trailer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Just published<\/h2>\n
Submit achievements to annual directory by June 10<\/h2>\n
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Items for the 2015-2016 Achievements of Faculty & Staff are due June 10.<\/p>\n