The following ACC faculty members received teaching excellence honors at May 29-June 1 NISOD Conference:
- Scott Gibby, foreign language associate professor
- Cassandra Knobloch, speech professor
- Joe Lostracco , English professor
- John McMinn , foreign language professor
- Phylis Molina, real estate adjunct instructor
- Mary Murphy, vocational nursing professor
- Chip Peters , international business adjunct instructor
- Priscilla Wicker, visual communications associate professor
- Ronnie Wilson, electronics associate professor
ACC awarded two new degrees during graduation ceremonies held May 5 at the Frank Erwin Center. The Associate of Arts in Philosophy was activated in 2003-2003 and was awarded to one student this year. The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene was activated in the 2003-2004 and was awarded to 16 students. Congratulations to Matthew Daude, Philosophy Department chair, and Renee Cornett, Dental Hygiene Department chair.
The inaugural class of the Dental Hygiene program achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
The Vocational Nursing Program received a commendation from the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas for a 94 percent pass rate on the 2004 NCLEX-PN examination.
The Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board recently awarded the “Orthopaedic Nurse Certified” (ONC) designation to Nursing Professor Carolyn Morse-Jacobs following her recent recertification period. ONC is a highly regarded designation that attests to proficiency in orthopedic nursing.
The ACC/Travis County Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 37 new members in a ceremony held April 28 at the Highland Business Center . The annual ceremony honors General Educational Development (GED) graduates with outstanding exam scores and awards a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship to the inductee with the highest scores. This year’s scholarship recipient was Jennifer McDavitt. Former Student Government Association President Levi Barnes was featured speaker at the event. Commercial Music Management Professor Russell Scanlon and students Jeannette Sutherland and Richard “Bobo” Norton provided music.
Health Sciences faculty gave presentations at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Conference May 29-June 1 at the Austin Convention Center. Associate Degree Nursing Professor Kathryn Lauchner, Ph.D., RN, and Health Sciences Assistant Dean Eileen Klein, Ed.D. RN, presented “Surviving the Jungle of Test Construction.” Vocational Nursing Associate Professor Tiffany Wright presented “Concept Mapping of a Learning College Journey.”
Mike Midgley , associate vice president of workforce education, has joined the Skillpoint Alliance Board. He replaces Dr. Mary Hensley, associate vice president of instructional support services.
Associate Vice President Mary Hensley will serve as administrative team chair for the Austin Community Action Network through 2006.
President Stephen Kinslow, Ph.D., presented on the role of community colleges in high school reform efforts at the Statewide Education Summit hosted by Texas Public Education Reform Foundation on May 18. Early College Start Director Luanne Preston, Ph.D., hosted an information roundtable discussion on Early College Start at the conference.
Trustee Veronica Rivera served as emcee of the Hispanic Heritage Awards Program held May 21 for Round Rock Independent School District .
ACC employees participated in the Pflugerville Independent School District Community Forum on May 17, including President Stephen Kinslow, Customized Training Account Executive Karen Duncan, Early College Start Associate Director Sue Raye, Associate Vice President Mary Hensley, and Tech-Prep Executive Director Sharyl Kincaid.
GW Hildebrand, Criminal Justice Department chair, taught a death investigation course April 27 at the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy. Approximately 30 officers from across the state and 25 ACC students attended the class.
Rio Grande Assessment Specialist Sandra Clevinger and English as a Second Language Department Chair Mary Corredor presented “Assessment of ESL Students: the Key to Increasing Enrollment” at the ACT Southwest Regional Conference held April 12-15 in New Orleans. Yolanda Chapa, Eastview campus dean of student services, and Ginni Stevens, Northridge assessment specialist, also attended the conference.
Creative Writing Associate Professor Dorothy Barnett was a featured reader May 4 at the “Poetry on the Plaza” reading series at the University of Texas at Austin .
Transition Coordinator Pat Pewthers of the Leander Independent School District recently sent a personal commendation to Student Development Assessment Specialist Sandy Clevinger following student assessments at Cedar Park High School . “As a 27-year veteran of Texas Career & Technology Education, I have been involved with several community colleges and their personnel.” Pewthers wrote. “Never in my career have I worked with someone as considerate, professional, and accommodating as Sandy.” Clevinger oversaw the on-site assessments at CPHS as part of the College Connection program.
The Jewelry program is featured in the April issue of Techniques Magazine, the publication of the Association for Career and Technical Education. The article is titled “Career and Technical Education with a Delicate Touch.”
