Earning As: February 2020

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

Austin Community College (ACC) made the San Marcos Daily Record's Best of Hays Top 3 for two categories: University/College and University/College Professor. Online voting is available through March 15. Winners will be recognized in a special print and online edition once the voting round has ended and votes have been tallied and verified. To vote, visit sanmarcosrecord.com and click on The Best of Hays.

ACC Fashion Incubator Director Nina Means and Gigi Edwards Bryant, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees, were featured in Austin Woman Magazine's February issue to share what it means to be black in Austin.

Adjunct Assistant Drama Professor Greg Romero's full-length play, Falling Down the Mountain of Great Storms, had its first 15 pages read by Permafrost Theatre Collective in New York City as part of their "Ice Breaker Series" on February 9. The event seeks to share new works-in-progress and new forms of storytelling with an audience. Also, two of his short plays, Daphne Becomes the Arctic and Zoe Through the Subway Dog Door, were presented by Rowan College - Cumberland Campus in Vineland, NJ, on February 19 as part of a showcase of short new plays.

Dr. Shasta Buchanan will assume the role of vice president for Student Affairs. Dr. Buchanan has served as ACC's associate vice president for College-High School Relations, where she has dramatically increased dual credit enrollment and expanded partnerships with local school districts and businesses. Prior to ACC, Dr. Buchanan served in various Student Affairs-related roles at Portland Community College, the University of North Texas-Dallas, Texas Tech University, and the University of Texas-Dallas.

Dr. Rachel S. Ruiz, ACC dean of Student Services at Cypress Creek Campus, was elected to the board of the Austin History Center Association on February 19. Dr. Ruiz is a native Austinite who wishes to preserve Austin's rich history.

Fred Gurney, ACC Robotics professor, was interviewed by KVUE for this thoughts on a new robotics arena planned for Cedar Park. Student Lucas Pacquing was interviewed as well. Watch the news segment here.

Laura Marmolejo, ACC Engineering Technology professor, was interviewed by KXAN for its segment "Speculation flies after tech entrepreneur Elon Musk changes Twitter bio location to Austin." She discussed how ACC can train students for in-demand manufacturing careers in just months and how she gets calls weekly from companies seeking manufacturing interns and full-time employees.

Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, ACC associate adjunct professor of Biology and Texas State University professor in the College of Health Professions, was interviewed by Fox 7 Austin in January as an infectious disease expert regarding the ongoing global viral outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

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 Vicky Garza Gonzalez at victoria.garza@austincc.edu.