Earning As: Summer 2020

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

Excelencia in Education selected ACC's Transfer Resources Department and Student Money Management Office as Programs to Watch for 2020 Examples of Excelencia. Excelencia staff acknowledge these programs for the impact they have had thus far on Latino students and recognize the potential of the programs to grow in practice and evidence of effectiveness. The programs will be included in the 2020 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education Compendium, Excelencia's website as a 2020 Program to Watch, and an upcoming national fall release of the 2020 Programs to Watch.

ACC Radio-Television-Film Associate Professor Dr. Mark Cunningham led a discussion on the literary influences and legacy of Paul Laurence Dunbar at the 14th annual Austin African American Book Festival. The event theme "We Wear The Mask" was taken from the title of one of Dunbar's most famous poems. You can watch a recording of Cunningham's June 27 talk on the festival website

Leslie Baldwin, ACC Photography adjunct professor and former photography editor at Texas Monthly Magazine, was a juror for SUFFRAGE NOW: A 19th Amendment Centennial Exhibition. Women and women-identifying photographers nationwide were invited via a juried open call to share photos that comment on the Centennial of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment for this special online exhibition hosted by The Elisabet Ney Museum. The exhibition runs until January 31, 2021. View it here.

Nancy Johnson, ACC Child Care & Development adjunct associate professor, spoke at the Bell Williamson Virtual Child Care Conference. She addressed the impact of caregiver stress on child development at the August 7 and 8 virtual conference. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted the conference in an effort to give caregivers and educators the tools necessary for recognizing emotional wellness issues that may arise when returning to their facilities.

Chancellor Dr. Richard M. Rhodes was selected to serve as chair-elect of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) board of directors, effective July 1. The AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The association represents nearly 1,200 2-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students.

Dr. Rhodes also has been named a co-chair of an advisory committee by the University of Maryland Global Campus. UMGC was awarded an $825,000 grant by the Ascendium Education Group to develop a new innovative curriculum for its doctoral program in community college policy and administration. The advisory committee will guide the development of the new curriculum and includes thought leaders from community colleges, the workforce, universities, and nonprofit organizations.

ACC Riverside Campus Faculty Librarian Lynda Infante was appointed to the Texas Library Association's (TLA) Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. The primary charge of the committee is to create, guide, and recommend structures and policies to assist the association in designing a revised strategic plan. The committee is responsible for the continuous monitoring, evaluation, assessment, improvement, and updating of the TLA Diversity Action Plan.

ACC Riverside Campus Head Librarian Irena Klaic was selected for the Texas Library Association's District 3 Chair position for AY2021. In this role, the Chair presides at all District 3 meetings and events, appoints organizational committees, assists the Chair-elect in program planning for fall and spring conferences, serves as an area representative on the Association's Council, and — in general — directs the work of the District which can include advocacy for the profession's needs with the state legislature.

Kristyn Pittman, Round Rock Campus faculty librarian, was selected as Chair-Elect of TLA's District 3/Austin area. Her role is that of conference and event program planner and as an alternate to the Chair during the Chair's absence. This position is slated to be the AY22 Chair.

Steven Self, faculty reference librarian and Eastview Campus Health Sciences librarian, is Treasurer of the South Central Chapter (SCC/MLA) of the Medical Library Association and has been asked to serve on the Virtual Arrangements Committee of the inaugural October 26-28 Virtual Annual Meeting of the SCC/MLA.

Sheila Henderson, Round Rock Campus head librarian and Cypress Campus interim head librarian, was asked by the Medical Library Association to serve on a special team to review applications and award funds for the 2020 national virtual MLA Conference. MLA's $54,000 initiative is reserved for members who are unemployed, recently furloughed and particularly those whose employment situations have been impacted by COVID-19. Henderson has also been asked by the SCC President Elect to serve as Chair of the Credentialing Committee for the 2020-21 term. Her primary responsibilities will be to promote the MLA credentialing program, particularly the Academy of Health Information Professionals credentialing process, and assist members in preparing for successful completion of the program.

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.