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

Haydee Victoria Suescum, Art professor, celebrated the installation of one of her paintings to the permanent collection at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Panama. Her piece won a prize in the 1st Panama National Bienal in the 1990s and is currently on exhibit at the museum in "Papel Protagonista." It also was used as a backdrop for the museum's web page celebrating National Women's Day.

Dr. Heather Barfield, Drama adjunct professor, received a U.S. Scholar Fulbright grant for research in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, France, in collaboration with Syrian performer, Nawar Bulbul, Aix-Marseille Université, and Compagnie La Scène Manassa. Barfield will conduct arts-based research that culminates into a community-based performance titled "Performing Migrant Stories." Learn more about past ACC Fulbright scholars here.

Steve Christopher was promoted to Student Accessibility and Social Support Resources associate vice president. The promotion comes following his management of Student Accessibility Services, the Foster Care Alumni Program, and the Support Center, and the leadership that helped the Support Center have a positive impact on student persistence.

Eileen Eiden, Student Loans supervisor, was profiled for the "Your Benefits, Your Story" section of the ERS website in an article titled "Taking charge: How to use Consumer Directed HealthSelect to your health advantage."

Barbara Foreman, HLC test administrator, was the recipient of a "She Rhocks" award, presented by the Southwestern Region, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Barbara received the award in recognition of her dedication, commitment, and service to the region. The award was presented on International Women's Day.

Kathy James, Academic and Career Advising director, was awarded the Outstanding Advising Administrator of the year by Texas Academic Advising Network (TEXAAN) and the Certificate of Merit Global Award for Outstanding Advising Administrator by The Global Community for Academic Advising (NACADA).

Monique M. Johnson-Jones, Ed.D., Learning Support Services executive director, along with Learning Lab Managers, conducted their annual conference. This year's theme of "Tutoring and Beyond: Paving the Way for Student Persistence" included a new focus on equity and inclusion.

Michele Melkerson-Granryd, adjunct faculty member in the Exercise Science program, was appointed to the Board of Directors for IHRSA, a large international organization focused on the business of fitness facilities and their operation.

A group of ACC Instructional Associates from the Highland Campus Learning Laboratory presented at the National League for Innovation in the Community College Conference: Susan Meigs, English adjunct professor; Anaka Rivera, Government adjunct professor; and Samantha Soebbing, Chemistry adjunct associate professor. Their presentation, "Instructional Associates: A Model for Harnessing the Power of Adjuncts," discussed how adjuncts working as Instructional Associates in an interdisciplinary tutoring center enhance student learning and promote faculty leadership and helped participants explore how such a model might be adapted to their institutions.

Curtiss Stevens, ACCelerators executive director, presented "The ACCelerator: An Open, Adaptive and Collaborative Learning Environment" at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education. The event is designed to address the educational needs of Blacks in higher education along with promoting the goals identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's African-American Male Advisory Committee. Read more about the ACCelerators in this month's Student Affairs report.

Dr. Suzanne Wilson Summers was selected as one of 39 emerging college and university leaders for the 2019-20 class of the ACE Fellows Program, the longest-running leadership development program in the United States. The program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, and visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations. Fellows observe and work with the president and other senior officers at their host institution, attend decision-making meetings, and focus on issues of interest. Fellows also conduct projects of pressing concern for their home institution and seek to implement their findings upon completion of the fellowship placement.

Dozens of university dance programs from the South-Central United States attended the annual American College Dance Association South Central Regional (ACDA) conference in College Station. This year, ACC was one of two community colleges to receive spots in the gala performance, the culmination of the five-day conference. ACC dancers performed two pieces of choreography — a student work by Dmorea Acheka and a faculty work by "Sunny" Jun Shen, Dance adjunct assistant professor, featuring lighting design by Cheles Rhynes, Theater Productions technician.

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.