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

The ACC Student Money Management Office was named the Outstanding Financial Counseling or Planning Center by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education for its work to positively impact economic security for students. Last academic year, over 12,000 students participated in the text messaging program, nearly 4,000 students participated in a financial education workshop, 95 students collectively saved more than $43,000 in an incentivized savings program, and over 50 students received one-on-one financial coaching. 2019 AFCPE Award winners were selected through a rigorous peer-reviewed application process.

ACC Peace & Conflict Studies Center Director Shirin Catterson Khosropour was a panelist in a conversation about peacebuilding held Tuesday, November 19, in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted during International Education Week by the United States Institute of Peace and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. ACC was the only community college invited to participate in the panel discussion.

Amy Simons, MSN, RN, Professional Nursing assistant department chair and associate professor, received the Elsevier Educator of the year award from the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Foundation. The annual award is given to one exceptional educator who uses innovative teaching strategies; motivates students to perform at their highest level; works cooperatively with colleagues in the college; and demonstrates meaningful participation in college, professional, and community activities. Simons was present at the OADN Annual Convention this fall to accept the award. She was recently profiled in TLED's Teaching & Learning Champions series.

Pearson Middle East hosted a dedicated Accounting & Finance workshop for educators in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with the aim to help students excel in accounting and finance. The exclusive Accounting & Finance Workshop welcomed more than 50 renowned academics, regulators, and practitioners from the region to discuss best practices in accounting and finance — highlighting the associated challenges and opportunities for students to excel in the business market. The workshop was led by Tracie L. Miller-Nobels, author and ACC associate professor of accounting, who explored teaching methodologies using data analytics and pedagogy for best practice in teaching as well as best practices in teaching Accounting & Finance, incorporating learning technology like MyLab. Read more here. 

Ayeesha Green, Student Money Management Office coordinator, has been selected as a recipient of The Denna Jo Heide-Diesslin Foundation Challenge Match Scholarship. The scholarship will help support her as she completes her Financial Planning Certificate Program at the University of Texas - Austin.

Sylvia Galvan Gonzalez, Counseling executive dean, participated in a panel discussion about ways campuses are developing behavioral intervention teams to respond to urgent events on Monday, December 9. The session, hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focused on mental health, substance abuse, and well-being in higher education. The college's work on developing the behavioral intervention teams was recommended as a model a committee recently assigned under the auspices of the Board on Higher Education and Workforce (BHEW) could learn about. The committee is conducting a two-year study and will produce a final report with recommendations to professional societies, leaders of higher education institutions, federal and state agencies, and Congress.

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.