Government
Jack McDonald is a professor in the Government Department at Austin Community College (ACC), where he is in his third year as an instructor. His subfield is political theory, and he is particularly interested in the future of liberal democracy and the role of technology in sociopolitical life. He is an avid reader and is currently reading Homer’s Odyssey, The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall, and The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan. When he is not teaching or reading, you can find him swimming at Barton Springs or participating in one of the many recreational sports leagues offered by the city.
How has your community college teaching experience shaped your character over your career?
Returning to ACC as an instructor has been re-invigorating, to say the least. Before ACC, I had spent the previous 6 years teaching at The University of Houston. While I am very grateful for my time there and the talented people I got to work with, there are constraints when it comes to building a community of learners at a large, state-funded institution. Teaching at ACC, where I was once a student, has reconnected me to my own past, a time when I was still learning how to learn and every subject, from Drama to College Math, seemed new and exciting. I see this same passion and curiosity from my students, and it has made me more empathetic to their needs and increased my motivation to be of service to them. It is exciting to see students excited to learn, and I consider it an honor to be able to play a role in their academic journey. I feel a strong sense of duty toward our students, as they are, like every learner, in a transitionary state, not only trying to gain knowledge but often seeking to transfer to a 4-year institution. My goal as an instructor is to inspire my students and serve as a model of virtue, taking care to nurture the curiosity and excitement they feel towards learning while doing my best to help them develop academically.
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