Physics
Dr. Marilyn Wells is a professor in the Physics Department at Austin Community College (ACC), where she has been teaching since the summer of 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from The University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on biological physics. She holds a Physics and Mathematics K-12 teaching certificate from the UTeach program at UT Austin and runs a science outreach program called ACCHaoS (ACC Hands-on Science), which engages young community members in the fun of science!
How has your community college teaching experience shaped your character over your career?
Teaching at a community college has shaped my character in ways I never expected when I started my career. My students have taught me humility by asking questions I cannot answer and reminding me that there is always more to learn. They’ve taught me to be more patient, more open-minded, and more willing to meet people where they are rather than where I expect them to be. They remind me every day that education is not something that simply happens to students, but something we cultivate and participate in together, as a community. Through my interactions with the amazing folks who come to take classes at ACC, I’ve found myself becoming more curious, courageous, humble, and open-minded. In trying to cultivate those qualities in my students, I’ve realized that they have been cultivating them in me, too.