This time of year offers a meaningful moment to reflect on the collective impact of Austin Community College’s (ACC’s) faculty. Your mentorship, creativity, and steady commitment help create learning environments where students feel supported, motivated, and confident in their ability to succeed. Thank you for all you do: for the time you invest, the expertise you share, and the many ways you help students move closer to their goals. We are sincerely grateful for you.

We would also like to take this opportunity to recognize several groups whose accomplishments strengthen our academic community: the 2024-2025 Teaching and Learning Academy graduates, our new Department Chairs for 2025–26, this year’s Department Chair Academy graduates, and the 2025 TLED Course Redesign Faculty Fellows. Their dedication to professional growth and academic excellence reflects the heart of our mission and inspires the work we do every day.

2024-2025 Teaching & Learning Academy Graduates

  • Abinaya Rajasekaran
  • Alexander Speetzen
  • Anna Moreno
  • Becky Carter
  • Bernice Speer
  • Bernie Ku
  • Brian Mahoney
  • Candace “Mariposa” McGriffy
  • Cassidy Reid
  • Charity Benford
  • Cori Darbonne
  • Daniel Waktola
  • Evan “Eric” Van Gorkum
  • Evan Ott
  • Franklin Marciales
  • Gabrielle Gucciard
  • Heather Syrett
  • Janie Chang
  • Jon Rodriquez
  • Julie Linder
  • Kara Dixon
  • Katherine Susman
  • Kristyn Pittman
  • Lani Dame
  • Laura Jacob
  • Lorig Hawkins
  • Luce Hernandez
  • Maria Ruelas
  • Megan Wallace
  • Meredith Contello
  • Nathan Montgomery
  • Paul DeLos Reyes
  • Ramiro Juarez
  • Shelby Humpert
  • Travis Ottwell

New Department Chairs – Fall 2025

  • Jodi A Oates
  • Rania Salman
  • Rosa O Carrasco
  • Venancio J Ybarra, Jr.

Department Chair Academy Graduates

  • Catherine Solaas, Faculty Lead
  • Alex Watkins
  • Amber Sarker
  • Haley Woodward
  • Jean Lauer
  • Mark Cunningham
  • Raul Garcia
  • Sam Echevarria Cruz
  • Susan Das
  • Tim Hemesath

2025 TLED Course Redesign Faculty Fellows

Artificial Intelligence Fellows:

  • Stephanie Bogdanich, Lead
  • Jaime Cantu, Biology
  • Okera Bishop, Accounting

Adobe Creative Cloud Fellows:

  • Richard Palmer, Lead
  • Dylan Walsh, English
  • “LMC” Lisa Marie Coppoletta, Communications

Great Questions Fellows:

  • Theodore Hadzi-Antich Jr., Government, Lead
  • Alana King, Composition and Literary Studies, Sr. Fellow
  • Deb Hoag, Government, Sr. Fellow
  • Dylan Walsh, Composition and Literary Studies
  • Nekeida Pierce, Psychology
  • Paepin Starr, Environmental Studies

Honors Senior Fellows:

  • Anne-Marie Thomas, Lead
  • Lei Ji, Economics
  • Louisa Spaventa, Composition and Literary Studies

Liberal Arts Gateway Fellows:

  • Brinda Roy, Lead
  • Ellen Reyes, English
  • Melissa Holton, English
  • Sidonie Phillips, Integrated Reading & Writing