Johnson Center

Dr. Bernice S. Melvin began her career at Austin College in 1980 and retired in 2015 as Professor Emerita of French. As a department chair, humanities dean, and Johnson Center director, Bernie was an indefatigable supporter of faculty autonomy and research. Scholarly creativity and innovation enriches the intellectual vitality of the faculty and the entire campus. The Johnson Center's Bernice S. Melvin Sabbatical Series welcomes the community to engage with cutting-edge academic work, showcasing the importance of the sabbatical in the faculty career cycle and representing the excellence of the Austin College faculty.

Every fall and spring, the Johnson Center supports faculty-created and -led reading groups. With both books and refreshments provided, these reading groups create a space for important cross-disciplinary conversations that engage with a wide range of contemporary issues in education and in society more broadly.

The Johnson Center sponsors weekly carry-your-tray lunch programming. These discussions, led by fellow faculty and staff, address a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on professional development issues in liberal arts and higher education.

Faculty Research and Pedagogy talks provide an opportunity for faculty members to share the ways in which their work inside and outside the classroom intertwine. Engaging participants in discussions of pedagogical innovation and cutting-edge academic research, this series helps foster a culture of liberal arts excellence at Austin College.

The Johnson Center provides support and opportunities for new faculty at Austin College. We organize New Faculty Orientation in August and offer special programming for new and pre-tenure faculty throughout the year.