Austin College Receives 2026 Professional Development Award

SHERMAN, TEXAS – The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), has named Austin College one of its 2026 Professional Development Award recipients.

Austin College was among 46 institutions awarded the Professional Development Award, which supports initiatives that develop campus conversations about vocation and deepens the capacity of those who lead vocational exploration efforts at NetVUE member institutions. This is the 13th year the NetVUE grant has been awarded, bringing the total to 379 Professional Development Awards granted to member institutions.

“The NetVUE grant will support professional development efforts by faculty to integrate vocational reflection across the Austin College curriculum,” said Executive Director of the Posey Leadership Institute and Associate Professor of Business Administration Dr. Martinella Dryburgh. “As a liberal arts institution, the College prides itself on not only providing skills for students to pursue meaningful careers, but also to explore the motivations that will make them actively engaged citizens in communities they value. This involves faculty expanding their skills and resources to have meaningful activities where students can explore their calling and the trajectory of their lives outside of paid employment. Overall, Austin College seeks to empower faculty to explore vocation with students while they apply their liberal arts education to their future careers.”

“I was encouraged and supported to pursue this grant through the work of Dr. Mari Elise Ewing, who has been recognized as a NetVUE scholar,” she added. “Her help was invaluable and greatly appreciated.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.