Compiled by Institutional Marketing and Communications Interns Megan DeVaney and Carrie Johnson.

International and National Media Highlights

Creative Writing EDU | November 2022
Austin College has been named one of the best BA/BFA degrees in Creative Writing. Due to award-winning faculty, student-centered learning environments, and student research opportunities, ‘Roo Nation stands out with ease.

Bella Naija | November 15, 2022
Funmto Ogunbanwo ’17 is a clinical health therapist and is the founder of Ibi Ayo, a therapy consultancy based in Lago, Nigeria. She shares the story behind the name “Ibi Ayo,” how her path led her to starting this consultancy, and what Nigerians can do to improve their mental health.

Campden FB | November 27, 2022
Anirudh Damani ’05, a fourth-generation entrepreneur, talks about his passion for making a difference through his investments. He shares how he decides who to invest in, the aims of his family office, Artha India Ventures, and where he stands regarding the wealth tax.

Fairbanks News Miner | November28, 2022
Greg Hill ’74 explores how modern libraries collect, organize, and disseminate information in the computer age – and connects it back to attending convocations in his time as an Austin College student (full article behind paywall).

Faribault County Register | November 13, 2022
Former Austin College football player James Reed Farrar (b. 1906, d. 1982), who attended Austin College in the late 1930s prior to enlisting in the Army, has been highlighted for Veterans Day. The story spans from his service during WWII, to his time at Bushnell Hospital where he became an instructor to help others with artificial hands and arms, to how he met his loving wife Marie, whom he grew old with.

KOSU Oklahoma City | November 3, 2022
Next Generation Radio, Native American Journalists Association, and KOSU have announced the cohort for the 2022 NAJA-NPR NextGenRadio: Indigenous, including Carrie Johnson ’24. NextGenRadio is an immersive training opportunity to learn more about non-narrated audio storytelling and other forms of digital journalism offered to early-career Indigenous journalists reporting in or near a tribal community.

University Business | November 21, 2022
University Business ranked universities that had the most transparent merit-based scholarships and clear, accessible information provided to the public. Austin College was among one of those that earned an “A” for merit award transparency.

Dallas and Regional News

Cross Timbers Gazette | November 15, 2022
Ben Bumgarner ’07 was named the new Texas House Representative in District 63. He has served on the Flower Mound Town Council since 2019, where he currently serves in Place 3 as the Mayor Pro Tem.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football | November 15, 2022
Austin College head football coach announces his resignation after leading the ‘Roo’s for the last 13 years.

Fort Worth Report | November 22, 2022
Kathleen Cluchey ’08, a science teacher at Fort Worth ISD at Young Women's Leadership Academy, won Chopped(November 15, 2022) on a special episode 'Thankful for Teachers.' She competed against three other teachers and won a prize of $10,000.

KTRE9 | November 10, 2022
From Texoma to Egypt, Dr. David Baker will attend the UN Climate Conference as an official observer.  There, he will have the opportunity to witness negotiations and policymaking for water, energy, and other global environmental issues.

McAlister News-Capital | November 23, 2022
Jody LaWayne Stevens, age 93, passed away on November 21, 2022. He was a former professor at Austin College who raised three children with his wife, Syble.

The Panola Watchman | December 1, 2022
Otis Amy ’90 was a speaker at Carthage Book Clubs’ Veterans Day program. He talked about his high school years, his time playing football for Austin College, and since retirement, his time as a principal. He leaves the audience with the strong message that, “we have one life, so live each day to the best of our ability.”

WFAA ABC News | November 17, 2022
Fort Worth ISD Young Women's Leadership Academy science teacher Kathleen Cluchey ’08 won a special “Thankful for Teachers” episode of Food Network program Chopped, competing against three other teachers to win a prize of $10,000.

Local Media Highlights

Herald Democrat | November 23, 2022
Four AC football players earned ASC honors for the 2022 season. Tyler James ’23, John Aldridge ’23, and Max Walstad ’24 earned All-ASC recognition and Jacob Hoffman ’23 was honored as a part of the Outstanding Sportsman Team of the Year.

Herald Democrat | November 23, 2022
Austin College kicks off the holiday season with the annual Service of Lessons and Carols in Grum Sanctuary on December 1, 2022.

Herald Democrat | November 17, 2022
Austin College’s Chief of Marketing and Communication Officer (CMO), Lynn Womble, will be retiring in December of this year. President O’Day has announced that Heidi Rushing ’04 will be the new CMO beginning in January 2023.

Herald Democrat | November 15, 2022
Austin College physics professor, David Baker, flew to Egypt on November 11^th to attend the second week of the 2022 United Nations Climate Conference as an official observer.

Herald Democrat | November 15, 2022
The Austin College community celebrates the life and contributions of Dr. Howard A. Starr, 84, professor emeritus of psychology and education, who died on October 28, 2022. Dr. Starr was a professor of psychology at Austin College for 48 years, placing him among the longest-tenured faculty at the College. Howard was also one of the founding directors of Home Hospice of Grayson County in 1983 and remained active in the agency throughout his life.

Herald Democrat | November 15, 2022
With the support of Austin College student teachers, Dillingham Elementary students have formed a new gardening club, where they will learn basic skills like measurement and watering.

Herald Democrat | November 9, 2022
The Austin College Music Department presents “An Evening of Chamber Music and Jazz” on Monday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Grum Sanctuary of Wynne Chapel on campus. The event is free and open to the public. 

Herald Democrat | November 2, 2022
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) will be adding football as an officially sponsored conference sport in 2024. It is expected that Austin College will play in the conference.

KTEN | November 15, 2022
Athletics director of Austin College David Norman has announced the resignation of football head coach Loren Dawson. With 13 seasons as head coach under his belt, Dawson will be leaving Austin College with a number of accolades for the team.

KTEN | November 10, 2022
Physics faculty Dr. David Baker to represent Austin College by acting as an official observer at the UN Climate Conference, where nations come together to discuss climate issues and create goals. Baker shares that next year Austin College will be sending a student as well to engage with world leaders.

KXII | November 15, 2022
After 13 years at the helm of ‘Roo football, Loren Dawson has stepped down as head coach. “We appreciate Coach Dawson’s commitment to Austin College over the years,” athletic director David Norman said. 

KXII | November 10, 2022
Austin College professor Dr. David Baker to attend the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. “The UN embraces many voices,” said Dr. Baker. “They don’t just want the heads of state to determine the climate policy, they want many stakeholders from around the world, with different walks of life to have input, and we’re going to be able to provide that input.” He’s representing Austin College and Texoma as he travels with Pomona College as an official observer.

Blogs and Online Media 

Austin College | November 14, 2022
The Austin College community celebrates the life and contributions of Professor Kim Snipes—and mourns her death on November 12, 2022, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Austin College | November 14, 2022
The Austin College community mourns the October 31 death of Dr. James Franklin Johnson, professor emeritus of classics, and remembers fondly the life and career of the longtime colleague and friend.

North Texas E-News | November 14, 2022
President O’Day announced that Heidi Rushing ’04 will be Austin College’s new Chief Marketing and Communication Officer, taking the place of Dr. Lynn Z. Womble, who will retire at the end of the calendar year. “I am looking forward to the energy and creativity I know Heidi will bring,” O’Day expressed.

North Texas E-News | November 26, 2022
Dr. David Baker returned from the United Nations Climate Summit in Egypt and hosted a presentation at Austin College on November 29^th to share his experiences and observations. 

North Texas E-News | December 1, 2022
Henry H. Bucher, Jr., Chaplain Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus of Humanities, brings to light the number of English words that have African origins and the history behind common English phrases such as, “wow”.

North Texas E-News | December 1, 2022
Austin College hosted Service of Lessons and Carols to open the holiday season. The event was led by Chaplain John Williams who incorporated Hebrew and English Scriptures, carols, and performances by the Austin College A Capella Choir and Chamber Orchestra.

News Roos Can Use 

Chronicle of Higher Education | November 22, 2022
Friendships Can Heal Campus Divisions, Study Finds, and Administrators Play a Big Role

Chronicle of Higher Education | November 21, 2022
The Chronicle offers some advice for how to talk about Higher Ed at the Thanksgiving dinner table in consideration of recent aspects of higher education that have been in the news.

Chronicle of Higher Education | November 16, 2022
A new chair seeks advice on how to be an effective supervisor of department staff members.

Chronicle of Higher Education | November 14, 2022
In “Tenure and the Arrival Fallacy” Dr. Rebecca Mason reflects on her experience receiving tenure and offers some advice for early-career academics on how to navigate life pre-tenure to temper expectations that receiving tenure will affect personal fulfillment.

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