Compiled by Public Affairs Interns Marissa Graf and Carrie Johnson
International and National Media Highlight
FilmFreeway | August 1, 2021
The April 2021 virtual production of the play FOR BO, written by Ayvaunn Penn ’12 and presented by Theatre TCU, The #ForBoInitiative, and the Botham Jean Foundation has been officially selected for the 12th annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival. This project also featured artwork by students Nadia Hannon ’21, Sonia Charales ’22, and Chloë Bachofen ’22.
Justice for Society | August 31, 2021
Phung Banh ’21 discusses her artwork and inspiration with Justice for Society Magazine. Banh is a Vietnamese digital artist who seeks to represent women of every color in her artwork. Her goal is to participate in the intersectional ecofeminist movement as an artist, creating space for ecological concerns and social injustices.
Office of the Texas Governor | August 7, 2021
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed David Iglesias ’02 to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). Iglesias received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Austin College and a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.
The State Journal-Register | August 5, 2021
Dr. Karla McCain was recently named provost at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. McCain joins Blackburn after nearly 20 years at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where she served as associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of chemistry. As Blackburn’s leading academic officer, McCain will be part of the president’s leadership team and provide administrative oversight for the college’s academic divisions, technology services, and more.
SCAC Sports | August 5, 2021
Austin College earned SAAC team sportsmanship recognition for four programs, including men’s cross country, which picked up its third honor in the five-year history of the award, and the women’s tennis program, which received its third straight team sportsmanship award. The AC women’s basketball and the men’s track and field programs were also honored as 2020-2021 Sportsmanship teams.
Dallas and Regional News
CBS DFW | August 29, 2021
Mesquite High School’s newest Head Football Coach, DeMarcus Harris ’05, reflects on what led him to success. Harris pushed himself hard in high school to excel — on and off the field. He landed an academic scholarship at Austin College and became a leader on his football team as a standout linebacker, never taking for granted the first bed of his own (following a difficult childhood in which he slept on couches and floors of friends).
Local Media Highlights
Herald Democrat | August 23, 2021
Austin College’s Aramark Pouch Club, Café, and Coffee Shop receive an “A” grade by the Grayson County Health Department.
Herald Democrat | August 10, 2021
Austin College plans to have in-person on-campus classes this fall, with classes resuming with no distance learning option when students come back at the end of August for the college’s 173rd year. Testing for COVID-19 is required for students, staff, and faculty returning to the campus, and masks are required indoors.
Herald Democrat | August 1, 2021
The Austin College men’s water polo team collected a dozen national academic honors by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. Will Koelzer ’22, Brett Skinner ’22, Kyle Brown ’22, Zach Griffith ’23, Cade Griffith ’23 and Nik Koelzer ’24 were named to the Outstanding tier. Dylan Laventure ’22, Taiton Fox ’22, Tanner O’Dwyer ’22, and Alan Rosenberg ’24 were named to the Superior tier, and Sam Skinner ’22 and Andrew Pope ’22 were named to the Excellent tier.
KTEN | August 23, 2021
Austin College hosted its annual “First We Serve” event on August 23 where first-year students participated in a community service activity the day before classes start. The students made several thousand meals for the organization Kids Against Hunger.
KTEN | August 21, 2021
Austin College hosted in-person freshman orientation for the first time since 2019. The campus is back up and running for the fall semester, and they will have 100 percent of their students attending in-person classes, in comparison to 89 percent in Fall of 2020.
KXII | August 27, 2021
A new welcome sign in Sherman was revealed this morning to welcome visitors to the downtown cultural district. Christopher Maniet, Associate Director of Digital Design and Production and the artist of the sign, designed it not only to represent Sherman but also to keep it fresh and bring Sherman up to date with the signage of surrounding cities. Austin College partners with the City of Sherman to help promote and advocate the arts for the cultural district.
KXII | August 4, 2021
With summer ending, Austin College is preparing for their students’ return. Masks are required indoors, including inside dorms. “We feel it’s important to prioritize the health and safety of our entire community,” said Chief Marketing Officer Dr. Lynn Womble.
Blogs and Online Media
North Texas e-News | August 30, 2021
Jerry Lincecum, Professor Emeritus of English, keeps the spirit of the past alive by including an article shared by one of the readers. The column reminiscences on the life of one of the reader’s grandfathers. The story shortly sums up the life of James Olin Nix and how he experienced life in the 1900’s. Lincecum expresses how he is happy to hear from readers who have stories and family reminiscences to share.
North Texas e-News | August 24, 2021
Mike Higgs, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, begins service as Dean of Sciences. Additionally, three members of the faculty were granted tenure last spring, effective this fall. Thomas Blake of the English Department, Loriann Garcia of the Biology Department, and Ashley Tharayil of the Economics and Business Administration Department all received tenure and were promoted to associate professor in their departments.
North Texas e-News | August 21, 2021
Henry H. Bucher Jr., Emeritus Faculty in Humanities at Austin College, writes about history repeating itself in regard to scientific wisdom with “The Black Death” and COVID-19. He discusses the vaccination and includes statistics and facts for intellectual thoughts concerning the process.
North Texas e-News | August 21, 2021
The first group of student leaders and the first team of ’Roo athletes have arrived on campus, and that means the official start of the 173rd year of Austin College is not far off. Some 320 first-year and transfer students are likely packing and preparing to join them on Friday, August 20, which is move in day for new students.
News ’Roos Can Use
Inside Higher Ed | August 13, 2021
Writer Scott McLemee surveys a roundup of books for fall that are pertinent to the COVID pandemic, across a variety of disciplines.
Washington Post | August 6, 2021
Last month, a consortium of education experts launched a petition demanding that U.S. News & World Report stop using high-stakes admissions test scores to calculate college rankings. The appeal is the latest skirmish in a decades-long battle between academia and America’s oldest commercial ranking company.
Inside Higher Ed | August 2, 2021
A college dean weighs the advantages of virtual conferences against “the importance of being ‘away’,” having the opportunity for informal networking, plus putting a momentary pause on other work obligations in order to focus on professional development.