In Brief: June 2021

Collin College professors served as the surrogate hands for students during a virtual SkillsUSA competition for the Texas Region in April. Automotive Technology Professors Sean Boyll and James Yervasi, Collision Technology Professor Stephanie Villasanti, and Department Secretary Laura Russell worked as a team to administer a hands-on engine repair station in which the contestants were required to identify engine timing marks and direct two individuals through the installation of the engine timing chain. Villasanti and Russell operated mobile phone cameras on gimbals so the contestants could see an over-the-shoulder point of view while Boyll and Yervasi acted as the students hands to complete the task. Villasanti and Russell also operated the other technology resources required to facilitate the virtual hands-on testing. In addition to assisting with the virtual test, Boyll was asked to create a written test for the event. SkillsUSA is a national organization dedicated to developing the countrys workforce through personal, workplace, and technical skills. In addition to training opportunities, SkillsUSA provides competitions like the one administered by Collin College faculty and staff to reward excellence among students. Thank you to Boyll, Russell, Villasanti, and Yervasi for assisting in this worthwhile program.

Dr. Kristen Streater, Dean of Academic Affairs at the Plano Campus, was selected to serve on the Plano ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors. The foundation works with the community, educators, and corporations to raise money to support academic programs to achieve excellence in science and math, to bridge the gap for economically disadvantaged students, and provide educator grants to create innovative teaching programs. Dr. Streater will begin the first year of her three-year term in August.

Former Denton and Dallas City Manager Ted Benavides will teach a 12-hour Local Government Management Certificate at Collin Higher Education Center this fall through The University of Texas at Dallas. This first course will be taught on Tuesday evenings and is targeted specifically to city employees of McKinney, Allen, and Anna.

The colleges Respiratory Care program achieved the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) for the ninth consecutive year in June.Collin College is one of a few community colleges in the state to be recognized this many times.The award recognizes the programs success in achieving at least 90 percent Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialling.

Ryan Walters, an Adjunct Professor of History at the Wylie Campus, recently had his book, Apollo 1: The Tragedy That Put Us on the Moon, published by Regnery Publishing. During a promotional tour, he made appearances on the Mark Davis Show on 660 AM The Answer, as well as Hillsdale Colleges radio station.

A new searchable Attribute Zero Cost Textbooks/OER has been added to the online class schedule so learners can easily search for course sections that use free open education resources (OER) materials.

Rehab Aide students in the Health Sciences Academy at Plano East High School attained a 100 percent first time pass rate on the Physical Therapy Aide Certification (PTTC).

The 2021 Surgical Technician class had 17 out of 23 learners already offered positions of employment upon graduation.

Health Information ManagementstudentLechelleGrant awarded a scholarship from Dallas-Fort Worth Health Information Management Association (DFWHIMA).

On May 21, 113 graduates from various Allied Health programsparticipated in a pinningparade at the McKinney Campus.

On May 14, 68 Associate Degree in Nursing studentsparticipated in a nursing pinning ceremony at the McKinney Campus.

The Vocational Nursing program has received approval from the Department of Education for the certificate for Vocational Nursing to be eligible for financial aid.

English Professor Meagan Hoffpublished the articles The Language-Literacy Ripple Effect on College-Goingnessfor a Refugee-Background Student in Literacy Research and Instruction and Overcoming Compassion Fatigue in Higher Education with Hawkes Learning.

History ProfessorBob Whitaker has published multiple YouTube episodes for his public history project, History Respawned.

Math ProfessorSonia Petchhad a proposal accepted to present along with two other math faculty members at the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Fall 2021 Conference, titled Online Presence: Designing to Connect.

An Engaged Faculty Scholarship was named in honor ofBiology ProfessorRoberta Cravo in recognition of her leadership, teaching, and engagement in support of students.

EMSProgram Coordinator Greg Cox has been named a Stop the Bleed Ambassador by Stop the Bleed.org.

Associate Deans Mark Fischer and Regina Hughes graduated from the Leading for Excellence Academy.

English professor Eric Hartman recently graduated with his Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) from Liberty University. He graduated with high distinction.

Automotive Programs Director Shaun Smith recently earned his Master of Education Degree in Management of Technical Education from Texas State University.

Megan Bryant and Lauren Mercado, librarians at the Wylie and Frisco campuses respectively, presented at the annual Amigos Library Conference. The presentation was titled, Escape to the Library! Engaging with Students Through a Virtual Open House.

Erika McIlnay will assist the International Conference for Contemporary Cast Iron Art (ICCCIA) with online exhibitions and fundraising for the organization and conference, which will be held in Germany in 2022.