In Brief: June 2023

Executive Director of Procurement Services Cindy White was awarded the Procurement Manager of the Year from the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). White is very well-known among her procurement peers and active with procurement organizations.

Collin College men’s and women's tennis placed fifth and seventh at their national tournaments. The men’s tournament was hosted by Collin College at The Courts of McKinney, with Djordje Kurcubic, Gianni Lopez, and David Restrepo battling into the semifinal round on day four. The 2022-2023 teams ranked No. 5 for men and No. 8 for women in national coaches polls. Larissa Giraldi Correa of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was ranked No. 10 in the nation in singles play.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has named Adjunct Professor of Music Dr. Amy Canchola as a recipient of the 2023 Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award. Dr. Canchola, the proprietor of Canchola Studio of Voice, received a $400 award along with the honor. Last year, Dr. Canchola received a 2022 Joan Frey Boytim Award for Independent Teachers to go toward NATS national conference expenses.

Dr. Lupita Murillo Tinnen, dean of Academic Affairs/Workforce at Plano Campus, graduated from Leadership Plano Class 39. 

Greg Forge, dean of Student and Enrollment Services at Technical Campus, graduated from Leadership Allen Fairview.

De'Aira Pugh, dean of Student and Enrollment Services at Frisco Campus, graduated from Leadership Frisco.

Michael Rose, professor of Psychology at Wylie Campus, is traveling extensively as an on-site reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), evaluating individual campuses as part of the accreditation process for an undisclosed college/university. He visited Guayaquil, Ecuador, from June 5-7. He will go to Southeast Asia – Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, along with cities in Sri Lanka and Indonesia – from July 7-14. In October, he will go to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to continue site evaluations. His responsibilities include faculty credentialing, library services, and facilities, although a team of reviewers shares the burden.

The Construction Management Program’s Excellence Fund received a $6,000 donation from the Dallas Builders Association’s (DBA) Young Professionals group. Construction and Architecture Programs Director Craig Johnson and McKenzie Sheppard and Benjamin Romski from the DBA are shown below. (Low-res pic attached.)

Dr. Dawn Richardson was selected to serve on the Frisco Education Foundation Board. The position begins in August 2023 and is a three-year term.

Dr. Mary Barnes Tilley has been appointed Treasurer for the Leadership Plano Board for 2022-23.

Surgical Technology Program Director Jeanne Glapion received the Fellow designation from the Association of Surgical Technology for her 50 years of service in the profession. The designation is the association’s highest honor.

The national and statewide nursing shortage continues to be challenged by more retirements than people entering nursing. Collin College is answering by expanding the Associate Degree Nursing program by 100 additional seats and a significant increase in enrollment by the Vocational Nursing (LVN) program for the Fall 2023 semester.

• The Wylie Campus enrollment will increase from 30 to 36 students, a 20% increase.
• The Celina Campus enrollment will increase from 24 to 36 students, a 50% increase.

Kevin Adams, Plumbing professor and discipline lead, was a guest on the podcast Trade Talks, hosted by Roger Wakefield. The pair discussed various topics, including Collin College's Technical Campus, having a passion for excellence in whatever you do, and the historical importance of plumbing. View the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S1acP2hSwU.

Collin College has played an active role in the North Texas Semiconductor Workforce Development Consortium, with Engineering and Engineering Technology Director Tripat Baweja leading up the Collin Team. Here she is shown with Congressman Colin Allred at the University of Texas at Dallas. The goal is to triple the semiconductor-related certificates and associate degrees over the next three years. (pic w/ Collin Allred)

A group of delegates from the Sachse Economic Development Corporation visited the Technical Campus recently to learn about the college’s programs and how they can collaborate.

Jeremiah Kincaid, a veterans services specialist at the Technical Campus, represented Collin College in the 2023 Carry the Load event over the Memorial Day weekend.

The college is nearing one year of partnering with the Burnalong wellness platform. Currently, 541 employees are enrolled and participating. An additional 110 family members and friends are taking advantage of free sub-accounts. The college is also launching a "Shaping Your Summer" wellness challenge, encouraging engagement on the Burnalong platform.

Twenty teens from across Collin County took part in a four-day Creative Writing Workshop June 6-9 at the Wylie Campus. Led by Wylie APCAA Manager Joani Reese with assistance from writing tutors Saba Khan and Robb Pocklington, the students wrapped up their writing with a formal reading of poetry and fiction for friends and family. All shared work they had generated during the week’s workshop. This creative writing workshop is a first for the Wylie Campus, and parents and students agreed it was a resounding success. They particularly enjoyed learning from four published authors who Zoomed in from San Antonio, Ontario, Denver, and Chicago to talk to them about flash fiction and poetry. 

A summer camp hosted by the Engineering and Engineering Technology department taught 20 students how to solder and build small electronic boards, as well as holding a “Cliff-Hanger Game Kits” competition. Students took home a certificate of completion for the camp, a soldering kit, an electronics kit, and magazines that Chaney Electronics provided. The camp was run by professors David Brauetigam and Philip Timmons.