Several new faces are among the Austin College faculty as classes begin today.
Tenure-track faculty join the sociology, psychology, and English departments, and visiting faculty will fill positions in English and education. Several adjunct faculty will fill in as needed.
Tenure-Track Faculty
Tenure-track faculty are those in positions that may become long-term appointments if faculty achieve tenure upon completing six years of full-time teaching. Tenure may be granted based in part upon teaching, academic service and achievement, and individual scholarship within the Austin College community and professional organizations.
Catherine Bowman, assistant professor of sociology, comes to Austin College having earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in international development from the University of Pittsburgh. A public sociologist, her work is focused at the nexus of immigration policy and labor studies. She spent last year as a visiting research professor at the Center for Global Workers’ Rights, housed in Pennsylvania State University’s School of Labor and Employment Relations. She previously spent a year in Chile as a Fulbright Scholar and served as an advocate and policy specialist in the anti-trafficking field.
Meg Brandl, assistant professor of English, was a visiting faculty member at Austin College last year and moves to a tenure-track position this fall. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Notre Dame, and her Ph.D.in English, with a creative dissertation, at Texas Tech University. Her fiction, creative nonfiction, and hybrid work has appeared in journals such as Gulf Coast, The Cincinnati Review, Yalobusha Review, Pithead Chapel, River Teeth, and CHEAP POP.
McKenna Cosottile, assistant professor of psychology, received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pacific Lutheran University, a master’s degree in psychology from Western Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Western Michigan University. She completed pre-and post-doctoral clinical fellowships at Geisinger Medical Center, working with a range of concerns with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her research focuses on factors related to child health outcomes, particularly family variables related to child maltreatment and unintentional injury. She will soon be licensed as a clinical psychologist.
Danielle Franks, assistant professor of psychology, received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Louisiana Tech University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Ball State University’s Counseling Center. Her research interests are in multicultural psychology and its intersection with counseling psychology. She examines white allyship in racial justice advocacy, counselor multicultural competence, racism and classism, and the relationship between political ideology and racial attitudes.
Visiting Faculty
Visiting faculty serve an interim teaching role to fill sabbatical leaves or other unfilled positions in the faculty but are generally contracted for only one to two years.
Tamra Dollar, visiting assistant professor of education, earned her Ph.D. in reading education at Texas Woman’s University, a master’s degree in educational leadership at Lamar University, and a bachelor’s degree in education at Hardin-Simmons University. Her focus areas are literacy/reading and educator instruction for English as a Second Language. She comes to Austin College from Texas Woman’s University in Denton where she taught literacy courses and engaged in research to support adolescent English language learners.
Virginia Wood, visiting assistant professor of English, holds a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in creative writing from the University of North Texas, as well as a master’s degree from Hollins University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond. She is certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She taught for the past four years at the University of North Texas in courses including survey of ethnic literatures, college writing, world literature, creative writing, and creative nonfiction.
Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty fill part-time teaching needs and may continue to serve the faculty for many years. Three new adjunct faculty, and three individuals who have previously held adjunct roles at the College but not in Spring Term 2020, are among the faculty this fall.
William “Bailey” Brewer, adjunct assistant professor of business administration, will teach the Investment Management course associated with the Todd A. Williams Student Investment Fund. A chartered financial analyst, he is active in real estate development and equity investing. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington, working now to complete his dissertation. His research interest is in behavioral finance as well as market models based on intra- and inter-industry groupings.
David Schones, adjunct assistant professor of religious studies, earned a Ph.D. in religious studies from Southern Methodist University in 2019. His research interests include disability studies and gender studies, particularly as they relate to reproductive disabilities in the Hebrew Bible. He is currently working on a project that analyzes violence against young children and mothers in the books of Kings.
Charles Williamson, adjunct assistant professor of accounting, returns to Austin College, having served in a visiting faculty role from 2015 to 2018. A 1973 graduate of Austin College, he has a Master of Professional Accounting degree from UT–Arlington. He previously taught a graduate tax course at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management and spent two years teaching tax and accounting courses at Georgia Southern University. Retired from a 42-year career as a CPA, has also previously served as Special Agent in Charge of the Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the State of New Mexico.
Three familiar faces return in adjunct roles in music and art.
Brianna Burnett, adjunct assistant professor of art, completed her bachelor’s degree at Austin College and earned a master’s degree in art at Texas Tech University.
Eric Hessel, adjunct assistant professor of music, earned a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University, a master’s degree at the University of Kansas, and a doctoral degree in music at the University of North Texas.
Laura Lawson, adjunct assistant professor of art, earned a bachelor’s degree at Austin College and a master’s degree at The University of Memphis.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 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 more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 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.