Curiosity can take you anywhere
From the President
"Whether solving complex problems, engaging in creative pursuits, or leading with compassion and integrity, the Austin College spirit of curiosity and innovation is evident in all they do.”
Coming on the heels of our 175th year, there is a momentum and energy on campus that is palpable. In the pages of this magazine...
Austin College Traditions
The list of Austin College traditions— and the memories they inspire—is endless. Here are a few traditions that unite us as ’Roos...
- Unique Traditions
- Traditions of Service
- Fun Traditions
- New Traditions
Crafted in Curiousity
By Laura J. Veach
For a liberal arts graduate, it is likely a familiar experience to explain that a liberal arts degree doesn’t mean that one studied art or anticipated a career as an artist, artisan, maker, or other creative type. But for some of our alumni, creative making is the destination to which their path of curiosity and education have led...
Striking the Right Chord
By Tori Walters
Over the summer, the Austin College campus becomes quiet as students leave for their long-awaited break—quiet enough that you might hear the echoes of musicians tuning their instruments as an eager audience sits, ready to experience the fruits of a week-long endeavor in the name of innovation, education, and music...
A Green Future in the Making
By Tori Walters
Austin College’s dedication to environmental sustainability began in 2008 when then-President Oscar C. Page signed the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Carbon Commitment, which initiated the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the College. This commitment remains strong today under President Steven P. O’Day, with the Austin College Climate Action Plan outlining an ambitious goal of achieving complete carbon neutrality by 2035...
New Beginnings on Grand: Welcome Home!
By Tori Walters
If you have driven down Grand Avenue this year, you may have noticed new houses accompanied by fresh sod and sprouting saplings. These homes are part of an initiative to provide transitional housing for new faculty and staff relocating to Sherman...
Lasting Lessons in Leadership
By Laura J. Veach
...During his first visit to Gettysburg in 2007, President Steven O’Day—who was then coaching and teaching at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania—was inspired by the dynamic impact the location exudes and wanted to harness it to the benefit of his students...
Robert M. Johnson ’53 was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1987 and served Austin College as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2007 until 2012. The Johnsons’ ardent support of the recently completed enhancements to Apple Stadium inspired the naming of the Robert M. and Joyce Johnson Field at Jerry E. Apple Stadium, which was dedicated as part of Homecoming 2024 festivities.
Photo by Nicholas Hummert
Robert M. Johnson ’53 was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1987 and served Austin College as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2007 until 2012. The Johnsons’ ardent support of the recently completed enhancements to Apple Stadium inspired the naming of the Robert M. and Joyce Johnson Field at Jerry E. Apple Stadium, which was dedicated as part of Homecoming 2024 festivities.
Photo by Nicholas Hummert
'Roos' Commitment to Service is Good News for Communities
A liberal arts education opens one’s eyes to the needs around them and equips them to take action. At Austin College, this has been intentionally taught and practiced from the institution’s beginning and continues today. To celebrate its 175th Year, Austin College set a goal of 17,500 collective service hours reported by members of ’RooNation. Between August 2023 and June 2024, alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff reported their volunteer work on campus and from coast to coast...
Epic Improv
By Reed A. Cook '16
In any creative act, the method of “making things up as you go” may be an apt metaphor. For a theatrical improviser, this is the axis on which every performance turns. Members of The Austin College Improve Troupe, or TACIT, are led by Dr. Kirk Everist and supported by the dedicated staff of the Austin College Theatre Department...
Maiden Voyage
Austin College’s Inaugural Asia-Pacific Scholars Explore Geopolitics
By Laura J. Veach
Nine Austin College students made memories they won’t soon forget during summer 2024 when they took a three-week trip to Australia, Singapore, and South Korea as the inaugural cohort of Asia-Pacific Scholars...
Colors of Compassion
By Laura J. Veach
Austin College students, faculty, staff, and alumni were joined by Sherman residents to complete a colorful mural at local nonprofit Grand Central Station. The collaborative, paint-by-numbers-style project represents the services that Grand Central Station offers to community members in need, including groceries, school supplies, laundry and shower facilities, and more...
Charting New Paths
By Laura J. Veach
The initial cohort of the Austin College Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant (PA) program arrived at the College’s Health Campus on June 3, 2024. Simply securing a place in the program was an accomplishment, with over 1,200 applications received for the 34 openings...
Balancing Act
Student-Athletes Excel in School and Sports
By Tori Walters
...This year, the spotlight shines on three outstanding individuals whose achievements are a testament to hard work, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence...
By Leaps and Bounds: Growth of Athletics Program Fosters Student Opportunities
By Jeff Kelly
With Austin College approaching 20 years as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), it’s remarkable to look back at just how much growth the Athletics Department has seen over those two decades. In 2005-2006, Austin College’s final year as a member of the American Southwest Conference (ASC), the ’Roos saw 238 student-athletes take to the pool, courts, and fields, representing 11 varsity sports...
Leveling the Field: Austin College Introduces B.S. Degrees
By Laura J. Veach
... Austin College is now offering bachelor of science degrees in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and public health. As of fall 2024, students enrolled in these programs have the option to choose whether their degree will be conferred as a B.A. or a B.S....
Weaving New Threads
Welcoming Austin College’s Largest New Faculty Cohort in Recent History
By Tori Walters
Each fall, the arrival of a new cohort of students brings an exciting energy to campus. As faculty, staff, and returning students welcome first-years to ’RooNation, it is a time filled with promise. How will these new students fold in and become part of the fabric of Austin College? How will their unique gifts contribute to and shape our campus community? Many of these same questions were sparked this fall by the arrival of a different cohort of new ’Roos—the largest group of new faculty in recent history...
Attendees could choose from three showings of Jen Silverman’s Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties during Homecoming Weekend 2024. The play was presented by the Austin College Theatre Department, and was directed by Brooke Lee ’25.
Learn, Grow, and Serve: A Summer in Ghana
Emma McLemore ’27 received a Global Outreach Fellowship to Ghana in summer 2024. This is her response and reflection on the experience...
In Memoriam: President Emeritus Dr. Oscar C. Page
...President Emeritus Dr. Oscar C. Page’s story exemplifies the enduring power of leadership rooted in service and optimism. In today’s world, his example serves as a poignant reminder that the most lasting legacies are those that inspire others to lead with purpose and integrity. “Dr. Page has cast a long shadow, and there’s no doubt that his presence will continue to be felt for generations to come,” said Austin College President Steven P. O’Day...
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In Other Words - Mentors and Makers
Faculty Who Shaped My Austin College Experience
By Harri Drake '19
After graduating in 2019, I worked for Austin College as an admissions counselor for a couple of years. Because I was a proud alumna, every student and parent invariably asked what my favorite thing was about Austin College. What “made” my experience? ...