The Service of Perspective and Reflections, held at Austin College each August, signals the start of the new academic year. President Steven O’Day speaks to the faculty and staff of the College about the highlights of the past academic year and the plans for the year to come. This week’s event, which also included a brief sermon from Chaplain John Williams, evidenced social distancing and other COVID-19 protections. Normally, a large audience of faculty and staff meet in Wynne Chapel for the event. This week, only the individuals to be honored for years of service to the College assembled in Wynne Chapel’s Grum Sanctuary; the remainder of the campus community joined via Zoom presentation.
“Here we are, despite all that has happened these past six months—despite all those things that have kept us up at night—we are here today to take a moment to remind ourselves of what gets us up in the mornings,” President O’Day told his in-person and Zoom audience.
Speaking briefly of the challenges of the pivot to remote-only learning in March, the president reminded faculty and staff of the large freshmen class and the returning students who will arrive on campus next week. “Teaching and learning go on,” he said. “Questions and answers, experiments and research, preparation and action, go on.”
The president remains optimistic and firm in his belief in the Austin College mission. “We transform students so they can transform the world,” O’Day said. “I believe that deeply, and you’ve heard me say it many times. I think it’s good for us to hear that at the beginning of each school year. … I know this year will look different. It might not be exactly what we had in mind, but I know we can do it. Look at what we’ve accomplished already. Together, we can do anything.”
President O’Day thanked all faculty and staff for another year of dedication to students. More than 50 employees received recognition and pins for continued service at the College in five-year increments. The president announced the first group of individuals, who report directly to him. Then the five vice presidents of the College announced employees recognized within their divisions.
The employees receiving service pins follow, along with their titles and years of service completed:
Office of the President, announced by President O’Day:
- Tim Millerick, Vice President for Student Affairs, 30 years
- Genna Bethel, Assistant to the President, 25 years
- Baylee Kowert, Vice President for Institutional Enrollment, 15 years
Business Affairs Division, announced by Vice President Heidi Ellis:
- Ellen Miles, Controller, 35 years
- Jeff Milam, Building Technician, 20 years
- Billy Vincent, Painter, 20 years
- Tony Wilson, Director of Physical Plant, 20 years
- John Goyne, Grounds Attendant, 15 years
- Melanie Oelfke, Director of Wellbeing and Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator, 15 years
- Amanda Shepherd, Mailing and Printing Coordinator, 5 years
Institutional Enrollment Division, announced by Vice President Baylee Kowert:
- Mary Ferguson, Director of Special Events and Campus Visits, 25 years
- Hank Ewert, Executive Director of Admission, 5 years
- Cathy Raines, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, 5 years
Institutional Advancement Division, announced by Vice President Gillian Locke:
- Lisa Holloway, Director of Development, 5 years
- Sandra Olson, Executive Assistant to the Vice President, 5 years
Student Affairs Division, announced by Vice President Tim Millerick:
- Margie Norman, Director of Career Services, 25 years
- Michael Deen, Dean of Students, 15 years
- Jeff Kelly, Director of Athletics Communication, 15 years
- Michelle Filander, Women’s Basketball Coach/Adjunct Professor of Exercise & Sport Studies, 10 years
- Ashley Garcia, Assistant Track Coach, 5 years
- Bryan Garcia, Cross Country and Distance Track Coach, 5 years
- Lenora Hatch, Director of Health Services, 5 years
- Kristi Lucchese, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President, 5 years
- Joe Morgan, Assistant Football Coach, Instructor in Exercise & Sport Studies, 5 years
- Leigh Onwu, Secretary/Receptionist in Adams Health, 5 years
Academic Affairs Division, announced by Vice President Beth Gill:
Academic Affairs Staff
- Gail Gentry, Institutional Research Specialist, 30 years
- Jane Donahue, Abell Library Senior Associate, 20 years
- Justin Banks, Head of Special Collections; College Archivist, 15 years
- Jamie Cleamons, IT, Senior Technical Support Specialist, 15 years
- Hollie Daughtrey, IT, Manager of Administrative Computing, 15 years
- Donna Flatt, Abell Library, Executive Secretary to Librarian, 10 years
- Matt Gaskill, IT, Computer and Media Technician, 5 years
- Ed Richardson, Advocacy Program Coach, 5 years
- Andrew Smith, Abell Library, Coordinator of Instructional and Public Services, 5 years
Teaching Faculty
- Mark Hebert, Associate Professor of Philosophy, 30 years
- Wayne Crannell, Associate Professor of Music, 25 years
- Kelly Reed, Professor of Biology, 25 years
- David Baker, Professor of Physics, 20 years
- Lourdes Bueno, Professor of Spanish, 20 years
- Andy Carr, Professor of Chemistry, 20 years
- Mike Fairley, Associate Professor of Communications, 20
- Kirk Everist, Associate Professor of Theatre, 15 years
- Andra Petrean, Professor of Physics, 15 years
- David Aiello, Associate Professor of Biology, 10 years
- Liz Banks, Associate Professor of Theatre, 10 years
- Aaron Block, Associate Professor of Computer Science, 10 years
- Jennifer Johnson-Cooper, Associate Professor of Chinese, 10 years
- Paul Onspaugh, Adjunct Instructor in Music, 10 years
- Sandy Philipose, Associate Professor of Education, 10 years
- Saritha Bangara, Assistant Professor of Public Health, 5 years
- Tom Blake, Assistant Professor of English, 5 years
- Shannon Cornelison-Brown, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, 5 years
- Loriann Garcia, Assistant Professor of Biology, 5 years
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 o