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Past Leadership Winners

The Classified Employee, Professional-Technical Employee, Administrator, and Faculty Leader of the Year awards honor individuals who have gone above and beyond the duties listed in their job descriptions.

The Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award recipient is selected by the Chancellor for outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to Austin Community College (ACC). This honor recognizes exceptional contributions that exceed regular job responsibilities.

 

2025

Classified Employee of the Year
Doralena Yanes, Executive Assistant, Student Affairs Operations

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Sarah Lisenbe, Director, Student Affairs, Strategic Projects & Operations

Administrator of the Year
Dr. Jonathan Tyner, Dean, Student Affairs

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
Misty Campbell, Coordinator, Continuing Education
Darlene Elder, Administrative Assistant, Campus Management
Dr. David Fonken, Dean, Science, Engineering, & Mathematics Division
Bernadette Hinterlong, Science Lab Technician, Biology
Dr. Amber Kreischer, AVANCE to College, Program Coordinator
Dr. Laura Marmolejo, Dean, Advanced Manufacturing
Kyle Nutter, Faculty, Welding
Dr. Ursula A. Parker, Faculty, Integrated Reading & Writing (INRW)
Stefanie Vermillion, Associate Director, Student Affairs Communication
Mirosalva Zuniga, Director, Student Affairs Communication

Faculty Leader of the Year
Stephanie Long, Associate Dean, Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), Provost Office, and Professor, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), DMC&AT

2024

Classified Employee of the Year
Jennifer Garcia, Assistant III, Administrative, Campus Manager, Rio Grande Campus

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Matthew Evins, Director, Academic Technology, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)

Administrator of the Year
Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
Tracie German, North Regional Director, Campus Operations
Jessica Hejny, Associate Professor, Sonography Department
Travis Jackson, Executive Assistant, Chancellor’s Office
Geneva Monroe, Regional Coordinator, Student Life

Faculty Leader of the Year
Dr. Wendy Elle, Professor, English and Dept. Chair, Composition and Literary Studies, Liberal Arts Humanities & Communications Division

2023

Classified Employee of the Year
Minnie DuPlantis, Assistant, Senior Administrative, Student Affairs

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Charlene Buckley, Officer of Equal Opportunity Compliance, Finance & Administration

Administrator of the Year
Linda Terry, Executive Dean, Admissions, Enrollment, and Completion

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
Roland Hayes, Professor, History
Linda Morrison, Regional Director, Campus Operations
Sally Samford, Professor, Professional Nursing

Faculty Leader of the Year
Courtney Mlinar, Professor, Associate, Library Associate

2022

Classified Employee of the Year
Benny Ligues, Staff, Student Affairs

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Dr. Rachel Edith Barrera, Staff, TLED

Administrator of the Year
Jason Briseno, Executive Dean, Financial Assistance & Veterans Affairs

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
Garrett Groves, Vice Chancellor, Business & Industry Partners
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, Executive Vice Chancellor, Operations & Public Affairs
Esther Sonen Yun, Coordinator, Board of Trustees

Faculty Leader of the Year
Stephanie Herrington, Professor, Culinary Arts

2021

Classified Employee of the Year
Georgia Branch, Coordinator, Curriculum and Catalog

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Jose Resendez, Manager, Learning Labs

Administrator of the Year
Dr. David Fonken, Dean, Science, Engineering, & Mathematics

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
Sharrion Jenkins, Executive Director, Campus Operations, Quality Control, and Project Management
Dr. Rachel Ruiz, Dean, Student Affairs
Brandon Whatley, Dean, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, and Applied Technology

Faculty Leader of the Year
Dr. Vanessa Lazo, Department Chair and Professor, Foreign Languages

2020

Classified Employee of the Year
Henry Cantu, Technician, Maintenance

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Jason Sanchez, Manager, High School Programs Enrollment & Outreach

Administrator of the Year
Amber Kelley, Executive Dean, Student Affairs

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Brette Lea, Vice President, Communications & Marketing
Dr. Guillermo Martinez, Interim Vice President, Student Affairs

Faculty Leader of the Year
G. W. Hildebrand, Department Chair, Criminal Justice

2019

Classified Employee of the Year
Luz Arroyo, Coordinator, HR Records

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Misty Rasmussen, Director, Accreditation

Administrator of the Year
Brandon Whatley, Dean, Design, Manufacturing, Construction & Applied Technologies

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Curtiss Stevens, Executive Director, ACCelerators

Jessica Vess, Director, College Communications

Faculty Leader of the Year
Missi Patterson, Psychology

2018

Classified Employee of the Year
Nancy Hernandez, Senior Administrative Assistant, Computer Science & Information Technology

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Katharine Bennett, Specialist, High School Programs Advising & Completion

Administrator of the Year
Pat Recek, Dean, Health Sciences

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Shasta Buchanan, Executive Director, High School Relations

Faculty Leader of the Year
Joey Offer, Professor, Mathematics

2017

Classified Employee of the Year
Marc Petrick, Technician, Senior IT, Library Services

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Sara Ervin, Coordinator, Veterinary Technology

Administrator of the Year
Linda Smarzik, Dean, Computer Studies and Advanced Technology

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Neil Vickers, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration

Faculty Leader of the Year
Kelle Howard, Professor, Associate Nursing

2016

Classified Employee of the Year
Sean Loraas, Accommodations Assistant, Special Populations

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Dianne Olla, Instructional Support Services Supervisor, VP Instruction

Administrator of the Year
Yolanda Chapa, Professor, Government

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Virginia M. Fraire, Vice President, Student Services

Faculty Leader of the Year
Tobin Quereau, Professor, Student Development

2015 

Classified Employee of the Year
Sue Bloodsworth, Administrative Assistant III, Dean, Communications

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Christina Michura, Manager, Faculty Development

Administrator of the Year
Gaye Lynn Scott, Dean, Social and Behavioral Sciences

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Pamela W. Sutton, Senior Executive Assistant to the President/CEO

2014 

Classified Employee of the Year
George Griffith, Supervisor Grounds

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Laurie Clark, Manager, College Operations

Administrator of the Year
Hazel Ward, Dean, Communications

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Michael Midgley, Vice President of Instruction

Kathleen Christensen, Vice President, Student Services

2013 

Classified Employee of the Year
Pete Soto, District Police Patrol Officer

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Linda Haywood, Cypress Creek Campus Manager

Administrator of the Year
Eileen Klein, Executive Dean, Health Sciences

President’s Leadership Excellence Award
Dr. Enrique Solis, Interim Executive Vice President & Provost

2012 

Classified Employee of the Year
Joel Perez

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Thom McFarland

Student Success Award
Catherine Mas

Servant-Leadership Award
Gale Spear

2011

Administrator of the Year
Dr. Richard Armenta

Classified Employee of the Year
Dennis Kirk Kirkland

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Mary Gilmer

Student Success Award
Dawn Haley

Servant-Leadership Award
Minnie Duplantis

2010

Administrator of the Year
William Bill Mullane

Classified Employee of the Year
Gloria Dove Owens

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Blu Vela

Servant-Leadership Award
Linda Haywood

2009

Administrator of the Year
Terry Bazan

Classified Employee of the Year
Gillian Waterston

Professional-Technical Employee of the Year
Steven Villavicencio

Student Success Award
Abel Villarreal