Visit TLED’s Teaching Consultations & Support page for comprehensive support in course design, technology tools for teaching, and other high-impact practices. Join our Facebook group where ACC faculty and staff are sharing insights, best practices, and advice. Collegewide updates are available on the Austin Community College Info Hub.

Search TLED
Search ACC

Past League Excellence Winners

In recognition of the long tradition of excellence in community college teaching and leadership, the League Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff. Selected by a committee, recipients are recognized at the ACC Annual Awards Celebration and have the opportunity to attend the League for Innovation Conference in the spring.

2025

Dr. Amber Kreischer, AVANCE to College Program Coordinator
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Bernadette Hinterlong, Science Lab Technician, Biology
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Darlene Elder, Administrative Assistant, Campus Management
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Dr. David Fonken, Dean, Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Division
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Felix Villarreal, Faculty, Biology
Piper Professor Nominee Award

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

Kyle Nutter, Faculty, Welding
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Dr. Laura Marmolejo, Dean, Advanced Manufacturing
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Dr. Lei Ji, Faculty, Economics
Teaching Excellence Award

Marcia Hill, Faculty, Associate Degree Nursing
Teaching Excellence Award

Mirosalva Zuniga, Director, Student Affairs Communication
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Misty Campbell, Coordinator, Continuing Education
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Stefanie Vermillion, Associate Director, Student Affairs Communication
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

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

Dr. Ursula A. Parker, Faculty, Integrated Reading and Writing (INRW)
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

2024

Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Teaching and Learning Excellence Division
Administrator of the Year

Louisa Spaventa, Adjunct Faculty, Composition and Literary Studies
Teaching Excellence Award

Tracie German, North Regional Director, Campus Operations
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Travis Jackson, Executive Assistant, Chancellor’s Office
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Melissa Vetter, Professor, Dental Hygiene
Teaching Excellence Award

Jessica Hejny, Associate Professor, Sonography Department
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Geneva Monroe, Regional Coordinator, Student Life
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

2023

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

Laura DiMeo, Instructional Associate, Radio, Television, and Film
Teaching Excellence Award

Cameron Addis, Professor, History
Piper Professor Nominee

Roland Hayes, Professor, History
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

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

Sima Sohrabi, Professor, Dental Hygiene
Teaching Excellence Award

Linda Morrison, Regional Director, Campus Operations, Campus Manager
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Sally Samford, Professor, Professional Nursing
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

2022

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

Lydia Cdebaca-Cruz, Adjunct Professor, English
Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Richard Ray Espinosa, Department Chair/Professor, Allied Health Sciences/General Studies: Pre-Health Sciences, and Pre-Med
Piper Professor Nominee

Garrett Groves, Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives, Business and Industry Partners
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Stephanie Herrington, Department Chair/Professor, Culinary Arts
Faculty Leader of the Year

Julienne Lemond, Professor, Physics
Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, Executive Vice Chancellor, Operations and Public Affairs
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Esther Sonen Yun, Coordinator, Board of Trustees
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

2021

Sharon Butler, Professor, General Studies and Student Development
Teaching Excellence Award, Full-Time

Herbert Coleman, Adjunct Professor, Psychology and Student Development
Teaching Excellence Award, Adjunct

Curtis Eckerman, Professor, Biology
Piper Award Nominee

David Fonken, Dean, Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Administrator of the Year

Sharrion Jenkins, Executive Director, Campus Operations, Quality Control, and Project Management
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

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

Rachel Ruiz, Dean, Student Affairs
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

Brandon Whatley, Dean, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, and Applied Technology
Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award

2020

G. W. Hildebrand, Department Chair, Criminal Justice
Amber Kelley, Executive Dean, Student Affairs
Brette Lea, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Dr. Guillermo Martinez, Interim Vice President, Student Affairs
Molly McClurg, Associate Professor, Visual Communication
John Nation, Professor, Nursing
Tracy Partin, Adjunct Professor, Health and Kinesiology

2019

Amardeep Kahlon, Computer Information Tech
Jessica Vess, College Communications Director
Missi Patterson, Psychology
Curtiss Stevens, ACCelerators Executive Director
Georgia Xydes, History
Todd Phillips, Foreign Language
Brandon Whatley, Dean, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, and Applied Technologies

2018

Shasta Buchanan, Executive Director, High School Relations
Shirin Khosropour, Professor, Psychology
Joey Offer, Professor, Mathematics
Pat Recek, Dean, Health Sciences
Celeste Rios, Adjunct Professor, Government
Tim Strouse, Professor, Welding

2017

Linda Smarzik, Dean, Computer Studies and Advanced Technology
Kelle Howard, Associate Professor, Nursing
Neil Vickers, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration
Robert H. Blodgett, Professor, Geology
Mario Aguilar, Adjunct Professor, Paralegal, Management, Real Estate
Stacey Thompson Stover, Professor, English, Developmental Writing

2016

Administrator of the Year: Yolanda Chapa, Professor, Government
President’s Leadership Excellence Award: Virginia M. Fraire, Vice President, Student Services
Teaching Excellence Full-Time Faculty Award: Frank Cronin, Professor, Developmental Writing
Teaching Excellence Adjunct Faculty Award: Sean Perry, Associate Professor, Photography
ACC Piper Professor Nominee: David M. Lauderback, Professor, History

2015

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
Teaching Excellence Full-Time Faculty Award: Patty Collier, Professor, Physical Therapy Assistant
Teaching Excellence Adjunct Faculty Award: Rodney E. Rohde, Adjunct Professor, Biology
ACC Piper Professor Nominee: Missi Patterson, Professor, Psychology

2014

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
Teaching Excellence Full-Time Faculty Award: Laura Juárez de Ku, Professor, Biology
Teaching Excellence Adjunct Faculty Award: Tiff Holland, Adjunct Professor, English
ACC Piper Professor Nominee: Gale Spear, Professor, Child Care and Development

2013

Dr. Eileen Klein, Executive Dean, Health Sciences
Dr. Jennifer Beck, Associate Professor, Psychology
David Lauderback, Professor, History
Dr. Enrique Solis, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost