Faculty and Staff News

Tiffanee Arnold, department chair and professor of dance, received the Western Illinois University Department of Theatre and Dance Alumni Award. Arnold was recognized as a guest artist at a special reception, taught master classes and trained WIU dancers on her original choreography of “Momentum.”

The North Central Texas Workforce Development Board re-elected Dr. Toni Jenkins, executive vice president, to serve on the executive committee as secretary in September 2007. Dr. Jenkins was first appointed to the board in 2002 and is now serving a second term as secretary.

At the National Career Pathways Network Conference in Louisville Ken., Dr. Janet Jaworski, executive director of the Global EDGE,  was nominated and elected to a two-year term as the Southwest Regional Director of Tech Prep for the National Association for Tech Prep Leaders (NATPL). At that same conference the Global EDGE Tech Prep Consortium received an award for their use of technology in the promotion of Tech Prep. At the conference, Dr. Jaworski along with Dr. Merry McBryde-Foster, dean of Health Science and Emergency Services, presented a forum, "Gain a Healthy Perspective," which highlighted the Tech Prep Camp for teachers and counselors that was conducted on the Central Park campus in McKinney this summer. Also, Dr. Jaworski and Raul Martinez, assistant director of the Global EDGE, presented a forum, "Getting the Tech Prep Message out with Podcasting," at the conference.

College News

About 175 students, faculty and staff attended a guest lecture by Roger Newman, a professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, who spoke on civil liberties, surveillance and terrorism at the Preston Ridge Campus September 2007. Dr. Newman is also author of a biography of Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, which won the Scribes Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Research scientists Alexa Williams and Don Strickert from Frito-Lay made a presentation to more than 200 students and faculty September 2007. This program was presented by Frito-Lay and CASMNS, and is part of a cooperative effort between Frito Lay and Collin College that will involve sharing speakers and student internships.

The Center for Scholarly & Civic Engagement and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division hosted an Annual Constitution Day panel Sept. 17 at the Spring Creek Campus for the discussion of “Second Amendment:  Right to Bear Arms.” Panelists included Justin Wert, professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma; Lackland Bloom, professor of constitutional law, SMU Law School; and James Dark of the Texas Rifle Association.

More than 2,100 students participated in Welcome Week activities to celebrate the beginning of the fall 2007 semester. This year’s celebration included a luau theme and students enjoyed luau-themed foods along with fruit smoothies, popcorn and cotton candy.  Activities included riding the wave on the robo surfboard and visits to the more than 20 student organization tables where students could learn about club opportunities.