News for Texas Community College Teachers

Events

"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."

- Clement Stone

Events: 2008 Speech and Drama Schedule

Friday, February 22nd, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Round Table Discussion
"Reducing Anxiety in Non-Traditional Students"

Moderators: Crystal Church, Angie Cook, and Carolyn Smith

Saturday, February 23rd, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Presenting a series of programs on:
Interactive Activities for the Classroom

"Cooperative Learning Activities for the Communication Classroom"
Speaker: Mary Osentowski

Biography for Dr. Osentowski: Mary Osentowski received her M.S. degree in Speech and a Ph.D. in Higher Ed. at the University of North Texas. She has taught speech at Richland College since 1972 and was Division Chair of Communication, 1981-91. She currently serves as President of Richland's Faculty Association and Vice President of the DCCCD Faculty Association and is a member of Richland's Cooperative Learning Team, which has presented workshops for more than 400 employees.

She received Richland's Excellence in Teaching Award in 1993 and 2004 and the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation's Outstanding Teaching Award in 2004, one of fifteen outstanding professors in Texas. She was recognized in her community with an Outstanding Leader Award. She has presented workshops on effective communication for DCCCD employees as well as at area and national conventions.

"Group Projects: An Intercultural Experience"
Speaker: Artist Thornton

Biography for Dr. Thornton: Dr. Artist Thornton is a Professor of Speech Communication and African American Black Studies at Richland College. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education/Communication Studies from the University of North Texas in 2003. In addition to serving as a full time professor, Dr. Thornton serves as Executive Director for the Artist & Elaine Thornton Foundation For The Arts. His foundation has collaborated on various projects with Dallas Museum of Art, including the Gordon Parks Half Past Autumn exhibit. His foundation also conducts annual educational programs in the south Dallas area. He and his parents founded this community organization as a non-profit foundation, which has served the Dallas community since 1986. In June 2006, Dr. Thornton was honored by being named a Fulbright Scholar, in which he participated with 17 other scholars in a research project for the United States Department of Education. The study abroad project was conducted in Senegal, West Africa. Dr. Thornton did field study research in the areas of language, higher education, and advertising public relations within the Senegalese culture.

Dr. Thornton also serves as Vice President for The Metro Media Buyers Advertising Agency. This Agency is responsible for advertising placement within the ethnic minority media. This agency has served the Dallas and national media since 1975. He began his higher education/student affairs experience in 1993 at the University North Texas as a resident assistant, and after a brief stint as a juvenile probation officer, he completed his tenure in higher education/student affairs at Texas Christian University as a Residence Hall Director. He is a member the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the American Educational Research Association. He is also a member of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and proud member of The Dallas Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. He also serves as a board member for the Moorland Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association. In February 2007, the Dallas Post Tribune Newspaper named Thornton as one of the Top 50 leaders Under 50 in the nation.

He is the proud father of four children: Jasmine, Taylor, Andrea, A rtist III and the son of Artist and Elaine Thornton of Dallas, Texas.

"Building Communication Competencies"
Speaker: Jamie Walters

Biography for Ms. Walters: Jamie Walters earned a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Texas Tech University in 2000. She has been teaching at Richland College for four years and was recently awarded "Innovation of the Year" for the work she completed with the ThunderBbolt Team and their contribution to on-line teaching and faculty training. Jamie completed a Master of Education degree in Counseling from University of North Texas in 2007 and in her free time volunteers for the Dallas Arboretum and participates in the Dallas Running Club.

Speech and Drama Section Chair:
Alma Martinez-Egger, Tarrant County College - Northeast