Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
The 2022-2023 League Excellence Award recipients have been announced, and four of the winners of this distinguished award are from South Texas College.
The award is presented by the League for Innovation in the Community College, an international nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in learning, teaching, staff development and student success in the community college environment, and deserving faculty and staff at STC have been recognized since 2012.
This year’s award recipients are Sylvia Flores, Ph.D., associate professor of Sociology and Faculty Senate president; Christopher P. Nelsen, Ph.D., dean for Liberal Arts; Becky Owens, DVM, librarian III-Systems and Applications and Joel Jason Rodriguez, Theatre and Dance program chair and Council of Chairs president.
“I was shocked,” said Flores. “I don’t do my work for the accolades, so it’s touching to know that my work impressed or inspired someone to nominate me for this award. I’m blessed that someone is taking note and our work in and out of the classroom is being noticed.”
Nominations for the League of Excellence Award come from a faculty or staff member’s respective vice president. Those selected for the award are known leaders in the community college field and have made a significant difference in the lives of students and in the communities the college serves.
This year, the Academic Affairs Division at STC nominated Flores for her work in the classroom, but also as Faculty Senate president, a role she has had for the last two years. She has been instrumental in opening the lines of communication between the faculty constituency, the staff and the administration; her work is commendable, according to her nomination form.
“My goal is to always advocate for our faculty and their mental health,” said Flores, who has worked at STC since 2007. “I’m here to be their voice and to do what I can to help them. I also use my experiences to teach my students about leadership and to encourage success in this arena.”
Nelsen and Rodriguez were also nominated by the Academic Affairs Division for their expertise, leadership and spearheading educational initiatives.
Nelsen, in his nomination submission, is commended for his work in leading the college’s Pathways Project, as well as implementing a model for developmental education and being an unwavering advocate for student learning.
“This award has really spoken to my heart; it means a lot to have been thought of,” said Nelsen, who received his first League of Excellence Award in 2018. “There really are so many other people that deserve this award.”
Nelsen is the co-lead on the STC Texas Pathways team, a statewide initiative to support community colleges in building a structured academic and career pathway for all students and an active member of Judge Richard Cortez’s Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, an initiative recently supported by STC President Ricardo J. Solis and Board of Trustees in the mission to break the cycle of poverty.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, who has been at STC since 2010, is being recognized for his commitment to community, creativity and collegiality developing STC Theatre into a fast-growing program that hosts successful productions for the entire region. In addition, he is described as a driving force in the development of STC’s dance program, which began enrolling students this semester.
He has also served as the Council of Chairs president, and during his tenure he has been able to facilitate ongoing communication among chairs and administrators amidst a pandemic.
“It’s really an honor to share this recognition with such notable members of our faculty and staff at STC,” said Rodriguez. “It is a common goal to give our students the tools they need to thrive and to help them find their passions. And from the classroom to the stage, it is a privilege to immerse our community in the talents of our students and to bring together our department chairs to expand experiences outside of the classroom.”
Like her fellow colleagues, Owens, was nominated by her division – Information Services, Planning, Performance and Strategic Initiatives, for her leadership on numerous successful projects that have led to streamlined, user-friendly technologies and interfaces that support and serve the STC Centers for Learning Excellence, Learning Commons and Open Labs, and Library.
“Upon learning I had received this award I was completely taken aback…there are so many people here at STC that work hard, and I couldn’t believe that my work had been noticed and singled-out,” said Owens. “I’m appreciative of the nomination, but my achievements would not be possible without the support and encouragement of the STC community. My goal is to continue working together to improve processes by way of technology to ensure that students, faculty and staff have access to the services and resources they need to succeed.”
Owens is an exceptional leader who exhibits highly effective leadership qualities including honesty, perseverance and selflessness and exemplifies innovation and a strong commitment to the departments she serves and to the college, according to her nomination statement.
Solis calls this momentous announcement a testament to the work, dedication and commitment embodied daily by STC faculty and staff.
“It’s an honor to be among so many noble educators and professionals, and for them to be receiving national recognition for their unwavering work is inspiring and motivating,” said Solis. “Congratulations to this year’s League of Excellence Award recipients, this is a distinction well deserved.”
