Member Spotlight: Pamela Way

Hometown: Kerrville, Texas

College(s) Attended: All UT, all the time (well, and a bit at ACC as well)

Degree(s) earned: BA in psychology, MA in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Program Evaluation, PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Learning, Cognition, Motivation

Member Spotlight: Ben Burnett

Hometown:  El Paso, TX

College(s) attended:  The University of Texas at Austin

Degree(s) earned:  B.A. with a major in History and M.Ed. 

Title:  Senior Academic Advisor--College of Liberal Arts

Hobbies:  Anything outside: riding my bike, playing sports, jumping rope, camping, hanging out in my hammock, reading.

Member Spotlight: Esmer Bedia

Hometown: Chicago, IL

College(s) Attended: Texas A&M International (Undergrad) and Texas A&M (Grad

Degree(s) earned: B.A. in Psychology (Undergrad) and M.S. in Education Administration (Grad)

Title:  Orientation Coordinator in New Student Services -- Office of the Dean of Students

What are your hobbies? Reading, friends, food, TV, Pop Culture

What was your favorite childhood toy? My teddy bear

What is your current position at UT? As an Orientation Coordinator in New Student Services I work with the Orientation Team to plan summer and pre-semester orientation.  A huge portion of the spring semester is spent working with the new and returning Summer Orientation Advisors to get them ready for the summer.

ACA Holiday G.A.M.E.S. - Gathering of ACAers Mixing Entertainment & Sustenance

To celebrate the closure of another semester and their hard work and dedication to the UT community, members of the Academic Counselors Association gathered for breakfast and a little destressing on Wednesday, December 16th.  The 50+ attendees feasted on breakfast tacos from El Arroyo, kolaches from the Kolache Shoppe, coffee from Jason's Deli, as well as sweet treats made by some of ACA’s chef-savvy members.

As a demonstration of the spirit of the season, ACA members donated new, unwrapped toys to “Toys For Tots.” The purpose of “Toys For Tots” is to make sure that children in the Austin community receive new toys for the holidays. 

"Toys For Tots" donations.

"Toys for Tots" Donation Center.

After indulging in the scrumptious food and sweets, ACA members were able to participate in several brain-taxing activities like Scrabble, Uno, Taboo and Apples to Apples. 

The more adventurous members of ACA chose to play Rock Band on the XBox360 and various athletics activities on the Wii.

As you can see, a good time was had by all.

This year's Holiday Party Co-Chair Juanita Gonzalez, exchanges stories with the Holiday Party Chair from last year, Theresa Thomas.

Lauren Campbell brings her new son to his first ACA Event.  Has Anderson paid his dues?  I hope he didn't eat any of the food.

Thank you to the ACA Holiday G.A.M.E.S. Planning Committee for their hard work organizing this event.  The committee included:
Alejandra Zamorano, Angela Mirabito, Christine Anderson, Jay Guevara, Juanita Gonzalez, Kristin Tommey, Lovelys Powell, Natalie Lopez, Nicole Ryan Gagnon, Sarah McKay, and Yesenia Sanchez.

Member Spotlight: Garrett Loontjer

Hometown:  Boerne, TX

College(s) Attended:  UT, Texas State

Degree(s) earned:  B.A. English, M.Ed.

Title:  Associate Academic Advisor--School of Architecture

What are your hobbies?  I enjoy spending time with my eight month old son, Cash, and my wife, Emily; writing songs and performing as a musician; and reading books.

Member Spotlight: Rose Mastrangelo

Hometown:  O’Brien, Oregon

College(s) Attended:
Lewis & Clark College
The University of Texas at Austin

Degree(s) earned:
BA in English
MEd in Counselor Education

Title:  Assistant Academic Advisor
School of Undergraduate Studies Center for Strategic Advising

What are your hobbies?
Swimming, biking, reading, watching films, making skirts out of old t-shirts, trying to become a better cook, urban races, dancing

Member Spotlight: Natalie Lopez

Hometown:  Houston, TX 

College(s) Attended:
The University of Texas at Austin

Degree(s) earned:
Government with a Business Foundations Program Certificate

Job title:
Assistant Undergraduate Advising Coordinator
Department of Mechanical Engineering

What are your hobbies?
I love to read, watch sports (mainly Football and Basketball), hang out with friends, etc.  To be honest, anything that involves having fun and laughing with great friends is something I really enjoy! 

What was your favorite childhood toy?
Barney! I took him everywhere! :)

NACADA Conference Chair - José Rodriguez

ACA at NACADA - Day 3 (take 2)

Some friends of ACA - Shelly Gehrke (former ACA Member and new Diector of Advising Emporia State - Emporia, KS) and NACADA Conference Coordinator José Rodriguez from Florida International University.

ACA Members at NACADA - Day 3

The last full day at NACADA was jam-packed with informative sessions (including one from our PR/Communications co-coordinator Brad) and a little bit of Disney adventure:  

Brad Popiolek with conference keynote speaker Rey Junco.

NACADA Day Two --Putting our heads together to come up with solutions



ACA Members at Orlando NACADA - Day 2

Day 2 at NACADA was filled with great sessions (really great sessions), good food, good friends, and a lot of fun.

Charlie Nutt - ACA Executive Director

Business Advisors from all over the country.

Captain Jack Melva Sparrow.

Region VII Meeting - UT in full force!