Waubonsee Professor Named Faculty Member of the Year at 2023 AACC Annual Conference

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently presented Waubonsee Community College Professor of History Dr. Amy Powers, of DeKalb, with the 2023 Faculty Member of the Year Award. Dr. Powers was recognized April 3 during the Awards of Excellence Gala at the AACC Annual Conference in Denver. 

The Faculty Member of the Year is part of the AACC’s Awards of Excellence, which includes several categories that underscore the association’s priorities and bring national visibility to leaders among its member colleges. Dr. Powers is the only recipient from Illinois.

“When I consider what this award means to me, I think of my students and how they bring their talents, insights, and strengths to the classroom each day,” said Dr. Powers. “Waubonsee students are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have met. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my love of history with them and watch their skills of inquiry come alive.” 

Dr. Powers has served as a full-time History faculty member at Waubonsee since 2003. As a national model of inclusion and student success, Dr. Powers’ course, American History to 1865, was selected to be used for peer review training nationwide by Quality Matters (QM), an organization whose mission is to "promote and improve the quality of online education and student learning." Her course will be studied by thousands of U.S. colleges and university educators through their QM training. 

Dr. Powers is actively involved with "History Gateways," a joint initiative of the American Historical Association and the John N. Gardner Institute from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. "History Gateways" aims to evaluate and substantially revise introductory history courses to better serve students from all backgrounds. Dr. Powers validates each student's strengths by redesigning her courses so students can see their own histories in the historical narrative. She has presented her work on promoting inclusive teaching practices and equitable learning in the classroom at several national and state-level conferences.

As a historian and a practitioner, Dr. Powers believes that history is a valuable subject that teaches us how to interpret information and think critically, as it provides a better understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live. In her role at Waubonsee, a Hispanic Serving Institution, which attracts a large population of Latinx and African American students, Dr. Powers adopted a renewed emphasis on Mexican-American and African-American History in her curriculum to engage more students in the field of history. At the center of her course redesign are High-Impact Practices (HIPs), which have been shown to promote equity and narrow opportunity gaps, especially among underrepresented students. 

"I see students' faces light up when they make connections between events in the past and today," said Dr. Powers, when she incorporates global aspects into the classroom. "I watch students react with surprise when they discover that their communities in Northern Illinois have a fascinating story and that their neighborhoods, local institutions, and even ancestors have played an important role in history. I treasure these moments, knowing I am doing my part to prepare them for a rewarding future." 

At Waubonsee, Dr. Powers had extensive involvement serving as Faculty Development Coordinator in the Office of Faculty Development and Engagement from 2019-2021. She collaboratively and creatively developed, planned, and executed comprehensive professional development opportunities supporting all Waubonsee faculty at all career stages and across all delivery modes. For the past four years, Dr. Powers has served as Waubonsee's team's project leader and redesigned the curriculum for Waubonsee's History department. She has also served on numerous influential councils and committees at the college.

 Dr. Powers obtained a Ph.D. in History from Northern Illinois University in 2007. She had previously earned a master's degree from John Carroll University and a bachelor's degree in History from Grove City College. She has completed professional-development training through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), which promotes evidence-based teaching practices. She earned two credentials: "Effective Teaching Practices" and "Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning." Her experience with ACUE provided her with active learning strategies for in-person, online, and blended modalities. It also helped her create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment. 

AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The organization represents nearly 1,200 two-year associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students. Each year, AACC offers a variety of awards to individuals who have excelled in their fields and who have given back to their communities. The Waubonsee community congratulates Dr. Powers on her efforts to make a difference in our community and beyond.