ACCelerator Advances Student Success Through an Innovative Learning Space at Austin Community College: An Interview with Curtiss Stevens

Curtiss Stevens, is the executive dean of the ACCelerator and Strategic Initiatives at AustinCommunity College (ACC). In 2019, Curtiss was awarded the President’s Leadership ExcellenceAward and the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for outstanding leadership, service, anddedication to ACC.Curtiss holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from Valparaiso University, a master's degree inGeographic Education and Research from Western Michigan University, and pursued doctoralstudies in Economic Geography at Indiana State University. He has amassed over 2 decades ofexperience in the field of higher education, serving in various capacities such as admissions andfinancial aid, student affairs, international education, academic and life skills training, grants andfundraising, curriculum, and athletics. His previous employments include positions at Valparaiso University, WesternMichigan University, Indiana University, and Purdue University. Apart from teaching Geography and Geosciences, hehas also worked as an Executive Director of a Boys & Girls Club and as a TV personality.The ACCelerator, at Austin Community College (ACC) Highland’s campus, is a 32,000-square-foot space that fostersdynamic learning. The ACCelerator features classrooms, study rooms, and numerous computer pod stations that canbe reserved by ACC faculty and staff for a variety of purposes. The ACC Highland campus serves over 8,000 students,with over 17,000 student visits to the Highland ACCelerator per year. The ACCelerator features innovative teachingand instruction, learning support services, student support services, and community engagement, which provides anengaged student-centric customer service vision.