Paris Junior College is proud to welcome new leadership to the administrative team, along with four new instructors who started with many students on August 26 for the fall semester.
Paris Junior College has welcomed Vice President of Instruction Dr. Barbara Buchanan (left) and Vice President of Student Services Dr. Curtis Hill (right). (PJC photo)
Bringing their years of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the college’s administration are two new vice presidents — Vice President of Instruction Dr. Barbara Buchanan and Vice President of Student Services Dr. Curtis Hill.
Buchanan received her B.A. at Stephen F. Austin University, then M.A. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M.
“Paris Junior College and the local community have received me with open arms,” Dr. Buchanan said. “They have been gracious and welcoming.”
“I have held positions in a much smaller college setting at Panola College in Carthage and in a large college system at Lone Star College-Montgomery in the Houston area,” she said. “Paris offers the best of both worlds”
Buchanan served as Associate Dean of Workforce and Continuing Education, and then Academic Dean of Instruction at Lone Star College – Montgomery Campus in Houston before coming to PJC.
“I bring a wealth of experiences in all aspects,” she said. “My background includes oversight in academic transfer courses, continuing education, workforce education, adult basic education, contract training and grants.”
Dr. Hill received a B.B.A. and M.S. degree from East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University-Commerce, and graduated with his Ed.D. from Baylor University.
“I’m excited about being here,” Dr. Hill said. “I see so much potential.”
Hill has a wide range of experience, serving as Advising and Counseling Director at Tarrant County College, a counselor at The Victoria College in Victoria, Texas, and filled roles of Tech Prep Coordinator, Grant Manager and Tutor Coordinator at Dallas County College.
Before coming to Paris, he served as Vice President of Student Services at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado, Arkansas.
“I feel I was led here at this particular time,” he said. “There’s such a wealth of opportunity to do so much, and Dr. Anglin has given me full support in terms of what I need to strengthen and improve student services.”
He worked as a budget analyst and general accountant for TXU Electric and an accountant for Placid Oil Company before entering academia.
“Paris Junior College is so very fortunate to have employed vice presidents of the caliber of Dr. Buchanan and Dr. Hill,” PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin said. “They bring a wealth of experience to PJC. Our students and our communities will benefit by having these two fine individuals at PJC.”
They bring extensive experience to their roles to assist PJC students reach their educational goals, she said.
The new instructors that began this fall semester with students at PJC-Paris Campus are Shannon Brown, accounting instructor and entrepreneur program coordinator; Matt Siddons, welding technology instructor; and history instructor, Ty Welborn. Jonathan Belew started the fall semester at PJC’s Sulphur Springs campus as a physics instructor.
Shannon Brown served as accounting adjunct faculty at Texas A&M-Commerce before coming to PJC. She earned her B.B.A. from Austin College, where she played varsity volleyball and was awarded the Sig Lawson Award for dedication to the college’s athletic program. She went on to achieve her M.B.A., Cum Laude, from the University of North Texas.
She was on the senior leadership team at Hooten Financial Services from 2011-2013 and was chief financial officer for Richland Resources Corporation and Manek Energy, Manek Equipment Corporation from 2010-2012. She held accounting and real estate positions prior to that.
In addition to teaching accounting, Brown will also be developing a new certificate program of entrepreneurship at PJC.
Matt Siddons was department chair and welding instructor at Texas State Technical College in Waco from 2004-2013. He received an A.A.S. degree and a certificate of completion in combination welding from TSTC.
Before teaching he worked as a field service manager and welding technician at CRC-Evans Automatic Welding in Houston for 14 years. He is a member of the American Welding Society, as well as a Weld-Ed Regional Partner and Master Instructor.
Siddons is also principal investigator for both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s capstone course in nuclear welding inspection and the National Science Foundation’s nuclear welding inspection.
Before coming to PJC, Ty Welborn was the adjunct history instructor at both Houston Community College and Lee College. He was the faculty division chair of audio recording, video and filmmaking from 2008-2010 and audio recording instructor for seven years before that.
Before teaching he owned and operated Audio Solutions in Houston, where he also served as theatrical technical director at the Great Caruso Theater.
He holds an A.A.S. degree in audio recording technology from Houston Community College and a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Houston. Currently a candidate for the program, he plans to finish his Ph.D. in U.S. history at UH in December 2014.
Jonathan Belew has a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Texas-Dallas and a Master’s degree in natural sciences from Stephen F. Austin University. He has taught a variety of subjects, from upper level physics to introductory astronomy labs. He served as a graduate teaching assistant at SFA and a tutor and teaching assistant.
Before teaching Belew worked as an independent contractor and IT analyst for Southwest Credit Systems in Carrolton and the NanoTech Institute in Richardson.
The addition of these leaders and instructors, with their expertise, knowledge and experience, allows PJC to offer even more to the students and their continued education.
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra