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Change is in the air and it’s not just the leaves turning color and the slightly cooler evenings. At AACC, we have changing demographics of students coming to the college, and we’re adapting to meet them where they are. We see the steps students take every day to change their future, steps like learning Russian, tackling a career shift that feeds the soul or being one of the first emergency responders to enter a compromised aircraft when everyone else is leaving. And change, along with how people redefine themselves in the face of it, is the focus of our new podcast – Redefine U – launched this fall.
 
I'm honored to have received the Excellence in Leadership Award from Leadership Anne Arundel in June. The relationships, collaboration and innovation I’ve gained from my relationships there have been invaluable. I'm proud to partner with those in the public, private, nonprofit and government sectors to make change in our community.
A Class of Their Own:
AACC Students and USNA Mids Learn Russian
This summer eight AACC students and seven United States Naval Academy midshipmen gathered for four intense weeks of Russian. Along with conversational skills and a whole lot of learning, students received some borscht, a little bit of Uno trash talk (in Russian of course) during breaks and a few field trips. The third year of this unique partnership recently wrapped up, with students earning credits and moving up in their language levels for free, thanks to the National Security Agency grant-funded program administered through our World Languages Department. 
Medical Assistant Program Top Three in State
Our Medical Assistant program placed third in the state in a recent survey by medicalassistantadvice.com. Schools were ranked on admissions and graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, the cost, and student ratings and reviews. This behind-the-scenes medical career is predicted to grow much faster than average, and we have degree and certificate options.
From Selling Homes to Decorating Them to the Boardroom
Welcome to Tamela “Van” Mason, our newest student member on the board of trustees! Van is a full-time AACC Architecture, Interior Design and Construction Management student on track to graduate in May. She has a 20-year career in real estate as a broker and is the leader of Maryland Dream Home Realty. We always benefit from the student voice – and vote – in our leadership.
Looking for the Overlooked: Practicing Equity and Inclusion
Out of 97 institutions in the United States that qualify as Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award winners, only four are community colleges. AACC is one of those four. We’re proud of the work that has earned us such a distinction. In a recent article, Chief Diversity Officer Deidra Dennie explains how our values of equity and inclusion mean we don't just serve the students already here, but also target overlooked groups and strive to meet their needs.
Our Podcas t is Live!
What happens when you combine fascinating Anne Arundel County residents, insightful AACC faculty members, big life surprises, some recording equipment and a big vision? You get Redefine U, a new podcast from AACC that explores how change can change us. In our first episode, we talk with an Edgewater mom redefining her idea of motherhood, and a psychology professor who can frame that journey with research. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts.
Learning to Save Lives in Any Situation
We try to prepare our paramedic students for everything. And we mean everything – including mass-casualty events, like the simulation the most recent class joined in June. AACC students worked side-by-side with BWI safety personnel and the Anne Arundel County Fire Department to identify and treat victims of a mock plane crash.
Mural Brightens Glen Burnie Town Center
If you’ve driven through Glen Burnie lately, you might have noticed some new artwork at Glen Burnie Town Center. The mural was created by AACC student-artists! Many thanks to our partners at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association, Anne Arundel County and The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. If you're curious about the bottom image in the mural, it honors the first industry in Glen Burnie: It's a smelting furnace.