AC educator given Outstanding Impact Award by Quality Matters

Karen White, associate professor of mathematics at AC, was named the 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Impact by an Individual Award, which was presented at QM’s “Gateway to Quality” conference Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in St. Louis.

“This award is a huge honor for me and for Amarillo College,” said White. “It proves that we are striving to ensure success for our students.”

QM employs a peer-review process to certify the quality of online courses and components nationwide.

At its annual conference, the organization recognizes individuals and groups that exemplify QM’s focus on student learning through implementation of QM standards, practices and processes that demonstrate impact on student success.

White, who earlier this year was singled out for AC’s most-prestigious faculty accolade, the Mead Award, began working with QM in 2015 as a member of the team charged with redesigning AC’s math and engineering curricula.

“I wanted to improve the success of my online classes,” White said. “Quality Matters helped me improve my introduction, my starting point — which is the most fearful part for the students — and I also improved learner support, making sure that I’m in communication with my students almost daily.

“They know I’m readily available to help,” she said. “My love is helping students learn, and I so enjoy being part of their educational journeys.”

White is a lifelong Amarillo resident who received a degree in computer programming at Texas Tech University and joined the AC faculty in 1995. She served as a part-time instructor of math for 10 years and moved to full-time status at AC in 2005.