Hudson County Community College Professor Antonio Acevedo Earns National Faculty Distinction Award
February 10, 2020
February 10, 2020, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) proudly announces that Antonio Acevedo, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of History, is the recipient of the 2020 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
Named in honor of former AACC President Dale P. Parnell, the designation was established to acknowledge individuals for teaching excellence and making a significant difference in the classroom. Recipients must demonstrate a passion for their students and the classroom; show a willingness to support students in and out of the classroom; participate on college committees; and go above-and-beyond what is required to ensure their students achieve academic success.
“We are so proud of Professor Acevedo. He is an outstanding teacher and scholar. His work exceeds all of the criteria,” said HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber. “Professor Acevedo is respected nationally as an historian and educator. He is valued by his colleagues and admired by his students and members of the greater Hudson County community. He embodies the student-centered, transformational spirit of Hudson County Community College.”
Antonio Acevedo has been teaching at HCCC since 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from California State University, San Marcos, and a Master of Arts degree in History from San Diego State University. He has made academic presentations at venues throughout the United States, including the annual meetings of the American Historical Association, the Community College Humanities Association National Conference, and the Northeast Regional Conference for History, Humanities and Social Science Educators. He was also a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholar in Switzerland and Italy; and was a MetroCITI Fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he developed pedagogical projects to improve education at diverse, urban colleges.
“I am deeply committed to our students, many of whom are ‘non-traditional’ students. They continually inspire me to be a better teacher – to help them succeed in their studies, become lifelong learners and better world citizens,” Professor Acevedo said. “My concern is that students become critical and independent thinkers.” To that end, he challenges his students to ask questions and examine issues from several perspectives; analyze evidence; formulate arguments; and distinguish unreliable versus credible information. To assist students, he works with the HCCC Library staff and conducts workshops on independent research.
Professor Acevedo has played an integral role at HCCC in revising curricula; establishing the College’s Cultural Affairs program; collaborating with colleagues to provide students with greater resources and opportunities; advising and assisting students inside and outside of the classroom; and coordinating and serving as Lead Editor for the College’s most recent Middle States Decennial Self-Study Report. He has served as advisor to members of the HCCC Honors Student Council and assists with their community outreach initiatives, including their work on behalf of “Suits for Success.”