Board of Regents Grants Distinguished Title of “Professor Emeritus” to Three Long-time DMC Educators
Now retired, Professor of Radio/TV Mac Aipperspach, Professor of Kinesiology Dr. Judi Phillips and Associate Professor of Computer Science David Hattox receive honor during Oct. 11 meeting
Article by Melinda Eddleman
During the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents regular meeting held Oct. 11, three retired educators were bestowed the distinguished title of “Professor Emeritus.” Among them, the long-time faculty members prepared DMC students for their next steps for a combined 101years, including adjunct, non-tenured and full-time tenured teaching.
Mac Aipperspach, Professor of Radio/TV, Dr. Judi Phillips, Professor of Kinesiology and former Kinesiology and Education Department Chair, and David Hattox, Associate Professor of Computer Science and former Chair of the Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department, retired from DMC in 2021 or earlier this year; and after almost a year-long process, all three educators were recognized with the prestigious title for their exemplary teaching and dedication to DMC students and the institution.
Aipperspach first began teaching at DMC in 1981 in a non-tenured, full-time position and then as a tenured faculty member in 1984 in the Department of Communications, Languages and Reading. Graduates from the College’s Radio/TV Program work all over South Texas and beyond; and in 2019, the Texas Association for Broadcasters (TAB) recognized Aipperspach as their Educator of the Year. In fact, he served as TAB’s President from 1992 to 1993 as well as their Secretary/Treasurer for over 25 years. Additionally, he supported the Texas Association of Broadcast Educators by researching and authoring two chapters covering the history of the organization.
As a dedicated educator, Aipperspach created opportunities for his students by preparing them for transfer to four-year programs and careers in radio and television production. That preparation included providing a learning environment that utilized the most current equipment and structural furnishings that kept students’ skills on the technological forefront in the field, along with serving as a mentor and motivator as students prepared to become professionals in the broadcasting world. Aipperspach also assisted his peers by serving on various committees, including the Library Committee and the General Education Committee.
Additionally, Aipperspach shared his expertise outside the College by working with the television ministry at the First Baptist Church, serving as a judge for the Skills USA Competition for Broadcast News Production and coordinating the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Regional Journalism Competitions for multiple years.
Prior to joining the faculty at Del Mar College in 1987, Dr. Phillips was the Intramural Director at Stephen F. Austin University, serving a combined 42 years of teaching at both institutions after retiring earlier this year. She left an indelible mark at DMC as an educator and an advocate for physical fitness and wellness. Her career at the College included various roles, including serving her last seven years as the Kinesiology and Education Department Chair and as Intramural Sports Director for four years while at DMC. She taught a broad spectrum of courses––including activity, fitness and lecture courses–––during her tenure that ranged from fitness conditioning, racquetball, swimming, water aerobics, introduction to physical fitness and sport to the foundations of kinesiology, health and lifestyle and drug use and abuse.
Her forward-thinking led to the design and implementation of online courses as well as the development of the College’s Personal Training Level 1 Certificate and the Associate of Applied Science in Fitness and Exercise Science degree to provide students additional academic program options. Dr. Phillips’ hard work and continued growth as an educator laid the foundation for many of the formats used today in the department today, and her dedication to teaching students essential skills and health concepts to improve their lives earned her Del Mar College’s prestigious Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence in 2018 and the 2012 Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) Honor Award.
She served on many DMC committees, including the Chairs Council, Pathways Steering Committee, Student Learning Committee, Curriculum Committee and Faculty Council. She also is maintaining a lifelong membership in TAHPERD.
Hattox first taught at DMC as an adjunct faculty member between 1985 and 2001 and then became a full-time employee in 2002. Under his leadership, the College’s CISCO Academy was designated as a regional center, and Hattox managed contacts among high schools and other community colleges involved with the academy. His tenure included serving as Chair of the Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department for seven years, collaborating with departmental faculty to implement new instructional programs that now prepare DMC students with the technological and analytical skills required in the computer science field.
Students were Hattox’s priority; and through communication with other institutions, he ensured that students had the opportunity to earn various and valuable certificates and course credits that began at the high school level in the College’s region. He also directly advised students to determine the pathway needed for them to complete their individual goals among his department’s many disciplines of study. Hattox also took care of his faculty by ensuring funding was available or attainable for their own life-long learning and advancement in teaching to expand their expertise in the ever-changing disciplines offered by his department.
As a faculty member, Hattox worked with colleagues to secure three Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awards for Skills-Standards Based (SSB) Programs in his own department, a significant accomplishment because several Texas community colleges acquired only one award or had no SSB Programs. Del Mar College received a total of five SSB Program awards with three of those given to Hattox’s own department.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.