Faculty and Staff

Printer Friendly Version

Pam Speights Department Head & Instructor of Speech Wharton County Junior College 14004 University Blvd. Sugar Land, Texas 77479 Ph: (281) 243-8584 Fax: (281) 243-9493 Email: pams@wcjc.edu URL: http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/pspeights/
Pam Speights, Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Houston.; M.S. Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, B.S.E.D Speech Education, Abilene Christian University. Professional Activities WCJC Course development, Speech 1321; online Speech 1315, 1318 Textbook reviewer for Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, and Prentice Hall Consultant and reviewer for Pearson Higher Ed/ online Media tools Journal Article peer reviewer, Teacher Education People to People facilitator, Student Leadership Forum, Columbia University, George Mason University, Washington D.C Keynote Speaker, Virginia Community College Convention, Abilene Christian University Lectureship Speaker/Presenter, TCCTA, AERA, Ft. Bend ISD Director, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Sugar Land, Tx, 2009 Nominated Teacher of the Year for Wharton County Junior College, Spring 2004, 2006 Professional Organizations National Communication Association AERA (American Educational Research Association) Texas Community College Teachers Association (TCCTA) Texas Speech Communication Association (TSCA)
James Conner Instructor of Speech Wharton Campus: F013 Ph: (979) 532-6978 Email: connerj@wcjc.edu
James Conner finished his B.S. degree from the University of Houston-Downtown in 1999. He received his M.A. from the University of Houston in 2008. He is also a graduate of Wharton County Junior College receiving his A.A. degree in 1989. As an adjunct instructor, Conner taught speech and mass communication classes at Houston Baptist University, Houston Community College, and the University of Houston. Prior to entering academia full time, he spent more than 15 years in the communications industry as a radio broadcaster, media relations director, and managing editor.
Cynthia Knox B.S., M.A. Instructor of Speech Wharton County Junior College Fort Bend Technical Center 5333 FM 1640 Richmond, TX 77469 Ph: (281) 239-1572 Email: cknox@wcjc.cc.tx.us URL: http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/cknox/
Cynthia H. Knox completed her undergraduate training in Speech Education at Bradley University earning the B.S. degree in 1972. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1974 with a M.A. in Communication Arts. In 1989, she earned the M.P.H. degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health. In addition to teaching speech communication courses at Madison Area Technical College and at Texas Southern University, Mrs. Knox has worked with Xerox Corporation, The Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, and the Fort Bend Museum Association. She is also on the Ft. Bend ISD Board. She currently enjoys reading and attending sports events with her family.
Mary Austin Newman B.S., M.A., Ph.D. Instructor of Speech Wharton County Junior College 911 Boling Hwy. Wharton, TX 77488 Ph: (979) 532-6337 Email: maryn@wcjc.cc.tx.us
Mary Austin Newman, Ph.D., Speech Communication, Pennsylvania State U.; M.A. Drama, University of Houston; B.S. Speech, Stephen F. Austin State University Representative professional positions: Director of Training, Defense Team, Booz-Allen and Hamilton, McLean, VA; Visiting Professor, Speech Communication, Oklahoma State University, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Professor of Speech Communication, Houston Baptist University; Professor of Systems Management, University of Southern California, University of Denver; Professor and Associate Director, International Management Master’s Program, Whitworth College, Spokane, WA; Associate Professor of Communication and Management, University of Maryland, Europe and Asia; Assistant Professor of Speech Communication, Pennsylvania State University. Professional Memberships: Alpha Chi (scholarship), Alpha Psi Omega (Drama), Delta Kappa Gamma (Education), Rotary International, Wharton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. WCJC Projects: Speak Out!, student speeches – historical presentation program each semester; Coordinator, President’s Lecture Series
Karen Prisner Instructor of Speech Wharton County Junior College 14004 University Blvd. Sugar Land, Texas 77479 Ph: (281) 243-8537 Email: KarenPr@wcjc.edu
Karen Prisner completed her Bachelors of Art in Applied Arts at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, during the spring of 1999. In 2002 she earned her a M.A. in Public Relations from the University of Houston’s main campus. Karen has been with WCJC for several years where she primarily teaches Fundamentals of Speech. However, Mrs. Prisner has taught others courses such as Business and Professional Communication and Interpersonal Communication to name a few, while serving as adjunct professor at other educational institutions.