
Welcome to PSS!
Welcome to PSS!
From the Dean’s Office
Public and Social Services is about giving students the skills needed to build and support strong, safe communities.
The Public and Social Services division is home to a wide range of certificate, degree, and transfer programs in two areas of study: Public and Social Services, and Education. PSS also manages a state-of-the-art Public Safety Training Center that offers real-life experiential training opportunities for students, first responders, and public safety agencies.
The office of the Dean is here to foster a teaching and learning environment where faculty, staff, and students can thrive. We are committed to responding to the changing needs of our community by continuously adapting our programs and partnerships, and we look forward to building new relationships with our students and our community partners.
Public Safety Training Center
Located at the ACC Hays Campus, the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) provides hands-on training for ACC students and local first responders in a state-of-the-art facility, and serves as a resource for local agencies seeking continuing education and re-certification. The center includes:
- A 50-yard tactical indoor firing range
- A 19-acre emergency vehicle operation training track
- Force-on-force training room for police SWAT-type exercises
- Specially-outfitted tiered classrooms for training emergency management technicians and others in emergency management operations
- Emergency medical training on both simulators and actual patients while on a working ambulance.
- Vehicular extrication training and practice in the emergency medical setting
The facility was designed to achieve a minimum LEED Silver rating in order to ensure energy efficiency and occupants’ well-being, following US Green Building Council sustainability standards. In addition to using recycled and regional materials in the construction process to minimize the environmental impacts of the new construction, the entire facility incorporates innovative green building and infrastructure features and native landscaping, to minimize water consumption and electrical usage while supporting local economy and protecting migratory flora and fauna.
PSTC Contact Info
https://pss.austincc.edu/pstc
Frederick “Dale” Toler
Interim Director, PSTC
ftoler@austincc.edu
(512) 223-0063
Departments and Programs
Explore specific departments and programs below. For general information about career options, degree plans, and program maps, see the corresponding Area of Study page.
ASL-Interpreter Training
http://sites.austincc.edu/aslit/
Fallon Brizendine
Department Chair
fallon.brizendine@austincc.edu
(512) 271-2446
Child Care and Development
http://www.austincc.edu/childdev/
Stacey Shackelford
Department Chair
stacey.shackelford@austincc.edu
(512) 223-5222
Criminal Justice
https://pss.austincc.edu/criminal-justice/
Gerald (GW) Hildebrand
Department Chair
gwhil@austincc.edu
(512) 223-2082
Education Instruction
http://sites.austincc.edu/educationinstruction/
Regina McGough
Department Chair
rmcgough@austincc.edu
(512) 223-9204
Emergency Management
https://pss.austincc.edu/emergency-management/
Nathan Zaleski
Acting Department Chair
nathan.zaleski@austincc.edu
(512) 223-9764
Exercise Science
https://pss.austincc.edu/exercise/
Pamela Soto
Department Chair
psoto@austincc.edu
(512) 223-6040
Fire Academy
https://pss.austincc.edu/fireacademy/
Nathan Zaleski
Department Chair
nathan.zaleski@austincc.edu
(512) 223-9764
Fire Protection Technology
https://pss.austincc.edu/fireprotection/
Nathan Zaleski
Department Chair
nathan.zaleski@austincc.edu
(512) 223-9764
Health and Kinesiology
https://pss.austincc.edu/health-kinesiology/
Jamee Stewart
Department Chair
jstewart@austincc.edu
(512) 223-4815
Rebecca James
Health & Kinesiology Admin. III
rjames1@austincc.edu
(512) 223-4784
Human Services
http://sites.austincc.edu/huse/
Elizabeth Coccia
Department Chair
ecoccia@austincc.edu
(512) 223-3207
Paralegal
http://www.austincc.edu/legal/
Shawn Slack
Department Chair
sslack@austincc.edu
(512) 223-3713
Social Work
http://pss.austincc.edu/social-work
Blanca Alvarado
Professor
balvarad@austincc.edu
(512) 223-7149
Areas of Study Advising
Not sure where to start or where to go next? There’s a PSS Advisor available at every campus, ready to help you create a custom plan for your particular situation and needs.
http://www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/services-for-students/areas-of-study-advising
Student Groups and Clubs
Socialize, network, and build your professional presence with PSS Student Organizations
Contact PSS
Dr. Giao Phan, Dean of Public & Social Services
Hays Campus
gphan@austincc.edu
(512) 223-1670
Melissa Brown, Senior Administrative Assistant
Hays Campus
mbrown@austincc.edu
(512) 223-1674
Development Notice
PSS website development update
The PSS website will be under continual development through 2019. Currently, the Teaching and Learning Excellence Instructional Web Development team is reviewing and updating content from all of the PSS areas. As content is updated it is published under the corresponding PSS area. As content is added, the PSS main page will be updated as well.