By Lauren Maddox, LSC-Montgomery College Relations

Lone Star College-Montgomery is pleased to start the fall 2010 semester with the addition of four new full-time faculty members.

Kate Dinwiddie, professor of mathematics; Frank Granack, professor of economics; Kathleen Lacoste, professor of nursing, and Joseph Trackey, professor of biology, join 145 full-time faculty members currently educating more than 12,500 students this fall.

“As our student base grows, we’re fortunate to have top-quality faculty members join our team full-time to serve the needs of our students,” said Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery. “We welcome them to campus and are very proud to have them among our other well-rounded, devoted instructors.”

Serving as professor of mathematics is Kate Dinwiddie, who recently moved to Texas after teaching at the University of New Orleans for eight years. Her roles at LSC-Montgomery include teaching developmental math courses, as well as instructing students in the Extended Learning Center, which offers tutoring and resources for students in a variety of subject areas.

“I want all of my students to be successful in math and gain not only competence in the material, but also confidence in themselves,” said Dinwiddie. “Regardless of past experiences, I expect that any student who makes it to college has enough ability with which I can work to get them through their math class successfully.”

Dinwiddie holds a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of New Orleans and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and biology from Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa.

Frank Granack, professor of economics, has more than 20 years of experience in the field of economics, working as a mortgage banker, broker, and a manager of a large coffee/vending facility with sales over $1 million per branch. He has served as an adjunct professor at LSC-Montgomery since 2008, joining the campus “because of the outstanding personnel and the vision for the future that the entire Lone Star College System has.”

“I hope my students will make the connection between the classroom and the outside world, incorporating the principles of economics into their everyday lives,” said Granack.

Granack received a master’s degree in economics from North Carolina State University and a double bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.

Serving as professor for the associate degree nursing program is Kathleen Lacoste. For the past 32 years, Lacoste, a registered nurse, has worked in a variety of specialties within the medical field including medical/surgical, long-term care, and adult, pediatric, and neo-natal home health care.

“I hope in bringing my nursing experience to the classroom that I will enhance student learning with real-life case scenarios,” said Lacoste. “I also hope to expand my students’ knowledge, perceptions, and skills in the care of the geriatric population, as in my opinion, this client group is rapidly growing and will be a primary focus of health care as the country moves toward reform.”

Lacoste recently completed her master’s degree in nursing education from Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y. She joins LSC-Montgomery after teaching as a continuing education health occupations faculty member at Lone Star College-Kingwood.

Joseph Trackey, professor of biology, holds more than 12 years of experience in the science field. He brings to the classroom a passion for biology and a desire for all students to be successful.

“My hope is that students will reach their goals, but once at that point, push beyond to higher expectations or new goals,” said Trackey. “I hope to create an environment where students don’t simply take information second- or third-hand, but experience it first-hand whenever possible.”

Trackey received his master’s degree in psychology/neuroscience from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He has served as an adjunct professor at LSC-Montgomery since 2005.