Felicia Barron, who recently completed her first year as a fulltime Biology professor at Cisco College, is all about animals, especially moths and bats. "Basically, I love animals that are misunderstood, but they contribute so much to our eco system." The daughter of well-known Eastland musicians, Cyndie Mace (piano) and Larry Mace (guitar), she was homeschooled by her parents and was a member of the first graduating class of the Texas Virtual Academy.
She then enrolled in Cisco College for her Associate's degree, and "that's when I fell in love with this campus. I worked for Debbie Barton when she was teaching here, and Justin Ceniceros for the Science Department. I was a lab tech, and I took classes here. It was really my first experience in a classroom, and I absolutely loved it." She then transferred to Tarleton State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, a degree for elementary school teachers. She did her student teaching at the elementary school level. "I had a harder time there. At the time, I had undiagnosed ADHD, and I struggled to keep up with the students. It was hard because I had done very well in my classes. I was a perfectionist, and then I got to the environment of actual teaching, and it was a struggle." A f t e r encouragement from Justin Ceniceros, she decided to pursue a master's degree in biology at Tarleton. She said Ceniceros kept telling her, "You need to teach at the college level. You'll love it." "So I took what he said to heart, and that's why I got a Content Area Specialist master's degree. I chose biology because I've always loved biology. That's what brought me here, and I just love it." She started as an adjunct professor at Cisco College in 2021, and in January of 2024, she was promoted to full-time biology professor. She loves all animals, "but I actually fell in love with bats when I was in my graduate degree program because I took mammalogy at Tarleton, and we had a whole unit on the bats in Texas, and it's just so cool." Most people who talk with Felicia would not realize she has cerebral palsy. "I walk with a limp it's not really that noticeable. A lot of things I struggle with are things you wouldn't notice unless I tell you about them." Her palsy combined with her ADHD prevents her from driving, so she often uses the community bus.
She connects her interest in animals like bats and moths to her disability. “I’ve grown up with cerebral palsy, and I’ve been very open about it. I’ve always felt a little bit misunderstood.
