Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting (OFFICIAL) – May 6, 2026
A meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees was held room TC103AB in the David Hartleb Technology Center located at 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, Mass. on May 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
PRESENT:
Ms. Borislow
Mr. Cousins
Ms. Fernandez
Ms. Gomez Ruiz (arrived at 5:11 p.m.)
Ms. Hatem-Roy
Mr. Silverio
Mr. Yepez
UNABLE TO ATTEND: Mr. Gomez, Mr. Hamm, Dr. Kelley, Ms. Horne
ALSO, PRESENT: President Glenn
CALL TO ORDER: With a quorum established, Chair Borislow called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Chair Borislow asked for a motion to elect the Vice Chair and Secretary. Trustee Cousins moved to elect Evan Silverio as Vice Chair and Joan Hatem-Roy as Secretary.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Cousins and seconded by Trustee Fernandez, the Board unanimously approved the election of Trustee Silverio as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Trustee Hatem-Roy as Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Chair Borislow thanked Pati Fernandez and Jouel Gomez for their work as Vice Chair and Secretary and welcomed Evan Silverio and Joan Hatem-Roy to their new roles.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chair Borislow asked for a motion to approve the April 1, 2026 minutes.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Cousins and seconded by Trustee Fernandez, the Board unanimously approved the April 1, 2026 minutes as presented.
CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
a) Introduction of Newly Hired Employees:
President Glenn introduced and welcomed NECC’s newest employees: Shannon Butler-Mokoro, Executive Director of Student Success Services; Aliesha Grandison, Career Services Specialist; Katrina Bennett, Director of Student Financial Systems; Hillary Dandurant, Director of Student Recruitment; Martine François, Assistant Director of Adult Education; and Kymber Taylor, Executive Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness. The Trustees also welcomed the newest employees. President Glenn provided a brief explanation of the Trustees’ role in Northern Essex Community College’s governance.
Trustee Gomez Ruiz arrived at 5:11 p.m.
EDUCATIONAL REPORT:
a) Academic Master Plan by Austin Gilliland
President Glenn introduced Vice President of Academic Affairs Austin Gilliland.
Vice President Gilliland provided an update on the development of NECC’s Academic Master Plan (AIM), incorporating key elements from the draft presentation shared with the Board. She noted the plan is nearing completion and ahead of schedule, with a final version expected by June 2026 following feedback gathered through over 20 campus engagement sessions with faculty, staff, and students. The presentation outlined a structured development timeline spanning December 2025 through June 2026, as well as a planned launch at Convocation on September 1, 2026, after summer work led by designated faculty and administrative co-leads. The Academic Master Plan aligns with the institution’s strategic priorities and follows a four-year cycle, including initial team formation and metric development in year one, implementation and assessment in years two and three, and evaluation in year four to inform the next plan. Four primary goal areas were identified—prior work and educational experience, advising, general education, and work-based learning and career education. The latter was highlighted in detail, with a vision of creating an employer-connected education ecosystem and outcomes such as ensuring every student has meaningful interaction with an employer. Supporting strategies include embedding employer engagement across programs, expanding internships and apprenticeships, and aligning offerings with workforce needs. The speaker emphasized that the plan builds on existing initiatives, reflects broad campus input, and will rely on collaborative implementation across Academic Affairs.
President Glenn emphasized the broader context of strategic planning at the College. He noted that planning is both an art and a science, often building on work already underway across campus rather than starting from scratch. He highlighted that many of the priorities reflected in the Academic Master Plan align with ongoing efforts by faculty and staff, with the plan serving to amplify existing strengths while also introducing some newer areas of focus. He expressed appreciation for the work led by Vice President Gilliland on the Academic Master Plan and noted that similar planning efforts are underway or forthcoming in other areas. Later this year, Vice President Joanne Landers will present a similar process being launched in Student Affairs and Dean Marcy Yeager has started the process in the Center for Professional Development. The importance of regularly updating these plans and ensuring they are grounded in the day-to-day work of the institution was underscored.
Q: Trustee Gomez Ruiz asked about employer interactions? A: It will be program dependent. Some programs, especially in healthcare, already have strong relationships with employers; others may start with an employer panel.
Q: Trustee Fernandez asked if the AMP Goals came out of the strategic plan or new from the AMP feedback sessions? A: The sessions we guided by the College’s strategic plan, and the sessions helped to focus the goals for the academic master plan.
BOARD CHAIR UPDATE:
Chair Borislow provided a number of updates and announcements, beginning with appreciation for trustees who attended the Impact Awards ceremony earlier that day. The event was recognized as a well-organized and meaningful celebration of individuals who have made significant contributions to NECC, with special acknowledgment given to Vice President Dolan-Wilson and her staff. She also noted the efficiency and high quality of the event. She reminded Trustees to confirm their attendance for the 64th Commencement ceremony. Former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will serve as the keynote speaker.
Chair Borislow highlighted the achievements of the NECC theater program, which earned 13 awards this semester for a recent production of The Vagina Monologues. She reminded the Trustees about the July 24 Board Retreat and rescheduling of the June board meeting to June 17. Chair Borislow enthusiastically announced that student trustee Melissa Horne has been elected to serve a second term, marking the first time in recent years that a student trustee has been reelected, and commended her representation of the college at a recent event in Washington, D.C.
REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES:
a) Audit & Finance Committee: Committee Chair Silverio shared highlights from the Audit & Finance Committee held prior to the full-Board meeting. The FY26 budget is on track with projections. The FY27 Budget is expected to see a 5% increase in enrollment.
Committee Chair Silverio asked for a motion to approve the FY2027 College Operating Budget.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Gomez Ruiz and seconded by Trustee Yepez, the Board unanimously approved the FY2027 Operating Budget of $91,849,015 as detailed in the Financial Report.
Committee Chair Silverio noted the changes to the Foundations Board’s and GWK’s recommended changes to the Investment Policy addendum. He asked for a motion to approve the addendum to Investment Policy.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Gomez Ruiz and seconded by Trustee Hatem-Roy, the Board unanimously approved the addendum to the Investment Policy as presented.
Committee Chair Silverio asked for a motion to approve the amendment to the Travel Policy.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Cousins and seconded by Trustee Yepez, the Board unanimously approved the addendum to the Travel Policy as presented.
Committee Chair Silverio asked for a motion to approve the amendment to the P-Card Policy.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Hatem-Roy and seconded by Trustee Gomez Ruiz, the Board unanimously approved the addendum to the P-Card Policy as presented.
Committee Chair Silverio asked for a motion to approve the amendment to the Procurement Policy.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Hatem Roy and seconded by Trustee Cousins, the Board unanimously approved the addendum to the Procurement Policy as presented.
b) Alumni Advancement Committee: Committee Chair Fernandez highlighted the success of the Impact Awards as a growing tradition (now in its fourth year), with strong attendance, new sponsors, and continued momentum. She thanked the Trustees for their participation in Giving Day, which was described as highly successful, and were advised to expect follow-up stewardship outreach as part of ongoing advancement efforts to close out the fiscal year. Early indications suggest positive fundraising outcomes, with final figures forthcoming.
c) Nominating Committee: No report.
d) Presidential Evaluation Committee: Committee Chair Hatem-Roy reported that the committee has largely completed its work and that the evaluation materials are now being finalized with support from staff. It was noted that the process has been thorough and collaborative. Chair Borislow provided additional context, explaining that the annual presidential evaluation involves an extensive review process, including interviews with both internal and external stakeholders, the collection of feedback, and the preparation of a formal report submitted to the Department of Higher Education. She described the process as both intensive and rewarding, offering an opportunity to hear strong positive feedback about President Glenn’s leadership. She thanked Trustee Hatem-Roy for her leadership of the committee.
REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION:
President Glenn provided updates on several recent external engagements, highlighting their value to the College. He described the Commonwealth Summit as an opportunity to connect with state leaders, policymakers, and industry partners, noting that relationships formed there can lead to tangible collaborations, such as a potential partnership linking NECC’s early childhood education program with a credentialing initiative supporting women entrepreneurs opening childcare centers. He also discussed the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Meeting, emphasizing its importance for national advocacy and information-sharing, particularly in the context of current challenges in higher education. Key topics included emerging interest in student housing at community colleges and efforts to sustain the Community College Leadership Academy, a program NECC is helping to preserve due to its impact on developing higher education leaders. Additionally, he referenced participation in Third District Day in Washington, D.C., which provides opportunities to connect with federal representatives and promote the college’s priorities. As part of this work, NECC is pursuing federal funding to support a proposed “fab lab” facility focused on career and technical education programs such as robotics, automation, and cybersecurity.
President Glenn announced that NECC has been recognized as one of 28 “Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), reflecting progress in strengthening employee engagement following COVID-19, while noting that continued improvement remains a priority. The official announcement will be in the EDU Ledger tomorrow (5/7).
President Glenn provided an update on ongoing career and technical education initiatives. He highlighted plans for a proposed “fab lab” and noted a recent campus visit by the Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, during which she toured the renovated D&E building. He explained that multiple grant-supported projects are underway to expand workforce training capacity within this space. These include the development of an HVAC lab in partnership with Whittier Tech to train technicians in heat pump installation, the creation of a flexible advanced manufacturing lab to support industries ranging from food production to defense systems, and a planned clean lab supported through economic development funding. These efforts were described as key components of the College’s strategy to expand and modernize its career and technical education offerings in response to workforce demands.
President Glenn encouraged trustee participation in national professional development opportunities offered by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), including the annual Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., and the ACCT annual conference in the fall. He noted that these events provide valuable opportunities for trustees to strengthen their knowledge and effectiveness in their roles. Vice President Allison Dolan-Wilson is preparing a presentation focused on internships and the College’s efforts to address financial barriers that prevent students from participating in unpaid internship opportunities. The initiative, supported by the NECC Foundation and Board, includes raising funds to provide stipends to students, particularly those balancing academic, work, and family commitments. Trustee Fernandez expressed interest in participating in the presentation. Additional details will be provided in advance of the conference.
President Glenn noted a number of upcoming events including NECC’s 64th Commencement ceremony with former Governor Charlie Baker as the commencement speaker and the Lawrence Partnership Annual Meeting in June. He thanked Vice President Naydeen González-De Jesús for serving as its interim Executive Director while a search is conducted. The June BOT meeting has been moved to June 17 and there will be a Board Retreat on July 24.
He closed his report by recognizing Chair Borislow and the two special additions to her family. He presented her with NECC onesies for her two new grandchildren, who arrived just last week less than 24 hours apart.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Personnel Actions
Chair Borislow noted two personnel actions needing Board approval.
Chair Borislow called for a motion to approve recommendations for MCCC/MTA Tenure Status.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Hatem-Roy and seconded by Trustee Fernandez, the Board unanimously approved the recommendations for MCCC/MTA Tenure Status as presented.
Chair Borislow called for a motion to approve recommendations for MCCC/MTA Reappointment.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Silverio and seconded by Trustee Gomez Ruiz, the Board unanimously approved the recommendations for MCCC/MTA Reappointments as presented.
b) Grants
Chair Borislow noted two grants for approval totaling $1,527,235.16 and asked for a motion to approve the grants. They were:
- Massachusetts Department of Higher Education: Early College Funding Allocation | $471,780.00
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network Implementation Grant | $1,055,455.16
On a Motion presented by Trustee Gomez Ruiz and seconded by Trustee Fernandez, the Board unanimously approved the grants (ADM-4013-050626, ADM-4014-050626,) totaling $1,527,235.16 as presented.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: With no other business, Chair Borislow adjourned the meeting at 5:44 p.m.
