NECC Announces Next President

It’s not surprising that Lane Glenn relates so well to NECC students and cares so much about their success. The first in his family to attend college, Lane began his education at a community college. He understands the challenges community college students face, as well as the opportunities that a college education can provide. It is this insight – along with his background that includes 20 years experience in community college administration and teaching – that have prepared
him well for the presidency of Northern Essex, a role he will begin in July when
current president Dr. David Hartleb retires.

Lane is currently the vice president of academic affairs at NECC, a position he has held since 2006. Prior to that, he was dean of academic and student services at Oakland Community College in Michigan. He has also served as director of learning services at Lansing Community College, also in Michigan. Lane holds a Ph.D. in theater from Michigan State.
When he takes the reins in July, focusing on student success will be his top priority. “When I first came here, I really felt that this was a place that was passionately
committed to its students. The people here really love our students and want them to succeed,” he says. Lane will continue efforts that improve student success,
including increasing support for underprepared students through college programs and partnerships with area schools.

Another priority will be partnering with local employers to develop programs that deliver the skills most needed in the job market. According to Lane, “When we create programs, we do so with the workforce in mind. Most of our students stay here in the community and really contribute to
the local economy.”

Growth at the Lawrence campus will also be a focus.
A new campus location – NECC Riverwalk – opened in September, and the new
Allied Health and Technology Center is in the works to be built on the site of the
city’s former InTown Mall.

Lane credits David Hartleb with getting Northern Essex  to the point it is at today. “Working with David has been a great pleasure and I’ve learned a lot – he has accomplished a lot in his 15 years and I feel privileged to follow him. He has given tremendous shape to the culture of the college,” he says.
For Lane’s part, his energy, vision, and participatory leadership style are the tools that will help him successfully lead Northern Essex into the future. He believes
in engaging people and playing to their strengths. “It is important to share leadership. My background in the theater has helped: If you are a director of a play,
you don’t play all the roles, you create an environment where all the people who are good at what they do can do their part.”

Close to 300 people gathered in the newly named David Hartleb Technology Center in Haverhill on Wednesday to say farewell to David Hartleb, who has been president of Northern Essex Community College for the past 15 years and will retire as of June 30 of this year.

President Hartleb’s successor, Dr. Lane Glenn, the college’s current vice president of academic affairs, hosted the event which featured remarks and gifts, a slide show featuring Hartleb’s tenure as president, and the naming of the Technology Center in his honor.

Glenn credited Hartleb with creating innovative new programs in high demand fields such as sleep technology, paramedic technology, computer forensics, lab science, and education; opening new and renovated facilities in Haverhill and Lawrence; initiating public/private partnerships in the face of a down economy as a way of not just surviving, but thriving in hard times; and significantly increasing enrollments, especially among minority students.

“I have been told not once, but many, many times over the past few months that I have some very large shoes to fill, and I agree,” said Glenn. “The best advice I have received so far is to be yourself (and wear extra socks).”

Dr. Richard Freeland, the commissioner of higher education in Massachusetts, called Hartleb “the genuine article…thoroughly decent and thoroughly caring in addition to being a highly effective administrator.”
A highlight of the event was when Joseph Edwards, chairman of the NECC Board of Trustees, announced that the Technology Center, which opened in September of 2005, will be named in Hartleb’s honor.  “This project would not have been possible without the support of our donors and our legislative delegation, of course, but David provided the leadership and vision that made it all happen,” he said.  Edwards unveiled new lettering on the building which now reads The David Hartleb Technology Center and a plaque honoring Hartleb which is located in the lobby of the building.

Hartleb, who has lived in Haverhill, came to Northern Essex after a 28-year career at the University of Cincinnati and will return to Ohio after retiring from Northern Essex.

A resident of Amesbury, Glenn currently serves as vice president of academic affairs at Northern Essex, a position which he has held since 2006.  Prior to that, he was dean of academic and student services at Oakland Community College in Michigan.  He has also served as director of learning services at Lansing Community College, also in Michigan.  Glenn holds a Ph.D. in theater from Michigan State University.
In his four years at the college, Glenn has focused on student success, including increasing support for underprepared students.  He has also expanded the college’s relationships with local high schools and partnered with local employers, such as Raytheon, to develop programs that deliver the skills most needed in the job market.

Hartleb received warm wishes from the Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association, the NECC Foundation, the Women of NECC, the All College Assembly, the NECC Administrators Association, and the NECC Professionals Association.

Calling his position as president of Northern Essex “the best job I ever had,” Hartleb credited others for what has been accomplished during his time at the college.  “Upon reflecting about my career, I am struck that none of my accomplishments would have happened without tremendous support from many, many people, quite a few of whom are here today.  My only claim for success is that I have always been surrounded by wonderful, energetic, bright, fantastic friends and colleagues.”

“Real Diamond,” the Premier Neil Diamond Tribute band will be the featured artist at Northern Essex Community College’s Annual Signature Fundraising Event on Saturday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Collins Center in Andover.  All proceeds from the event will benefit Northern Essex Community College’s Annual Fund Campaign.

Tickets are $35. All seats are reserved and assigned.

“Real Diamond” is a professional band dedicated to the faithful re-creation of the live Neil Diamond experience. Come hear great songs like Cracklin Rosie, Sweet Caroline, Cherry Cherry and more!
The major sponsor of the event is Covanta Energy. Partners include Pentucket Bank, The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, LowellFive, and TD Bank.  Our sponsors Bank of New England, Blinn Farrell & Company, Holy Family Hospital, Diversified Business Systems, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Gannett Welsh & Kotler LLC, Georgetown Savings Bank, Haverhill Bank, Home Health Foundation, Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union, Merrimack Valley Hospital, National Grid, Pentucket Medical Associates, Rockingham Motors, Sovereign Bank/Santander, T.A. Sullivan Insurance Agency, Trinity E.M.S, Inc., Verizon, Coco Early & Associates; Greenwood Insurance Agency.

For more information on the event visit www.necc.mass.edu/signature-event

To order tickets contact Lori Smerdon in the colleges’ Institutional Advancement Office at 978-556-3870 or lsmerdon@necc.mass.edu.