“Storm a top Mount Washington, 2018” an oil on wood by Kale Baker , an NECC art and design alum, will be on exhibit in The Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace.

The works of 10 former art and design students were selected for the first Northern Essex Community College Art & Design Department Alumni Art show. The show will run from January 22 through February 22 in the Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace in the Harold Bentley Library on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. The opening reception will be held January 24 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The show was curated by NECC Art Professor Marc Mannheimer and Reneiry Santiago, a 2017 graduate of NECC’s General Studies: Art and Design program. This wide-ranging show is comprised of 44 works, including paintings, drawings, prints, digital design works and photography.

“Dusk Translation, 2018,” a digital photograph by NECC art and design alumna Reinery Santiago will be on exhibit.

The art and design alumni in the show are:

Kaleigh Baker, 2015, of Newton, N.H.; Kailey Hladky Johnson, 2016, of Medford; Reneiry Santiago, 2017, of Haverhill; Austin Wells, 2016, of Dracut; Devin Sullivan, 2017, Salem, New Hampshire; Autumn Markey, 2015, of North Andover; Ryan Silva of 2016, of Salisbury; Sebastian Diaz, 2018, of Methuen; Jason Shulkin, 2006, of Salem, New Hampshire; Cooper Binette, 2017​, of Portland, Maine.

“I had been thinking of mounting an NECC Art & Design Department Alumni show for a couple of years,” said Mannheimer. “Our graduates are extremely successful artists and designers who have transferred to top art and design schools. I feel it is very important for our college and department to allow our current students and the local community a chance to experience the range of talent they possess. In the summer of 2017 Reneiry approached me with the idea for the show and we began to plan.”

Santiago, who is interested in becoming a curator agreed to co-curate the show. She researched the art & design graduates, compiled a list, and they were invited to submit up to six images of their recent work for consideration. The co-curators juried the images to create the exhibit.

“Foreshortened Female Model 2018” a 30 x 22 inch, charcoal on paper by Ryan Silva, an NECC art and design alumnus, will hang in the exhibit.

According to Santiago,” Last year around this time. I contacted Marc because I was interested in learning more about curating art shows. We discussed applying to curating summer programs for more experience. He then mentioned that he wanted to curate an alumni show and I agreed to co-curate the moment he mentioned this. It was an amazing opportunity and I’m really grateful.”

The NECC Art & Design program, part of the Liberal Arts Division, provides a focus in fine arts, multimedia, photography, and graphic design. These lead to an associate degree in general studies: art & design.

The alumni art exhibit, which is free and open to the public, is available for viewing during library hours which are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, please contact Michelle Carter, art & design department chair, at mcarter@necc.mass.edu or Mannheimer at mmannheimer@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers an associate degree in general studies: art & design. This prepares individuals for an entry-level job in art or design or for transfer to a four-year school.

(L to R) NECC President Lane Glenn congratulates employee recognition award winners for the first quarter of 2019 – Brian MacKenna-Rice, Rick Lizotte, and Kathy Welch-Hudson.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees, Kathy Welch Hudson of Stoneham, Brian MacKenna-Rice of Middleton, and Rick Lizotte of Amesbury recently received the Employee Recognition Award for the first quarter of 2019.

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees.  Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers.  Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

Hudson, professor and department chair of the healthcare technology and ambulatory sciences program, has worked at NECC since 2003.  She holds a Master of Science in Human Services Administration: Gerontology from Springfield College.

She was nominated by Nancy Julin, associate dean of health professions, who wrote in her nomination, “Kathy works diligently each semester to promote student interest in health professions by actively participating in various NECC events such as the bi-annual Health and Wellness Fair, and scheduling numerous information sessions to help provide students with an overview of the health programs offered at NECC. She encourages and supports students to find solutions to their issues and guides them to the various support systems provided by NECC.  …The health profession faculty elected Kathy to be one of the lead faculty for the Center for Health Professions and she has worked tirelessly to promote the mini-version of the Center that opened in fall 2018.”

MacKenna-Rice, coordinator for human services, has worked at NECC for eight years, and holds a Master of Science in Human Services Administration from Springfield College. He was nominated by Kelly Sullivan, dean of business and professional studies, who praises his work advising students.

“Brian works tirelessly over the summer and during semester breaks meeting and registering students at their convenience. This high touch approach has made a difference in the number of students we were able to enroll in fall 2018. He has a difficult time saying “No” and serves on a number of NECC committees and agreed to lead the Center for Professional Studies while the faculty leader is on sabbatical in the spring. His service to his students and the college goes well beyond anyone’s expectations.”

Lizotte, professor of English as a Second Language (ESL) and coach in the Center for Instructional Technology (CIT,) has worked at NECC for 34 years. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from Brown University. His nomination was supported by his colleagues in Academic Preparation and CIT; they praised Lizotte for his commitment to students and staff.

“Rick readily volunteers to help whenever extra hands are needed for college initiatives, and is the go-to person for faculty who need help with curriculum design for distance education courses,” writes Janice Rogers, Associate Dean of Liberal Arts/Student Success Hub.

Melba Acevedo, director of instructional technology and online learning wrote, “Rick’s vast knowledge and deep intellect have been an asset to the college as a whole but especially to the Center for Instructional Technology. Rick’s extraordinary analytical skills and passion for teaching and for the welfare of students and faculty are some of the qualities that have made him a must-have member in every important endeavor.”

The nomination was supported by Sharon McManus, director of professional development, and Amy Cameron, ESL curriculum coordinator, who credit Lizotte’s insight and diligence working with faculty, staff and students.

Rosanna Lara of Lawrence, Public Health major

When the company she was working for moved to the West Coast in 2017, Rosanna Lara of Lawrence was laid-off, a prospect she admits was scary at first.

Two months later, the 30 year-old was happily enrolled full time in Northern Essex’s Public Health Program.

“Sometimes things happen for a reason.  God has something else in mind,” explains Lara, who is fluent in both Spanish and English.  “It feels like this is me.  I want to do outreach, work with my community to promote wellness.”

Lara will earn her community health worker certificate this May, and she’ll be qualified for jobs in the community, most likely connecting vulnerable populations with healthcare.  While working, she plans to continue her education, earning first an Associate Degree in Public Health, which transfers into a bachelor’s degree in public health offered by Regis College on Northern Essex’s Lawrence Campus.   Eventually, she plans to earn a master’s degree.

The straight-A student, wife, and mother of three children, ages 3, 5, and 7, has fully embraced the college experience.  She participates in the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program, a federally funded support program for first-generation college students; is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a national community college honorary society; completed the college’s student leadership program; and works 10 hours a week as a work-study student in the college’s Center for Adult Education Programs & Preparation.

Lara credits her strong organizational skills and her husband—who she calls her “main support”— with her success.

She also appreciates the flexible scheduling.  Courses in the public health program are offered in a hybrid format, meaning the class meets face-to-face once a week and most work is completed online.

Lara admits that going back to school with a family “can be tough at times” but she says the rewards outweigh the challenges.  She makes an effort “to celebrate every step in the process” and admits to sharing those straight A report cards on her Facebook page.

Northern Essex is enrolling now for the spring semester, which starts January 23.  To learn more, visit the website, necc.mass.edu, or contact enrollment services, admissions@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3700.

Alicia Catalano is finding herself at NECC.

Alicia Catalano has an enviable problem – too many interests. So the Newburyport resident is attending Northern Essex Community College to narrow the field, select a major, and continue her education.

“I don’t know what I want to major in,” she said. “I enjoy too many things. I can’t pick one to do for the rest of my life,” she said.

The 18 year-old is a 2018 graduate of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, where she served as senior class president and captain of the girls’ soccer and track teams. Since culinary arts was her shop, she also knows her way around the kitchen.

There has been little down time for Catalano, who writes her own music, plays the piano and guitar, and sings. This past summer, when she wasn’t caring for plants at her job at Bloom and Groom in Salisbury she was performing at various venues in the greater Newburyport area, often accompanied by her brother and uncle.

“I really enjoy music and would love to perform full time,” Catalano said, but she is realistic and recognizes the merits of earning a college degree. “I enrolled at Northern Essex to take my general education classes and by the time I’m done I might know what I want to major in. Coming here just made sense. I did not see myself spending $40,000 a year for a degree when I didn’t know what I wanted to study.”

For now she is focusing on taking liberal arts courses and has even squeezed in a music theory course, but already she is thinking that when something clicks she will look into transferring to UMass Lowell or Salem State University. Her strategy seems to be working as she carries a 4.0 GPA.

She encourages other students, who are wavering about selecting a major, to enroll at Northern Essex.

“They should come here,” she said. “Personally it has been a good, positive thing in my life helping me figure out what I want to do. Try it and see if you like it.”

Northern Essex is committed to helping students, who are exploring options, find an area of study or a major that suits them. It has created the Integrated Student Experience (ISE) initiative. Students are now channeled through an academic hub where there are support services to help them select an area of study. Once a major is decided they move to one of five academic centers where they can meet faculty and students with similar interests, get help with advising, complete homework assignments, attend major-specific programs and career events, or just hang out between classes.

For more information on this the ISE visit the program page .

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in liberal arts, liberal arts: philosophy option, and liberal arts: psychology option. For additional information, visit the liberal arts homepage.

NECC is enrolling now for the spring semester, which starts January 23.  To learn more, visit the website, , or contact enrollment services, admissions@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3700.