2022 - Page 3 of 11

Business Student Strikes Gold Serving Up Authentic Mexican Dishes

September 26, 2022/in Students/by mbouse

It’s hard to miss Business Transfer student Rosa Garza. Between her colorful earrings, the lines of hungry customers, and the wafting aromas of Mexican spices, when she sets up her popular food stand Rosita’s Cocina, it is a feast for all the senses.

Now living in Newburyport, Garza was born and raised in Mexico and has loved cooking for as long as she can remember. “When I was eight, I had my first job helping a lady sell tamales. I would make half a peso a day.” As the years went by, she became adept at making the classic dish herself, even learning about how the corn is ground for the masa filling.

She moved to the United States in 2007 and briefly attended culinary school before settling into a job as a certified medical interpreter. She enjoyed career stability as the mom of a young son, but her love for sharing authentic Mexican cuisine -and treasured family recipes- couldn’t be contained. “It was just a hobby then; I would make food for the neighbors. They would always say, ‘you need to sell this!’”

Once the seed had been planted, the idea of opening her own food business started to take root. Garza decided to enroll in business classes at Northern Essex in the fall of 2019. Then, when the pandemic began, Garza lost her interpreting job. “I decided to take the time to reflect,” remembers Garza. “I knew there was nothing like my [food] product out there. I wanted to show people.” Shortly after that, Garza started Rosita’s Cocina. At first, Garza offered cooking classes and catering and then expanded to a mobile food vendor with the help of some connections she made at Northern Essex. “I was at a Lunch and Learn event, and the speaker had opened numerous restaurants. I literally had my permit applications with me and took the opportunity to ask for help.”

Rosita’s Cocina at the Newburyport Farmer’s Market

Rosita’s Cocina is now a thriving business. On Sundays, she sets up at the Newburyport Farmers Market, selling hot and fresh tamales, empanadas, churros, and Mexican street corn. The stand will also pop up at other special events and markets throughout the fall. The schedule can be found on her Instagram page. Garza says she’s talking with several local businesses about collaboration ideas while also considering opening her own brick-and-mortar space one day. Meanwhile, she’s giving back to NECC while still a student herself: she will host her own Lunch and Learn in late October and teach a cooking class to the PACE program in November.

Garza hopes to continue her education after earning her Business Transfer degree from Northern Essex. She hopes she can be an example to other students of what is possible when you find your passion. “I started here! I want them to see that anyone can do it. I’m walking around the halls just like them- they can do it!”

Board of Trustees Update: September 2022

September 26, 2022/in Community/by mbouse

After a brief summer hiatus, the Northern Essex Board of Trustees resumed regular monthly meetings on September 7. The meeting got underway with the introduction of two new board members: Philosophy major Sarah Pachano will serve as the student trustee, and Jouel Gomez is the new alumni-elected trustee.

Gomez currently serves as chair of the Northern Essex Alumni Board. He shared how he knew, even when he started as a student in 2013 that he wanted to be involved in giving back to the NECC community. He told the board, “I look forward to learning from each of you; it’s an honor to provide my experience as a student.” Pachano remarked that she would also use her experience as a student to advocate for her classmates. “I want to be able to make a meaningful impact on campus and grow the community,” she said. “I want to represent people who look like me. I want to carry with me the idea of helping others.”

live your dreams statue with E science building in the background

Renovation plans for the B and E buildings on the Haverhill Campus are in the designer selection stage.

Board Committees
Equity Imperative Committee

Chair of the Equity Imperative Committee, Marianne Paley-Nadel, introduced Chief Officer of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Francellis Quinones. Quinones talked about her background and years of experience doing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in the Merrimack Valley. She also said she looks forward to building upon the work already in motion at NECC. “I see myself as the curator of the amazing things people are working on, years and layers of work; I’m grateful to be able to pull that together.”

Education Report

Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Paul Beaudin, Dean of Enrollment Services Donna Bertolino, and (Interim) Director of Student Recruitment Loreen Tirrell presented the activities, successes, and challenges of student recruitment for Fall ’22.

A national decline in college enrollment has dramatically impacted community colleges. At Northern Essex, the Office of Enrollment Services is addressing those challenges by innovating new approaches to reaching local students. For example, the “Explore NECC” series of open houses held over the summer resulted in more than 200 student enrollments. Another Explore NECC Open House is planned for September 24 from 10 am – 1 pm on the Haverhill Campus.

Enrollment Services is also taking a year-round recruiting approach. Students have seven opportunities to enroll in Northern Essex throughout the year: two sessions of classes are held during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, and one session is held during the Winter Intersession.

Report of Administration

Plans are moving to utilize state funding to renovate two buildings on the Haverhill Campus: the Science (E) Building and the General Studies (B) Building.

Mike McCarthy, vice president of administration, said most of the renovations would focus on addressing ADA issues. That will include a new elevator in the B Building, a new ramp to the E building, and the replacement of doors. The buildings will also see significant upgrades to the HVAC systems.

The project is currently in the designer selection phase. The estimated completion date for the entire project is April 2026. Much of the construction work will take place over two summers to minimize disruptions.

Sabbatical Leave Approved

Trustees voted unanimously to approve half-year sabbatical leaves, at full salary, for English professor Patricia Portanova and Library Services Coordinator Jennifer Fielding. Professor Portanova will be researching new information and algorithmic literacy pedagogy to develop teaching modules for composition courses that may also be used by faculty teaching writing across the disciplines. Fielding also plans to focus on information literacy by creating content that can be used as supplemental instruction in online courses.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for October 5 on the Haverhill Campus. Find a complete list of meeting dates, agendas, and minutes here.

Grant Will Fund New Technology for Health Care Students

September 26, 2022/in Programs/by mbouse

Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (September 26, 2022)—Students in Northern Essex Community College health care programs will soon have new, cutting-edge technology tools to enhance patient care training. The state recently awarded the college a $226,005 Skills Capital Grant, which will be used to purchase two industry-specific anatomy models. The mannequins will enable students to experience, through simulation, real-life medical occurrences akin to actual workplace situations.

“This equipment will help deliver a critical component of the student’s education by providing robust simulated patient care experiences, experiences directly aligned with current workforce training needs identified by industry, employer partners, and education partners,” said NECC Director of Grant Development, Karen Rooney.

These mannequins will allow faculty to remotely operate and proctor simulations, enabling the students to be fully immersed in the scenarios without the distraction of having operators in the room.

Governor Charlie Baker announced the award last week, which is part of $32 million in funding dedicated to modernizing equipment at career technical programs and expanding training opportunities for young people and adults. Twenty-two million dollars was awarded to 70 educational institutions, and an additional $10 million was awarded to 23 vocational schools.

“Since our administration launched these critically important programs, high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth have created and expanded numerous training programs with Skills Capital Grants and developed new training opportunities for young people and adults with the Career Technical Initiative,” said Governor Baker. “We are very proud of the lasting impact these grants will have on the Massachusetts workforce and the future of the Commonwealth as they prepare the next generation of innovative leaders in cutting-edge industries.”

students walk into the el hefni building, several wearing scrubs

Most health care programs are located at the El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center on Common St in Lawrence.

The new equipment will also complement the NECC competency-based program funded under a Massachusetts Department of Higher Education HEIF grant. The Competency-Based Pathways in Allied Health Program aims to build the capacity of NECC further to address factors that have the potential to decrease the time to earn a credential in a profession that is experiencing a workforce shortage.

“The career training our students will receive with these models is strategically integrated within our local healthcare ecosystem and will prepare our students for the rigors of clinical work and significantly contribute to addressing the local workforce demands of our region,” said Rooney.

A third of the students at Northern Essex are enrolled in one of the college’s 22 associate degree and certificate programs in high-demand health care fields, ranging from nursing to respiratory care to sleep technology. Most programs are located at the El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center on Common St in Lawrence. The 44,000-square-foot facility features a Health Education Simulation Center, where health care students receive hands-on experience in simulated environments such as a hospital intensive care unit, a trauma room, an acute care hospital room, an apartment, an ambulance, and a doctor’s office.

Visit the website or contact interim Dean of Health Services Kathy Hudson to learn more.

NECC and UMass Lowell Create New Public Health Information Pathway Programs

September 14, 2022/in Community/by mbouse

A new partnership between UMass Lowell and Northern Essex Community College is addressing the need for more public health workers, by creating new pathways in public health informatics and technology. NECC is working closely with UMass Lowell on course design for two courses so that Public Health Informatic courses taken at NECC will transfer seamlessly to UMass Lowell.

These students began studying this fall in UMass Lowell’s new track in public health informatics and technology within the master’s of public health program. (UMass Lowell courtesy photo)

“Northern Essex Community College will offer a fully online Introduction to Health Informatics course beginning October 31. In January 2023, we will offer the second course: Exploring Public Health Informatics,” said NECC professor Jacqueline Dick. “NECC has worked in collaboration with UMass Lowell to design the course content, and we are excited for this opportunity to introduce students to an emerging Public Health area of study.”

Classes will combine computer science, public health, and business.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for UMass Lowell to work with community and educational partners to enhance the public health infrastructure in the Merrimack Valley,” said UMass Lowell Public Health Prof. Dan Berlowitz, chair of the department.

Lowell resident Lawreta Kankam, who, in May, received her UMass Lowell bachelor’s degree in public health, is working as an academic adviser for the new programs. This semester, she is also among the first cohort at the university to pursue her master’s degree in the specialty.

“I’m excited this program will provide me – and students like me – additional training in this important area of public health. I’m proud UMass Lowell decided to offer this coursework, anticipating the needs of the evolving workforce,” Kankam said.

The new programs are funded by a $3.2 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information as part of the Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program. The initiative, funded through the American Rescue Plan, seeks to strengthen public health capacity and bring more diversity to the field.

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we can invest in growing our nation’s public health workforce today to better meet the needs of tomorrow. And as we work to expand talent, whether it’s in the field of technology or public health informatics, we will do so with an eye towards promoting diversity,” said the United States Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra when announcing the creation of the PHIT Workforce Program.

Community partners working with UMass Lowell to provide such opportunities and ensure the new academic programs meet local job needs include the Lowell Health Department, the Lawrence Board of Health, the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lowell General Hospital, the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, the UMass Chan Medical School Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, LLX Solutions, and Academic Public Health Corp.

About NECC
Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at necc.edu.

September Explore NECC Open House

September 12, 2022/in Events/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (September 12, 2022) — It’s not too late for students to enroll for the fall semester! The second session of classes starts on October 31. Prospective students can get all of their questions answered at the next Explore NECC Open House. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 24 from 10 am – 1 pm on the Haverhill Campus of Northern Essex Community College.

The Explore NECC Open Houses are a chance for any prospective students to learn more about the college. Admissions staff can help students who have already applied to complete the process. They can also help interested students to get started. Staff from various offices will be available to answer questions about student life, athletics, career services, financial aid, and student support services.

The event includes free food and one lucky attendee will also receive a tuition credit valued at $1,500.

Hundreds of students and their families attended the previous open houses on the Haverhill Campus.

All prospective students and their families are welcome. Please RSVP here to attend. Learn more about the Explore NECC Open House by visiting the webpage.

First Art Gallery Show of the Semester Now Open

September 9, 2022/in Community, Events/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (September 9, 2022) – Northern Essex Community College is proud to present the first gallery show of the fall semester in the Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace. The show is titled “The Middle-West” and exhibits photographs from Iowa by Jeff Caplan.

black and white Image of john deer tractor

“John Deer Used” by Jeff Caplan

Caplan took the photographs starting in 2019 when he moved from Lowell, MA, to Oskaloosa, Iowa, for a position at William Penn University. In his previous works, Caplan explored the “urban and industrial decay of architecture and infrastructure.” He says moving to a more rural setting gave him a new perspective on his art and his life. “Living in this unfamiliar place, I was able to see the country from two very different perspectives as it lumbered through a turbulent time, which included a volatile political climate, a division of solidarity within the United States, and a global pandemic that was traumatizing for so many of us.”

Works include “Ozinga Feed Service Inc.” which captures the shining steel silos of a livestock feed processing plant, and a display of vintage tractors from a small county fair in “Tractor Faces 1-10.” Caplan says these images evoke a culture that perhaps embraces the simpler things in life and is happy to live in a place with fewer distractions than those in more populated areas.

In a review of the exhibit, visual artist and professor Markus Haala writes:

What appears to be a document of the mundane Iowa landscape is undeniably more personal and profound than a first glance reveals. Where his earlier works, such as “From Tools to Twilight,” poetically mourn the disappearance of historical Americana, “The Middle-West” presents the viewer with the mood of an isolated outside perspective, reflecting on a place that is not home.

An Opening and Artist Talk is scheduled for Thursday, September 22nd, from 3-6 pm. “The Middle-West” runs through October 15.

The Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace is located in the Bentley Library on NECC’s Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliot Street. It is open Monday- Thursday from 8 am-9 pm, and Friday 8 am-4 pm. This show is sponsored by the NECC Art Department and the Liberal Arts Division. For more information, contact mcarter@necc.mass.edu or mmannheimer@necc.mass.edu.

Northern Essex Welcomes New Executive Director of Marketing Communications

September 9, 2022/in Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

This summer, Northern Essex Community College welcomed Keith Paul as its new Executive Director of Marketing Communications. Paul is taking over the role from Ron Taber, who is retiring at the end of the month after 24 years with the college.

Keith Paul, Executive Director of Marketing Communications

Paul comes to NECC from Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), where he has been the Director of Marketing and Communications since 2019. He considers marketing a “contact sport” and brings more than 25 years of experience in public and private sectors to NECC.

“NECC is innovating in amazing ways that keep it at the fore of career-based training here and across the nation,” says Paul. “Those innovations are a marketer’s dream, especially at this moment in time. I just had to come here to be a part of the impact Northern Essex is making for our students and the community.”

At STCC, he modernized campus marketing, where his team earned multiple National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) awards for their work. Paul was named the NCMPR District 1 Rising Star in 2021. At STCC, Paul co-chaired the campus’ first-ever LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group and was a founding member of the Anti-Racism and Inclusion Alliance, charting the college’s future culture. He also co-chaired the committee reviewing STCC’s mission and purpose for the college’s 2021 accreditation self-study.

Paul serves as chair of the Massachusetts Community College Campus Communicators (MC4) workgroup, whose members represent the 15 colleges in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC). He also serves on the NCMPR District 1 Executive Council, representing Massachusetts member colleges.

“Higher education and community colleges are facing an inflection point in how we deliver on our promises. My vision in this role is to show the people of the Merrimack Valley the unlimited potential, talent, and civic engagement our graduates will use to improve all our lives.”

Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UMass Amherst and is a Life Member of their Alumni Association, serving on several networking and fundraising committees. In 2017, he was inducted into the UMass Minuteman Band Hall of Fame. Paul studied design theory at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He resides in Sterling, Mass.

Fall Convocation Opens New Semester at NECC

September 7, 2022/in Events, Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (September 6, 2022) –Northern Essex Community College launched the start of a new semester with the Fall 2022 Convocation on September 6. Members of the NECC community gathered on the Haverhill Campus to explore the theme Empowering Students and Transforming Lives: NECC Student Stories of Inspirational Change. This was the first in-person convocation since January 2020.

Strategic Plan

The morning started with a review of the college’s new strategic plan titled “Success for All at NECC: Strategic Plan 2022-2027.” The college recently submitted the plan to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education for review and feedback. It will be finalized during the fall semester. NECC President Lane Glenn highlighted the process of developing the plan and explained how students took center stage from the beginning. “NECC is deeply committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to an equitable, affordable, and exceptional academic experience at every step of their journey with us.”

Chief Officer of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Francellis stands at podium and gestures to the sky

Francellis Quiñones is NECC’s first Chief Officer of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

NECC’s newly-hired Chief Officer of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Francellis Quiñones, spoke about her background and vision for NECC’s Center for Equality and Social Justice. “This work is not mine alone; this is a job for all of us,” she said. “We all thrive when the focus is getting all people across that bridge.”

Quiñones is the college’s first Chief Officer of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She lives in Haverhill with her husband and two daughters and has been dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion work in the Merrimack Valley for nearly 20 years.

Student Panel

Fall 2022 Convocation closed with a student panel facilitated by Dean of Students Jonathan Miller. Five students shared why they chose NECC and how they’ve found success at the college.

Jessica Newey and Sarah Pachano were part of the student panel.

Current Student Trustee Sarah Pachano credits an advisor for helping her realize she was unhappy with her major and encouraging her to make a brave choice to change. “For the first time in my life, I felt like someone actually cared.” Fellow student Pascale Percy shared that since starting classes, she’s already experienced career growth. She worked in a factory and now works at a financial institution. And she’s quick to share her experience with others. “NECC gave me the opportunity to show people around me how to improve their life.”

Welcomes and Farewells

NECC officially introduces new employees at each convocation and sends a fond farewell to recent retirees. View the complete list of Welcomes and Farewells here.

NECC Theater Presents “Love/Sick” on the Outdoor Stage

August 31, 2022/in Events, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (August 31, 2022) – The Haverhill Campus of Northern Essex Community College will once again come alive with the sounds of the stage as the NECC Theater presents its first production of the 2022/2023 season “Love/Sick” by John Cariani.

nine members of the cast jump up in unison in front of a brickwall

Cast of “Love/Sick”

The show is comprised of nine short plays, each exploring themes of love. “New love, old love, tired love, exciting love. The plays begin with infatuation and progress to mature love with each vignette,” director and NECC theater professor Brianne Beatrice says. “The show will make you both laugh and cry. It is both hilarious and touching. The writing style is outside the box.”

Outside the box is nothing new for Beatrice. When faced with the challenge of bringing live theater back to campus safely during the pandemic, she decided to stage a production of “Tiny Beautiful Things” outdoors on the Haverhill Campus in the fall of 2021. It was such a success that the spring production of “Lighten Up” was also performed outside.

“Love/Sick” stars current NECC students Dan Toothaker, Jessica Newey, Olivia Barberian, Kayla Clegg, and Elian Gonzales. The cast also includes NECC alums Sarah Durning and Aileen Corniel and guest artists Caroline Forbes and Bridget Saunders.

The show opens on September 15 with performances at 4 pm on September 15 & 16, 2 pm on September 17, and 3 pm on September 18. Tickets are $20 ($10 for seniors and students) and can be purchased in advance or at the door (cash only). Due to the mature subject matter, this play is recommended for ages 18-plus.

cast pose on small footbridge on the Haverhill campus

Cast of “Love/Sick” rehearse on the Haverhill Campus

“Love/Sick” will be staged in the quad near the “B” building on the college’s Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St, Haverhill, MA. In case of inclement weather, the performance will be held in the theater on the top floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.

This will be the start of a busy fall for NECC Theater. A staged reading of “Stop Kiss” by Diana Son is scheduled for October on the Lawrence Campus. And a second show, “Proof” by David Auburn, will open in November. Guest director Matthew Lundergan will direct it.

For additional information on shows or theater classes at NECC, email Professor Brianne Beatrice at bbeatrice@necc.mass.edu.

Fifth Annual NECC Athletics Golf Tournament Raises $20,000 for Student-Athletes

August 30, 2022/in Events/by mbouse

Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill

Haverhill, MA (August 30, 2022) – On Monday August 29th the Northern Essex Community College Athletics Department in conjunction with the NECC Foundation held their 5th annual golf tournament at the Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill.

Thanks to a sell out crowd of 144 golfers and over 40 event sponsors the tournament was the most successful in the events five-year history generating over $20,000 to directly support the student-athletes at NECC. Funds generated from this year’s tournament will be used to provide new equipment in the athletic training room, enhanced video production and team travel enhancements, along with assisting general operations.

“We couldn’t have asked for any better weather out on the course today, everyone had a great day. Special thank you to all the golfers and sponsors that made this year’s event so successful. And thank you to staff at Renaissance for helping us put on a great event,” stated NECC Athletic Director Dan Blair.

The tournament awarded prizes to the top three teams in the event as well as prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin and a target hole.

The first-place team Todd Fitzgerald, Dana Iannalfo, Dennis Lahaye and Shawn Kelly captured top honors with score of 58 (-14). The second and third place teams both shot a 59 (-13). Second place went to Matt Whitmarsh, John Whitmarsh, Matt Marmen and Jon Skonieki. Third place went to Ron Caswell, Jeremy Tab, Rob O’Connell and Paul Hamilton.

Contest winners were:

Tara McManus – Women’s Closest to the Pin (25’7”) and Longest Drive
Colie Ryan – Men’s Closest to the Pin (6’)
Josh Kanter – Men’s Longest Drive
Mike Murphy – 10th Hole Closest to the Target (9’)

After a record-breaking year in 2021-22 which saw Knights’ Athletics team capture three MCCAC Championships, two Region 21 Championships and one Northeast District Championship, NECC will officially kick off the 2022-23 campaign on Wednesday September 7th when men’s soccer travels to Southern Maine Community College.