Haverhill, MA (June 22, 2026) — Northern Essex Community College is welcoming a new Dean of Business and Professional Studies. Heidi Getchell-Bastien will officially join the college in the role as of July 1.
For the Amesbury attorney, the position represents a full-circle moment. Getchell-Bastien earned her associate degree in Liberal Arts from Northern Essex in 1992, before transferring to Bradford College. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University. 
“I was a first-generation college student here, and I wasn’t sure if I had the financial means or academic skills to succeed in college,” said Getchell-Bastien. “The support I received from the financial aid office, the PACE Program, and the Tutoring Center helped me tremendously. It built my confidence and changed the way I saw myself and my future.”
Northern Essex was also Getchell-Bastien’s first teaching position. As an adjunct faculty and staff assistant from 2002 to 2009, she taught paralegal, government, and internship courses and advised students regarding course selection. Getchell-Bastien was most recently a tenured Professor of Legal Studies and Government at Mass Bay Community College and a visiting Associate Professor of Management at Framingham State University.
“With so many important firsts happening here, I have always felt a deep connection to NECC. The opportunity to return in a leadership role to a place that offered me such life-changing opportunities really appealed to me,” she said. “I found so much support, encouragement, and opportunity here as both a student and a new educator, and those experiences helped shape the course of my life.”
Getchell-Bastien hopes to model the great work of the deans she’s experienced throughout her career and education in supporting faculty and advancing new initiatives. Her work at Mass Bay focused on expanding use of OER materials, including authoring an OER textbook on civil rights and liberties. She has also led college-wide initiatives, including serving as MassBay’s Civic Engagement Coordinator and co-chairing the group that revised institutional student learning outcomes.
“Heidi brings a depth of knowledge not only when it comes to academic innovation and faculty support, but also in building essential community partnerships. As we embark on new apprenticeship degree programs and career and technical training opportunities, her perspective as an alumna, as a longtime community college faculty member, and her experience working in the field will be invaluable in preparing NECC students for meaningful careers,” said NECC Vice President of Academic Affairs Austin Gilliland.
Getchell-Bastien replaces Jody Carson in the Dean of Business and Professional Studies role. Carson was recently named NECC’s Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Business and Professional Studies Division includes dozens of degree and certificate programs in fields such as Accounting, Business Transfer, Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts and many more. Learn more about programs and courses at NECC by visiting the webpage.
