{"id":32764,"date":"2026-02-24T12:30:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2026\/02\/24\/alumni-qa-meet-martha-cortes-25\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:35:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:35:14","slug":"alumni-qa-meet-martha-cortes-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/02\/24\/alumni-qa-meet-martha-cortes-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Q&A: Meet Martha Cortes ’25"},"content":{"rendered":"

Occupation:<\/strong> Career Resource Specialist, Work Opportunities Unlimited<\/p>\n

What initially inspired you to attend NECC? Where were you on your professional\/personal journey prior to enrolling?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Martha<\/a>

Martha Cortes ’25<\/p><\/div>\n

I decided to enroll at NECC to take ESOL classes back in 2013 after I moved to Haverhill from the Dominican Republic. Once I completed the classes successfully, I enrolled in the dental assistant program.<\/p>\n

After I had my first child in 2017, I had to decide between working full-time and going to school, and I ended up leaving school and working full-time at Dunkin Donuts to support my family and take care of my daughter. I went back to school after I had my second child… This time it was different because I didn\u2019t want to be a dental assistant anymore. I wanted a career where I could help people and have that one-on-one relationship. I decided to pursue an associate degree in human services.<\/p>\n

I was very shy and during my first semester I barely took part in discussions in the classroom. I remember that, one time, professor Lisa Fabbri-Lopez sent me an email saying that she saw that I understood the content and that I completed all my homework. She said “You just need to find your voice.”<\/p>\n

After that day, I started to get more involved and to speak my mind. Brian McKenna also helped me by providing constructive feedback and allowing me to see skills that I didn\u2019t even know I had. I was lucky enough that the MassReconnec<\/a>t program started shortly afterward so I got to go to college for free.<\/p>\n

In what ways has NECC helped you on your educational and professional path?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I remember that, in 2023, I was taking the Community Resources and Population class. Professor Lisa [Fabbri-Lopez] used to bring guests speakers from different companies every week, and some of them were hiring… I decided to apply to companies that could also help with my practicum.<\/p>\n

I was not sure about the population I wanted to work with, although I had the opportunity to learn about different companies in that class. One of those companies was Work Opportunities Unlimited. I learned how they support clients and I was interested in learning more. I got support from NECC to create my first resume, applied, and shortly thereafter was hired full time. \u00a0I did practicum 1 in the spring semester of 2024 and practicum 2 in the fall of 2024. Thanks to that internship, I was able to use my transferable skills, grow my confidence, and support people from various back grounds and cultures. If it weren\u2019t for the curriculum of that class, I would not have learned about Work Opportunities Unlimited or the opportunity to go into the field earlier in my career.<\/p>\n

What do you enjoy most about your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I enjoy meeting people where they are and making meaningful connections with clients, families and employers. I love having the flexibility to work full-time, study full-time and take care of my kids. I currently support individuals to find and retain employment from different referral sources and have taken on some other responsibilities in my role as a Career Resource Specialist as well, such as being a peer mentor to new team members and making connections with different employers in the area by leading company interviews.<\/p>\n

From my family I learned how valuable it is to be resourceful. From church I learned that helping others is more than a choice; it is a calling. From NECC, I learned the tools to be able to support others effectively and meet each individual where they are.<\/p>\n

How did NECC prepare you for your current program at Merrimack College?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I went for an Associate Degree in Human Services at NECC, and I was encouraged to complete a certificate to acquire knowledge in other areas within human services. I ended up completing my associate degree and three other certificates. By completing those certificates I earned more credits towards my bachelor\u2019s degree. Merrimack College took all my credits and I will be able to complete a bachelor\u2019s in psychology within a year. NECC provided me with the tools to succeed anywhere I go. I received valuable feedback, which I implemented into my professional life. After obtaining my associate, I felt confident that I could do more. Thanks to God and NECC, today I have a job that I love and a foundation to continue pursuing my dreams of becoming a social worker.<\/p>\n

Anything else you’d like our audience to know about you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am grateful for everyone that helped me to get where I am today. I would advise new and current students to take advantage of the different resources available, from ESOL to career services.<\/p>\n

Each month, the NECC Alumni Office shares interviews with our accomplished graduate population through its alumni newsletter. If you have a story to share and would like to be considered for a future edition, please fill in an Alumni Update Form<\/a>\u00a0or email\u00a0alumni@necc.mass.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to a formative internship obtained through NECC, Martha Cortes ’25 found her way to a rewarding career in human services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":32767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9,681,757],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-mobile","category-students-alumni"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumni Q&A: Meet Martha Cortes '25 - NECC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/02\/24\/alumni-qa-meet-martha-cortes-25\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alumni Q&A: Meet Martha Cortes '25 - 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