Liberal Arts Center Events

Upcoming and Archived Events

Upcoming Events

Event Archives

April 24, 2024

Why Trump?

Professor Steve Russell lead a discussion about the historical roots and continuing popularity of the MAGA movement.

April 22, 2024

HUM199: The Liberal Arts Internship Course

We heard from NECC student Daniela Valdivia-Terres about her HUM199 internship experience at El Mundo Boston. Liberal Arts Professor Kim Lyng also spoke about the value of doing internships while in college. 

April 9, 2024

An Afternoon with Author Andre Dubus III

Andre Dubus III, the award winning and New York Times best-selling author of House and Sand and Fog, Townie, and more, came to NECC for a special reading and Q&A event. Mr. Dubus, also a professor at UMass Lowell, recently published a new novel, Such Kindness, as well as a series of essays, Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin, from which he read excerpts. 

April 4, 2024

Meet Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein

Dr. Jill Stein, 2024 Presidential candidate for the Green Party, visited NECC’s Haverhill campus to speak about her platform and expectations in the upcoming national election.

March 25, 2024

Celebrate the Liberal Arts

We celebrated the power of the NECC Liberal Arts degree with Professors Kim Lyng and Brianne Beatrice. We celebrated the rapid growth of this major and our award winning program!

March 18, 2024

Meet Representative Dawne Shand

Rep. Dawne Shand is a member of the Massachusetts Legislature representing Essex County’s 1st District, including Amesbury, Merrimac, Newburyport, and Salisbury. Representative Shand, whose work has been published in the Kenyon Review, Georgia Review, and Southern Cultures, provided a liberal arts perspective on why everyone should participate in campaigning.

March 4, 2024

A Conversation with a Broadway Actress

NECC Observer Arts and Entertainment editor, Shaun Hood, hosted a virtual talk with Broadway actress Stephanie Jae Park. Shaun led the discussion and took questions from audience members.

February 28, 2024

Unerasing Black History

Professors Steve Russell and Meredith Gunning came to the Center to talk about black history in America. They discussed how we can restore black history and why it’s important to continue talking about it.

February 22, 2024

Book Talk and Reading Party

NECC librarians Laura Mondt and Susan Leonardi gave a Black History Month-themed book talk. They brought a cart full of books from the library that were related to BHM and gave our students a space where they could read and check out some of the books. 

February 20, 2024

Who Was Edmonia Lewis?

Sociology Professor Gypsy Murphy spoke about this important historical figure who pursued art in Massachusetts and internationally. This event was in honor of Black History Month. 

October 23, 2023

Israel and Gaza: Untangling the Histories

History Professor Steve Russell gave an informational and compelling talk about the history of the Israel and Gaza conflict. It was relevant and moving. Students asked constructive questions while also relaying their opinions. Thank you to all who made this a safe space to learn.

October 17, 2023

AI for Career Exploration

Career Services came into the Center and talked about how AI can be a helpful brainstorming tool to help students identify careers aligned with their skills and interests. This interactive workshop was a constructive time for both students and faculty to see how AI can help people explore potential careers. A debate occurred as to whether AI is something to be “feared” or embraced.   

October 5, 2023

Kindness Rocks!

Students came to the Center to help us create a Kindness Rocks garden at NECC. With the help from Professor Clare Thompson, the Center was buzzing with electric creative energy. Students, staff, and faculty created some amazing rocks and even took some home. We are excited to host this event again in the future.

September 27, 2023

Brown and Proud

Professor Arnaldo Robles-Eyes hosted a celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month. The event was centered around what it means to be LatinX in this new digital era. Multiple students made presentations highlighting the culture, food, and music. Some students and their families even brought in yummy food to share. There were many connections made. Thank you to all who attended this important event.

September 13, 2023

Meet the Performing Arts and Communication Dept. Faculty

Professors Kim Lyng, Brianne Beatrice, and Mary Jo Shafer came to the Center and hosted a talk with students. They talked about what can be done with different degrees and their own journeys with their careers. There was a great turnout and multiple students shared their own journeys. It was inspiring to hear people’s stories about their goals and where they hope to go in the future. 

April 5, 2023

Why Literature?

Prof Ginger Hurajt and a couple of NECC English professors discussed their courses and favorite assignments. Students were able to get an inside look into some courses they can take during the Fall and Spring semesters. Thank you Prof Ginger Hurajt for leading this discussion!

March 23, 2023

NECC Alum Speaker: Genesis Garcia

Genesis Garcia graduated from NECC in 2012 and went on to work at Def Jam Recordings. She is now the Associate Director of Publicity at RCA Records. he discussed the importance of persistence while looking for a job in a competitive industry. Students were able to connect with Genesis about her journey through the music industry. A big thank you to Prof Kim Lyng for setting up this event!

March 9, 2023

NECC Liberal Arts Alum Speaker: Jim Barr

The Center hosted a NECC alum speaker on Tuesday, 3/7 from 11-12:15. Jim Barr was born in Haverhill and graduated with honors from NECC in 1986, majoring in Liberal Arts. He attended Syracuse University and received a dual degree (BA/BS) in English and Film/Television Production from the College of Arts & Sciences and Newhouse School of Public Communication in 1988. After working in the nonprofit television production industry and in media sales for 10 years, Barr attended a four-month program at Boston University in 1998 focusing on systems and networking administration and transitioned to information technology management. Since that time, Barr has focused on IT change management, team-building, and consulting throughout the insurance, FinTech, academic, and biotech/pharma industries. Barr discussed how NECC prepared him to take the next steps he needed to in life. He spoke highly of the Liberal Arts program and related his experiences to current students. Thank you Kim Lyng for organizing this event!

March 2, 2023

Interviewing Workshop with Career Services

Katie Yeaton-Hromada from Career Services gave an informative and engaging presentation about interviewing skills. Students were able to learn about how to be prepared for an interview and how to answer some common questions. There were great questions and discussions about people’s experiences with interviews. Thank you Katie for such a great presentation!

February 27, 2023

Berwick Public Library and Berwick Community Media Documentary

The Berwick Public Library and Berwick Community Media in Maine showed a documentary film, “News Desert in a Small Town,” about Democracy, Journalism and the Informed Citizen, on Monday, February 27, at 11 a.m., in the Center.

The documentary examines how Berwick, Maine, citizens get information, but the topics are relevant statewide and nationwide, as news-gathering and news dissemination has shifted from the journalistic process to social media. Those interviewed for the documentary include Bill Nemitz, retired columnist for the Portland Press Herald, Berwick Town Manager James Bellissimo, Select Board Chair Tom Wright, former journalists Judi Currie and Brendan DuBois, Envision Berwick volunteers, Berwick residents, and Noble High School students. Director Ralph Morang and longtime N.H., Seacoast region reporter Susan Morse provided some commentary after the showing.

February 14, 2023

“13th” Screening with Special Guests

The Center hosted a screening of Netflix’s documentary “13th” in honor of Black History Month. The documentary explores America’s history of racial inequality, specifically the mass incarceration of African Americans.  A great discussion about the legal system and racism took place between our audience and our featured speakers. We would like to thank Judge Jack Lu, Francellis Quinones, and Professor Steve Russell for providing insightful and important commentary.

January 30, 2023

Meet the New Performing Arts and Communication Dept. Faculty

Professor Kim Lyng and Professor Brianne Beatrice came to the Center and hosted a talk with students. They talked about what can be done with different degrees and their own journeys with their careers. There was a great turnout and multiple students shared their own journeys. It was inspiring to hear people’s stories about their goals and where they hope to go in their careers. A big thank you to Professor Brianne Beatrice and Professor Kim Lyng for bringing people together and sharing some important life lessons!

December 12, 2022

Animation Lunch Break

The Center hosted an Animation Lunch Break on Dec. 12. Students from ART 151 Animation Class proudly showed off their creations. There were lots of laughs and smiles throughout the event!

October 27, 2021

The Implications of “At-Large” v “District-wide” Voting in Local Elections

Professor Stephen Russell of Northern Essex Community College tackles the topic of whether the City of Haverhill should modify its voting system from exclusively “at-large” voting for City Council and School Council to a hybrid system of Ward voting with a minority of at large seats.

October 13, 2021

Latina Stereotypes

Hispanic actresses like Sofía Vergara, Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz made their Hollywood careers out of playing very similar, almost interchangeable, characters: beautiful, sexy, loud, passionate, tempered with a sense of rhythm. In this contribution Bunker Hill Community College Professor Alicia Gallego-Zarzosa, Ph.D. explores how Latinas are shaped in mass media, where the stereotype comes from and what political implications derive from contesting this imposition today. NECC Professor Lis Espinoza responds to the presentation and it was followed by a question and answer session.

July 28, 2021

On Wednesday, July 28 2021 Prof. Lis Espinoza hosted a discussion with Dr Maryam Zentabi and Prof. Marc Mannheimer about the work of Marjane Satrapi, author of renowned graphic novel Persepolis. You can view a recording of the presentation HERE. Password to access the recording is ?66uyS^i.

Liberal Arts Civic Reflection Series

In cooperation with the Center for Civic Engagement, the Center for Liberal Arts hosted a series of presentations and conversations  with faculty, students, and the public to reflect on the events surrounding the transition in government and the effects of COVID-19 on all areas of American life. Following a lively shared viewing of the Inauguration of the 46th President of the United States on January 20, faculty and students gathered a week later for a conversation about the January 6 riot and insurrection at the US Capitol. Subsequent sessions dealt with various aspects of the transition of power. Recordings of past events are posted here and indicated with a #LACRS tag.

April 14, 2021

Municipal Government and Local Elections – Prof. Stephen Russell #LACRS 

Prof. Stephen Russell led a conversation about the importance of municipal government and local elections in ensuring that the services that we depend upon are carried out effectively and consistently. Topics examined included school boards, town meetings, the provision of water and utilities, police and firefighting. Prof. Russell emphasized how budget priorities reflect the will of the people who show up to express their views.

April 7, 2021

Rational Ignorance and the US Economy – Prof. Patricia Machado #LACRS 

According to economists, rational ignorance is a voter’s decision to remain uninformed because the marginal cost of obtaining information is higher than the marginal benefit of knowing it. This is all too common when it comes to understanding the economy and making voting decisions.  In this presentation we will discuss the impact of current and past presidential policy decisions and the impact these policies have had on the overall economy.  We will look at these policies in terms of the Business Cycle, Gross Domestic Product, Taxes, Budget Deficits, and the National Debt with the hope of improving upon the marginal benefit of knowing!

Inside the Artist’s Studio

March 30, 2021

Art & Design faculty of Northern Essex gathered for a virtual showcase of their work. In this session you will encounter working professionals talking about what it means to be a creator of art. The strong take-away from this session is that a single art class can change your life and give you the confidence to make great art. Be sure to check this out.

March 24, 2021

The Weaponization of Religion in the Trump Era – Dermot Luddy #LACRS 

A discussion of the manner in which religion has been weaponized and used for political purposes historically, globally, and, in particular, during the Trump years. The discussion was preceded by a presentation by Dermot Luddy from the Center of Liberal Arts, and adjunct professor in Philosophy and World Religion. Luddy has degrees in philosophy and theology, and has taught courses on religion and fanaticism at several New England colleges.

March 22, 2021

“Hannah Duston and Columbus Statue, the Massachusetts Seal, and How We Commemorate the Past”  Christoph Strobel, Ph.D., Professor of History, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Symbols that commemorate the past have become a controversial topic in recent years. From the confederate flag, to civil war statues, to the naming of military bases, these issues are in the news. In Massachusetts, the State Seal, Haverhill’s Hannah Duston and Boston’s Christopher Columbus statues have been local flashpoints on how we commemorate history. We will use the Duston, Columbus, and Seal controversy as a launching pad to explore the history of survival of the Indigenous peoples of New England. This history stands diametrically opposed to the imagined Native American past that the seal, the statues, and mainstream popular mainstream myths celebrate.

Christoph Strobel is the author of Native Americans of New England, The Global Atlantic 1400–1900, The Testing Grounds of Modern Empire, co-author with Alice Nash of Daily Life of Native Americans from Post-Columbian through Nineteenth-Century America, and he has published three books on immigration. Christoph’s scholarly essays appear in various academic journals and edited collections.

March 10, 2021

Apples and Oranges: Black Lives Matter, Insurrection and False Equivalencies – Prof. Stephen Slaner #LACRS 

Prof Stephen Slaner draws on sixty years as a peace activist, protester, and scholar to delve into the differences between the protests of 2020 in the light of the killing of George Floyd and the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

March 3, 2021

With Informed Communities, Let’s Eradicate Covid-19 / Por Comunidades Informadas, Erradicamos el Covid-19 – Sarah Perez & Prof. Emily Gonzalez #LACRS 

NECC Alumni & Lawrence Community Leader Sarah Perez and NECC Science Professor Emily Gonzalez offer a Bilingual conversation to share ways to address vaccinations and Covid-19 in our communities, as we all work together to quell any misinformation or distrust. Event was introduced and translated by Prof. Lis Espinoza.

Sarah Perez alumna y activa en la comunidad de Lawrence, MA y Profesora Emily Gonzalez en ciencias de NECC nos invitan a conversar para compartir modos de informar nuestras comunidades de la vacuna y covid-19. Juntos podemos minimizar desinformación para asegurar la salud de nuestra gente.

February 24, 2021

Social Media, Disinformation, and Democracy – Dean Amy Callahan #LACRS 

There was standing room only in the crowded Zoom meeting when Dean Amy Callahan addressed faculty and students on the topic of disinformation in social media and its effect in undermining democratic institutions.

February 22, 2021

The World Comes to the Merrimack River Valley: One Hundred Years of Immigration History in One Hour – Robert Forrant, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor of History, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Massachusetts has a history of immigration dating back to newcomers’ first settlements building colonies along the New England coast. Immigrants continue playing a vital role in the Commonwealth today, making up 16 percent of the population. In 2020, over a fifth of the state’s labor force is foreign-born, many of them in frontline positions helping us to survive the pandemic. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the top countries of origin were French-speaking Canada and Southern and Eastern Europe. Today’s top countries of origin are China, the Dominican Republic, India, and Brazil. Through a careful look at Merrimack River valley history, Prof. Forrant discusses this ‘old’ and ‘new’ immigration and leaves our faculty and students with a greater understanding of the region’s rich immigration history.

February 10, 2021

Practicums and Pandemic – Profs. Brian MacKenna-Rice, Jody Carson, and Deirdre Budzyna #LACRS 

Human Services professor Brian MacKenna-Rice and Early Childhood Education professors Jody Carson and Deirdre Budzyna gave a presentation on the challenges and solutions to supporting students in practicum settings during these challenging times. The Center for Liberal Arts appreciates the support of the Center for Professional Studies in hosting this presentation.

February 4, 2021

The Fragility of Democracy – Prof. Stephen Russell, Ph.D. #LACRS 

Prof. Stephen Russell leads a discussion about the global rise of authoritarianism and the fragility of democracy. Sometimes we take the existence of democracy for granted, but we should be attentive to the warning signs of threats to democratic institutions.

December 14, 2020

Writing and Publishing – A Guide to World Fame and Literary Laurels – Prof. Sara Codair

On December 14 Sara Codair share some of the information that they have learned in their budding literary career. Find out about many of the pitfalls in the publishing business, and how to avoid them. Sara teaches and tutors writing at NECC and has published over fifty short stories and poems. Their cat, Goose, edits their work by deleting entire pages. Sara’s stories appear in Broadswords and Blasters, Vulture Bones, Alternative Truths, and Drabbledark. Sara’s first novel, Power Surge, was published on Oct. 1, 2018. Find Sara online at https://saracodair.com/ or @shatteredsmooth.

December 9, 2020

Presidential Transitions – A Conversation with Profs. Steve Slaner and Stephen Russell

On December 9, students and faculty gathered on Zoom to hear two professors in the Global Studies Department discuss the outcome of the Presidential Election. At the time of the conversation, President Donald Trump has unsuccessfully challenged the outcome of the election in several swing states. President-Elect Joe Biden has assembled much of his leadership team, focused on his inauguration and beyond.

December 8, 2020

JRN/COM Conversation – Prof. Kim Lyng

In this session Prof. Kim Lyng shared her personal account of how she entered a career in journalism, some of the big stories that she broke, and her path back to the classroom after decades in newsrooms across New England

November 10, 2020

Your Favorite Nerd – Creating and Maintaining a Blog with Ian Shea

On November 10, Methuen resident and NECC alumnus, Ian Shea spoke with students and faculty about the process of launching and maintaining a blog. Shea graduated from NECC in 2015 with a degree in General Studies but decided to return and work towards a degree in Liberal Arts: Writing Option. In 2019, Shea launched his own website called www.yourfavoritenerd.com where he writes reviews of TV shows and movies, with occasional interviews and opinion pieces. Shea started this site because he loves having discussions on all aspects of nerdy pop culture. Whether it’s a video game, comic book, TV show, or movie, chances are he has an opinion about it! Shea is a child of the 90s, a New England native, and obviously, a proud nerd.

October 30, 2020

La Feria Internacional de Libro 2020

English and Spanish Professor Lis Espinoza was a panel member in a conference hosted by La Feria Internacional de Libro 2020 in Lawrence, MA. The title of the panel was Estados Unidos…es más que bilingüe – United States…is more than bilingual. The convener of the panel was Dr. Dolores C. Calaf, professor at Endicott College. Other panelists included Prof. Marcelo Juica, Endicott College, Prof. Wanda Ocasio-Rivera, Merrimack College, Prof. Raquel Bauman, Endicott College, and Prof. Karman Zayas, Urban College. Prof. Espinoza spoke about American cinema and bilingualism as moments of justice.

October 27, 2020

Career Prospects for the Liberal Arts Graduate with Dean William Koehler from Regis College

October 8, 2020

DISINFORMATION! With Dean Amy Callahan

September 30, 2020

Liberal Arts Career Panel, Register here to watch recording of event:

Recording of Event Here Passcode: AK5?17^.