An NECC Liberal Arts Alumni Panel, moderated by David Godin, a Merrimack College Graduate Fellow working in our Career Connections Dept., featured freelance writer Alexandra Pecci and NECC History Professor Rich Padova.

Freelance writer Alexandra Pecci and Northern Essex Community College History Professor Richard Padova recently participated in a Liberal Arts Alumni Panel on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus. They shared their professional experiences with interested students, staff, and faculty.

NECC’s Alumni Relations Office, Career Connections, and The Liberal Arts Department collaborated to bring alumni back to campus to share their journeys and discuss their career paths.

Pecci, of Plaistow, NH, graduated in 2002. She transferred to UMass Boston where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2004. Since, she has enjoyed a career as a freelance writer. Her articles have been published in the Washington Post, North Shore Magazine, The Boston Globe, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Hemispheres Magazine, AAA’s Northern New England Journey, and Bust Magazine as well as other regional and national publications. She has her own website where her articles can be viewed.

Andover resident Richard Padova, graduated in 1980. He transferred to Salem State College and earned his bachelor’s degree. He received a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and is currently enrolled at Salem State University working toward a second master’s degree. A longtime educator, he has been teaching history, geography, and government courses at Northern Essex since January 2005. Padova most recently organized an NECC speakers’ series titled  “Movers, Shakers, and Opinion Makers” – which brings distinguished individuals from government and politics to campus to speak with students, faculty and community members about issues of importance in today’s society.

 The Liberal Arts Alumni panel was moderated by David Godin, a graduate fellow from Merrimack College who is working with NECC’s Career Connections.

NECC offers nearly a dozen associate degrees in liberal arts. They provide a solid foundation in critical thinking, critical reading, research, and communications. You can complete your first two years at Northern Essex, like Pecci and Padova did,  and then transfer to a four-year school.

A complete list of liberal arts degrees is offered here.