Kimberley Lyng is the new coordinator for NECC’s Communications Journalism Program.

Our fast-moving, globally connected world needs clear communication and trusted journalism more than ever, and Northern Essex Community College is stepping up to meet that demand by dynamically growing and evolving its Journalism/Communication program.

Even the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t slowed down the program’s expansion, which includes three key components.

First, is the addition of Kimberley S. Lyng as program coordinator and adjunct instructor.

“I’ve been so impressed with her professionalism and enthusiasm…she has this multidimensional professional background in journalism,” says Amy Callahan, NECC’s dean of liberal arts. “She’s very compassionate, encouraging, and she knows how to translate her expertise into effective, engaging teaching.”

Lyng’s 15 years of journalism and communications experience spans print journalism, TV broadcasting and producing, and marketing and communications work. She’s built publications from the ground up as managing editor for Boston Metro newspapers and executive produced the morning and noon newscasts for WCVB in Boston, among other professional achievements

It’s that kind of vast, practical knowledge and hands-on experience that makes Lyng such a great addition at NECC, which emphasizes real-world, experiential learning and career training that ready graduates for their chosen fields.

“That connecting of the real-world experiences to what students are learning in their courses [and] applying them to these jobs? I’m a huge proponent of making that connection,” Lyng says.

In the future, she’d like the program to expand its internships and career panel discussions, and add courses in multimedia education, social media, and media literacy.

In addition, as of spring 2021, every Journalism/Communications class from NECC will be available both in person and online, allowing the college to offer the program 100% online.

While CARES Act funding made the online expansion possible, Callahan says the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the only reason students might prefer to learn online.

“It’s not only responding to the pandemic. We’re building for the future,” she says. “For some students it is the only option that makes sense for them, or it’s an option that would make this degree possible. There are a lot of people out there who cannot fit scheduled class times into their busy lives or careers.”

Students who want to take their education even further can do so thanks to Regis North, a Regis College extension campus located on the NECC Lawrence campus, where local students can get a marketing/communications bachelor’s degree from Regis without leaving the Merrimack Valley and with the bonus of a tuition break.

“The partnership with Regis offers an incredible deal that’s both affordable and close to home for NECC students,” Callahan says.

To learn more about NECC’s Journalism/Communications program visit the website or reach out to admissions@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3700.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.

This story was written by Alex Pecci ’02.