NECC President Lane Glenn with second quarter employee recognition winners Kirsten Kortz, Elizabeth Donovan, and Ashley Moore.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees Kirsten Kortz of Somerville, Elizabeth Donovan of Windham, NH, and Ashley Moore of Exeter, NH, recently received the NECC Employee Recognition Award for the second quarter of 2015.

Kortz has been an adjunct instructor since 2010 and coordinator of the College Success Seminar since 2014.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from William Smith College and a PhD in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She was nominated by several colleagues including Trish Schade an associate professor in NECC’s academic preparation program who praised her writing, “I have had the opportunity to sit in on Kirsten’s classes and benefit from her excellent approaches to teaching and engaging her students… She has an excellent rapport with her students, involving them in academically challenging discussions and assignments while at the same time creating an inclusive learning environment with her wonderful sense of humor.”

Marcy Yeager, international studies coordinator and associate professor of natural sciences, supported the nomination noting, “Never before have I seen an adjunct faculty member give so much to NECC. Kirsten not only teaches at an exceptional level, but her commitment to student success has been demonstrated by her work as NECC’s College Success Seminar coordinator, where she expertly leads the program to new levels and constantly helps faculty teaching in the program achieve their professional goals… Every committee she works with, every meeting she participates in (and there are many), and every course she teaches is really focused on her personal belief that ALL students at NECC can and will succeed.  It is a gorgeous thing to watch.”

Her recommendation was also supported by Professor Barbara Stachniewicz and Janice Rogers, assistant dean foundational studies, liberal arts & sciences division.

Moore, has worked at NECC for two years as a career connections coordinator and one year as a graduate fellow from Merrimack College. She was instrumental in creating NECC’s successful internship program.

She graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance and Accounting with a minor in Law and a Master of Science in Taxation. She also holds a Master of Education in Higher Education from Merrimack College.

Moore received several other nominations from colleagues including Dawna Perez, dean of student success, who wrote “Ashley is consistently a consummate professional, kind and helpful to all students she encounters, and regularly goes above and beyond her duties to collaborate with others to provide our students with the best experience they can get. She has developed a high quality Internship Program in concert with faculty and coordinates all the placements, does sites visits and facilitates all their workshops.”

Gisela Ramirez Nash, director of Title V/student success programs echoed this sentiment writing, “In a short period of time Ashley has grown a career prep program at NECC developing seminars, internships, and career outreach opportunities to expose NECC students to different career pathways.”

Her nomination was supported by Pat Morrow, business professor, Anne Shaw, job developer/employer liaison, and George Moriarty, director of NECC’s Workforce Development.

Donovan has worked at Northern Essex for 10 years, first as a statistician II and more recently as a procurement analyst.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Franklin Pierce College.

Colleague Martha Leavitt, director Lawrence Campus operations, nominated Donovan saying “Her service-oriented approach to her job and her unique understanding of how to continually balance the needs of both internal users and external vendors, has served our department and the NECC community very well.  Beth has taken on the challenge of revamping many processes and systems within the procurement area, and has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial style and problem solving techniques.”

Judy Kelleher lauded Donovan for working “Tirelessly to make sure that she gets more advantageous pricing for services as well as products to the benefit of the college. She makes purchases under the state negotiated contracts and also several consortiums always looking for better pricing for equal quality products. She always does an analysis of cost effective purchases for supplies, services, and equipment.”

For additional information contact Mary Chatigny, NECC’s director of human resources at mchatigny@necc.mass.edu