Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito have appointed Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn, a resident of Amesbury, to the STEM Advisory Council, a statewide group that is expanding access to education in science, technology, engineering, and math for students across the Commonwealth.

The 29-member council includes leaders from business and industry, education, and government, and is co-chaired by U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III and Lt. Governor Polito.  Glenn is the only community college representative on the council.

The council will focus on four areas: expanding work-based learning opportunities in STEM fields, developing and implementing Early College Career Pathways; broadening access to high-quality computer science and engineering education; and strengthening and aligning regional STEM networks.

Northern Essex’s engineering science and computer information science programs are among the college’s most popular programs, according to Glenn.  “At a time when community colleges are experiencing declining enrollments, these programs are growing at Northern Essex.”

Enrollments in the college’s engineering science associate degree program grew close to 40 percent in the past five years, and the computer information systems transfer associate degree, which was offered for the first time in the fall of 2012, grew close to 25 percent in just one year from the fall of 2015 to the fall of 2016.

“It’s exciting because the number of students interested in our STEM programs is growing at the same time as demand for graduates with these skills,” said Glenn.  “Still, there’s more that can be done.”

During the next decade, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology estimates that U.S. industries will need one million more STEM graduates than the system is expected to produce.  Despite the need, the U.S. Department of Education estimates that just 1 in 6 high school seniors is proficient in math and interested in pursuing STEM higher education or careers.

“The STEM Advisory Council works to ensure all students are prepared to pursue post-secondary degrees or careers in STEM fields,” Secretary James Peyser, Executive Office of Education, said. “The members of the Council play a critical role in determining and advancing key initiatives focused on strengthening STEM education and helping to fill the skills gap in high-demand STEM careers.”

Dr. Lane A. Glenn has been president of Northern Essex Community College (NECC) since 2011.

He is focused on student success and passionate about finding ways to help students achieve their educational goals, especially students who are underprepared for college. In addition, he is a strong advocate for colleges and universities as engines of economic and workforce development—particularly in Massachusetts Gateway Cities.

Dr. Glenn has been responsible for significant expansion of NECC’s Lawrence campus, including the opening of the college’s new $27 million El Hefni Allied Health and Technology Center, NECC Riverwalk, iHealth@NECC, “The Hub,” and expansion of partnerships with area high schools, vocational schools, and four-year colleges and universities, such as Regis College, Lyndon State College, and UMass-Lowell, to expand educational opportunities in downtown Lawrence and Haverhill.

Dr. Glenn earned a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, a Master of Arts from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern State University.

He is proud to say he got his start at a community college: Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 8,500 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.