On May 5, seven local residents earned their bachelor degrees in Public Health from Regis College without having had to leave the Merrimack Valley throughout their education.

All graduated from Northern Essex Community College and transferred to Regis, which offers bachelor degree completion programs in Public Health and Marketing and Communications on NECC’s Lawrence Campus.

“In just two short years, these students were able to earn their bachelor’s, taking their classes close to home in Lawrence,” said Noemi Custodia-Lora, vice president of NECC’s Lawrence Campus and community relations.   “We are very appreciative of our partnership with Regis, which is one of the premiere colleges for health care in New England.”

One of the seven graduates, Patricia Gonda of Windham NH earned her associate degree in respiratory therapy from Northern Essex over 20 years ago in 1999.   She always wanted her bachelor’s but it was hard to find the time to do it while working full-time.   This program allowed her to realize her dream.

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public health from Regis were Angie Colon of Methuen, who earned a public health degree from Northern Essex in 2018; Leah Gathogo of Framingham, NECC Public Health, 2018; Gonda; Katee Lynch of Salisbury, NECC General Studies: Health Specialization, 2018; Doris Wleh of Lowell, NECC Public Health, 2018; Genesis Moran of Lawrence, NECC General Studies: Individualized Option, 2018; and Zairis Peguero, of Lawrence, NECC General Studies: Health Specialization, 2018.

To learn more, visit Regis North or contact Kelly Golden, executive director, Regis North, Kelly.golden@regiscollege.edu or 978 655-5818.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, more than 5,000 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.  For more information, visit the website at  www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.