Haverhill, MA (February 9, 2023)–Two members of the Northern Essex Community College faculty and staff were recently named recipients of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Awards for Excellence. This national honor recognizes outstanding faculty and staff at the country’s community colleges. Of five NECC nominees, two awardees were selected.

NECC Provost Paul Beaudin, Assistant Dean of Library Services Mike Hearn, NISOD winner Laura Mondt, Interim Dean of Health Services Kathy Welch-Hudson, NISOD winner Susan Fichera

Laura Mondt started at Northern Essex in 2015 as a research librarian. By 2019, she was the coordinator of library services in Haverhill. Assistant Dean of Library Services Mike Hearn says he nominated Mondt for her dedication to students, faculty, and promoting literacy. “She’s a team leader in the library and a strong advocate for student success,” said Hearn. “Working closely with faculty, she raises the level of student engagement with information resources.” Mondt has also been integral in developing the library’s digital archives and making the content publicly available and searchable. You can peruse the archives here.

Susan Fichera, was nominated for her NISOD award by Interim Dean of Health Services Kathy Welch-Hudson. She says one of the things that makes Fichera stand out as a nursing professor is her empathy for her students. “Susan has gone down the path that many of our students have gone down: starting as an LPN, getting her nursing degree and her master’s degree, and finally becoming a certified family nurse practitioner,” she says. “If Susan has taught you, you are now part of her nursing family. She stays in contact with you. You go around to nursing homes and hospitals, and you’ll meet ‘Susan grads’.” Fichera was a key part of the team that helped the NECC LPN program become ranked the best in the state by PracticalNursing.org in the ‘17/18 school year. Welch-Hudson also noted how Fichera incorporates assessment and outcomes in her coursework and her dedication to continuing education.

Since 1978, NISOD has been dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff, and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning, with the ultimate goal of student success. NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize college employees each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to students and colleagues. Excellence Award recipients are recognized during NISOD’s annual international conference, which will be held in Austin, Texas, May 27-30.