Spring Convocation table decorated

With the Hartleb Technology Center decorated in an array of blue and gold, hundreds of NECC faculty and staff, eager and energized, welcomed each other back to school for the spring 2012 semester.

President Lane Glenn opened the morning’s events with a video titled Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed touching upon the hopefulness of the generation of students currently filling college campuses everywhere.

This was followed by the introduction of new NECC employees. Academic affairs welcomed Stacy Adams, faculty member in the new Medical Laboratory Technology Program; Martha Bixby, coordinator of secondary/post-secondary linkages; Katia Clark, academic advisor; Judy Zubrow, dean of foundational studies and liberal arts & sciences; and Shar Wolff, assistant dean, arts, business, communication and technology. Enrollment services welcomed Joshua Abreau, retention specialist; Andrea Bailey, part-time case manager learning accommodations; Alicia Blain, enrollment services staff assistant; Stephanie Bryszkowski, staff assistant; Laurie Dimitrov, director of admissions and recruitment; Alexis Fishbone, director of financial aid; Maria Gonzalez, enrollment counselor/student success center liaison; and Michele Simon, web content editor. Catherine Ferguson, director of financial planning and budgeting; Gisela Fernandez, accountant III; and Diana Gonzalez, staff assistant; and Leah Proulx, clerk III, joined the finance department. and Lindsey Mayo, is the new director of alumni relations.

The six NISOD, (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development,) recipients, the largest group ever to represent the college, were also announced. They are include Judith Ciampi, coordinator of the paralegal studies program, Gail Feigenbaum, coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program, John Murray coordinator of the Respiratory Care Program, Betsy Pardo, coordinator of the English Language Center, Jim Sullivan, a math professor, and Bill Zannini a business professor.

Participants heard updates about Achieving the Dream, NECC’s first Academic Master Plan, and “Voices”, NECC’s new Strategic Plan.

Each table then engaged in playing a board game designed by students at the University of Cincinnati that incorporated the many obstacles and impediments the community college student must deal with while trying to complete his or her education. Participants agreed that the life of a community college student is certainly challenging and at times frustrating.