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Welcome to SOAR! We’re here to help you.
The SOAR (Seize Opportunities, Aspire to Rise) program is a student support program created to help you succeed!
We provide opportunities for you to strengthen your academic skills, explore career and transfer options, express your identities, and gain leadership experience.
Our goal is to create a familial community that fosters trust and provides personalized and caring support that empowers you to overcome obstacles and achieve your version of success. Whether you need help or someone to talk to, we are here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out whenever you need us.
For more information about becoming a SOAR Scholar email soarstudentlife@necc.mass.edu or stop by the SOAR center in room 209 in the SC building, Haverhill Campus.
SOAR Services: This is how we can help you.
Learn academic tools, Manage commitments, Stay on track
Academic Fellows: SOAR After Dark
Assistance after hours, Assignment planning, Supportive workspace
Prep for career or transfer, Find your major, Plan your courses
SOAR Tutoring: Tutoring Services
Problem solving skills, Build confidence, Understand assignments
Advocate for yourself, Community resources, Explore NECC community
Peer Mentors: Personal Growth
Discover new interests, Connect with peers, Utilize technology
Feeling stuck with an assignment?
Our Academic Fellows will be available this Fall Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. virtually and in-person. Our Fellows can assist you with assignment planning and completion! Just have a quick question? Our Academic Fellows are here to help.
Tutoring
Please stay tuned for updated tutoring hours and offerings.
Our student interest groups help build community among students. This is a safe space for students to participate in group activities, create friendships, and connect. This year we are launching the C.O.-Lab:
C.O.-Lab (Creative Opportunity Lab)
Looking for a fun escape from your busy schedule? Join SOAR for our weekly C.O.-Lab Meetings! Whether you’re into art, music, or just need a moment to unwind, this is your chance to let your creativity flow and recharge your batteries.
For more details on the next meetings stay tuned to our events section below. For any questions about the lab, please email Faniel Adames at fadames@necc.mass.edu
Events
SOAR plans a variety of workshops to set our students up for success in a variety of areas, such as informative financial, personal health and wellness activities, as well as academic skills and tips workshops tailored to SOAR students. Specific topics we have planned include study tips, financial literacy, self-care, career planning, and more! Don’t forget the FUN!
Sign up for our events using this form
Who We Are
Lawrence Staff
Jacques Morrow (He/Him/His)
Email: jmorrow@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-655-5903
Make an advising appointment with Jacques: Click Here
Hi! My name is Jacques Morrow, and I am an Academic and Transfer Advisor for SOAR.
I hail from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Idaho, and have been teaching, tutoring or advising in some form for the last 15 years. I have a B.A. in Theatre and a master’s in Theatre Education, and my graduate thesis delved into how attitudes between students and teachers affect information retention. I believe teaching is ultimately a position of service, so I am here to help, even if that just means a cup of coffee and a sympathetic ear.
My passion is yoga, which I began twelve years ago in conjunction with work as a mime, clown and acrobat. I am the quintessential geek, consuming everything from Marvel to Harry Potter, to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Earth: Mostly Harmless). I am also the father of three precocious children and the husband of one long-suffering wife.
Lisa Walters (She/Her/Hers)
Email: lwalters@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-738-7448
Make a coaching appointment with Lisa: Click Here
Hello. My name is Lisa Walters, and I am an Academic coach at SOAR. I love the title “Seize Opportunities, Aspire to Rise”, as I am excited to help make this happen for our students! In my previous role at Northern Essex I worked as the English as a Second Language Placement Specialist, evaluating students’ level in English and then placing them in the appropriate classes. I have a Ph.D. in French Studies as well as a background in ESL and Spanish. I have taught at numerous colleges including UMass Lowell, Salem State, Merrimack College, Tufts University, and Brandeis. I like yoga, travel, crochet, music and dance (merengue, salsa, bachata and more!)
Margaret Glenn (She/Her/Hers)
Email: mglenn@necc.mass.edu
Make a tutoring appointment with Margaret: Click Here
Margaret is an English Language Learner (ELL) & Writing Tutor. Her role as a tutor is to assist NECC students at all stages of the writing and research process for any writing assignment. She is an experienced teacher and tutor at NECC, with many years of teaching Developmental writing, English Composition and developing curriculum for English and ELL courses. Margaret holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Santa Clara University and a Master of Education in Curriculum Development and Instruction/Secondary English Education from UMass Lowell.
Eudania-Chucha Aquino (She/Her/Hers)
Email: eaquino@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-738-7434
Hello, my name is Eudania Aquino, but everyone calls me Chucha. I have been with NECC on and off since 2009, and I recently completed my associate degree in Human Services. I just became a part of the SOAR team after being one of the students in the program. I seized the opportunities and look forward to seeing you all SOAR! Hope to meet you all this semester!
Jazmine Scamman (She/Her/Hers)
Email: jscamman@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-738-7432
Hello, my name is Jazmine and I am the Administrative Assistant for the SOAR program. Welcome! I am currently working on an MBA at UMASS Lowell and have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Salem State University. I love the arts – music, dance, theatre, etc. I love Disney, and I also love to travel. If you visit campus, please stop by to say hello.
Sarah Cooper (She/Her/Hers)
Email: scooper@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-738-7433
I’m excited to be your Director of SOAR. Our passion is helping students define and achieve their version of success. My partner nicknamed me “the professor” because I am a teacher at heart: From helping a fellow shopper find gooseberries to guiding our children through life, I love to help people harness the power of knowledge to make informed choices. I have a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI and a master’s in interior design from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk, and they have certainly opened doors in my profession. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Haverhill Staff
Jordan Ellis
Email: jellis1@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3741
Make an advising appointment with Jordan: Click Here
My name is Jordan Ellis, and I am an Academic and Transfer Advisor for the SOAR Program. I was born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, in a big family (I have six siblings). I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I earned my Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Before joining SOAR, I was an instructor in the Sociology Department at UMass Lowell for nine years. I also served as an academic advisor for Middlesex Community College’s TRiO Student Success Program, a student support service program for first-generation students.
In my free time, I love to read, listen to live music, socialize with friends, and go on bike rides with my wife.
Please feel free to stop by to see me in the SOAR space.
Faniel Adames (He/Him/His)
Email: fadames@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3464
Hello, my name is Faniel Adames, and I am the Student Support Coordinator. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts of Amherst with a Theater degree and a minor in Psychology. I’m a first-generation college student, so I understand how confusing it can be in a new environment, not knowing what to ask or expect. That’s why I’m here!
Don’t be shy to reach out with any concerns, questions, or even if you just want to chat about movies and shows. I’m a resource that NECC wants you to have, and part of my job is to connect you to the other resources you’ll need. If I know, then you’ll know. If don’t know, then I’ll find out. So, don’t hesitate to stop by!
Kelley Biedermann (She/Her/Hers)
Email: kbiedermann@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3706
Make a coaching appointment with Kelley: Click Here
My name is Kelley Biedermann and I am an Academic Coach with the SOAR program. If you need support or are feeling overwhelmed with your classes, I’m here to listen and help you get back on track. I want to help you reach your success goals.
Prior to joining NECC I was a first-grade classroom teacher. My prior work experience also includes working at a non-profit organization, helping young children living at homeless family shelters. I also have extensive experience in consulting & training.
A fun fact about me is that I love to decorate for the holidays, my office will always have various decorations. I am the owner of what many might describe as ‘tacky yard blow-ups’ – which will be proudly on display in our front yard during Halloween and Christmas! Please stop by my office in Haverhill in the Student Center/SC209 to say Hi.
Maha Nassar
Email: mnassar@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3467
Make a coaching appointment with Maha: Click Here
Hello, my name is Maha Nassar, I am a SOAR Coach. I am here to support you through your college journey, listen to you, provide you with the supports, tools and resources needed to enhance your success. Guided by my motto “how can I help” I am very excited to empower you to achieve your goals.
I have a master’s degree in Higher Education from Merrimack College. During my time at Merrimack, I worked at the Graduate Student Center as a Program Coordinator, supporting students to enhance their academic and social engagement in their college. Previously I worked as a medical and academic interpreter/translator and Arabic teacher for middle and high school students.
I like watching movies, biking, decorating, cooking, and spending quality time with my family and friends. I also love cultural events, music and dance. My favorite music is salsa, merengue, Middle eastern, and Greek music. Feel free to stop by and ask questions!
Kellie Schroeder (She/Her/Hers)
Email: kschroeder@necc.mass.edu
Make a writing tutoring appointment with Kellie: Click Here
I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to collaborate with NECC students and help them polish their writing skills. The 11 years I have spent at NECC as a professional writing tutor and a Writing Instructor have deepened my passion for empowering students on their academic journeys. Before joining NECC, I worked as a communications consultant, public relations manager, and professional writer and had the privilege of interviewing well-known figures ranging from the former Secretary of State Colin Powell to the singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan to the best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark. During my time as an ELL instructor in Madrid, Spain, I became fluent in Spanish and as the older sister of a Deaf sibling, I am proficient in American Sign Language. Please pop into the Writing Center to discuss your next writing project –whether it’s a scholarship essay, a short response or a research paper, I am eager to help with every phase of the writing process!
Martha Mazeika (She/Her/Hers)
Email: mmazeika@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3453
My name is Martha Mazeika and I am the Assistant Director of SOAR! I have been working at community colleges for 25 years in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Illinois with my main focus being advising and student success. Like all of you, I’m in school as well, to add to my collection of degrees. I am a quilter and love sewing (especially hand sewing!) with friends. Please stop by my office in the Dimitry Building L134 if you need help, want to share your story, and/or have ideas of how the SOAR program can help you!!!
Dermot Luddy (He/Him/His)
Email: dluddy@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3029
Hi! I am the Assistant Director of SOAR for Academic Support, and I look forward to helping you plot a smooth course forward in your journey here.
I studied philosophy, computers, and theology in Ireland, then studied at Fordham University in the Bronx. I’ve taught at Fordham, Stonehill College, SNHU, Curry College, UML, Bridgewater State, Northern Essex, as well as fifteen years at a high school. I’ve worked in the Center for Liberal Arts here and continue to advocate for liberal arts as a critical part of any curriculum.
I live on the edge of a swamp with my wife and life partner, our brood of young adults, in addition to two dogs and three cats. I am never happier than when pontificating on the state of American politics. I enjoy movies, live music, and spending time with friends and family.
Anne Mbugua (She/Her/Hers)
Email: ambugua@necc.mass.edu
Phone: 978-556-3791
Hello there! I’m currently serving as the Data Manager and Analyst for the SOAR program, where I focus on using data to enhance student success outcomes. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Information Technology from Strathmore University, Kenya. My professional journey has been quite diverse, encompassing roles in Software Development, Human Services, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and, most recently, Higher Education. Beyond my work, I have a deep passion for cooking and fashion competition shows on Food Network and Bravo TV. These programs offer me both intellectual stimulation and the chance to appreciate the striking parallels between data analysis and the artistry of culinary and fashion realms. Additionally, I cherish spending quality time with my family. Feel free to say hello if you see me around!
Stay tuned for more details.
SOAR Peer Mentors:
Peer Mentors are here to assist students in becoming acclimated to Northern Essex campus and culture. They work collaboratively to engage students in activities that increase their peers’ success and involvement in a positive college experience. Their mission: to make connections with an accepting, supportive SOAR staff and peer community!
Stay tuned for more information.
Meet our Program Assistants:
Stay tuned for more information.
upcoming events
- There are no upcoming events.
got questions?
We’re here to help. Contact us if you have questions.
Email: soarstudentlife@necc.mass.edu
Office Hours
Mon – Fri
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM