Post on 05-Jan-2022
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March 2017 – Issue 7
Dear Colleagues,
As the 2016 – 2017
academic year comes to
an end, I want to
acknowledge and
recognize Westchester
Community College’s
staff that works hard to
assist the Division of
Academic Affairs
advance the success of
students. Support staff at
WCC work tirelessly to provide service to the
College community. This will be the last issue of
the Academic Communicator. We celebrate and
reflect upon the unsung heroes.
The support staff in the Division of Academic
Affairs is the initial contact for students and faculty.
The staff addresses student concerns, schedule
changes, no-pay deletes, and words of
encouragement. The staff performs these duties
with smiling and greeting faces. I as Provost and
Vice President of Academic Affairs (Interim) along
with the entire Division salute and celebrate the
support staff for their outstanding service and
dedication to WCC. The College could not end the
Academic year without acknowledging WCC
support staff members. The March edition of The
Communicator celebrated faculty, April’s edition
focused on student success, and this issue
recognizes Academic Affairs staff.
I leave you with two quotes which are my fondest:
service to others is the greatest job anyone can do.
The second is the activity of the mind.
As I close out my tenure at Westchester Community
College, I would like to reflect on a poem by an
unknown author entitled “A Reason, A Season, A
Lifetime”.
People come into your life for a reason, a season,
or a lifetime.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is
usually to meet a need you have expressed or just
felt. They have come to assist you through a hard
time, to provide you with guidance and support, to
aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. Then,
suddenly, the person disappears from your life.
Your need has been met; their work is done.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow, or give
back. They bring you an experience of peace or
make you laugh. They give you great joy. Believe it;
it is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime
lessons—things you must build upon to have a solid
emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the
lesson, love the person and put what you have
learned to use in all your other relationships.
Think about the people in your life over the years.
Whether they were there for a reason, a season or a
lifetime, accept them and treasure them for however
long they were meant to be part of your life.
May 2017-Issue 9
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And when they are gone, be thankful for the gifts
you received from them when they were here—for a
reason, a season or a lifetime.
I am dedicating this edition of the communicator to
Diane Barna. Diane held a special place in heart of
many at Westchester Community College. She
worked at WCC for more than 17 years. During her
tenure at the College, she worked as an Office
Assistant to the Accounting, Computer Information
Systems, and Human Service departments.
Additionally, Ms. Barna was an active member of
both the WCC Staff Council and Achieving the
Dream Committee. Unfortunately, we loss Diane
Barna to an untimely death in October of 2016. We
continue to mourn the loss of Diane and WCC will
not be the same without her.
In the Provost’s office, I have two wonderful staff
members who supports Division of Academic
Affairs and me.
Ms. Karen Rao, Administrative Assistant, joined
Westchester Community College in May 2016. She
supports the Division of Academic Affairs and me
by scheduling meetings, answering the phone, and
other administrative assistant duties. Prior to
working at Westchester Community College, Karen
worked at Pace University as the Administrative
Assistant to the Associate Dean Arts and Sciences.
Jonelle Knox Ed. D., Project Administrator, works
on special administrative projects for the office and
the entire Division of Academic Affairs. Dr. Knox
has worked in post-secondary education for more
than ten years in various administrative and faculty
positions. He has worked at Bronx Community
College CUNY, ASA College, Moraine Valley
Community College, and Kennedy King College.
Prior to working full-time in higher education,
Jonelle worked in corporate America in which his
last position was Assistant Vice President of Risk
Management for LawCash, a legal finance
company.
Thank you Karen and Jonelle for the continued
support and dedication to both Westchester
Community College and the Division of Academic
Affairs.
On May 1, 2017, the Division of Academic Affairs
hosted a meet and greet to introduce new employees
to the College community. The event was well
attended and opened to the entire campus
community. Welcome to Westchester Community
College, it is truly a great place!
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SCHOOL OF ARTS,
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL
SCIENCES Dr. Karen Taylor, Interim Dean Location: Hankin Academic Arts Building, Rm. 509
Phone: (914) 606-6949
CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES
Fundamentally important to the success of the
School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences are
the staff who support the students, faculty, and
administrators. We have amazing staff who are on
the move! John Sheridan promoted to Division
Secretary in 2015 completed the CPR certification
course and volunteered for various activities at the
Native Plant Sale; he has also been elected Vice
President of the Staff Council for 2017-18 and was
awarded this year’s Chancellor’s Award for
Excellence in Classified Service.
Jan Phair, John Sheridan, and Pat Saponaro
Jan Phair has completed her CPR certification
course and has been working on increasing her skills
with fillable forms to revamp some of the paperwork
we deal with so often. She along with Pat Saponaro
and Francine Regan attended the Staff
Development Day. Finally, we give well wishes to
Francine Regan on her first grandchild expected in
just a few months!
The School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
would like to welcome the new Dean, Karen Taylor
to the College. Dr. Taylor comes to Westchester
Community College most recently from Finger
Lakes Community College where she served as the
Associate Vice President of Instruction. She brings
with her a variety of administrative and academic
experiences designed to enhance curriculum and
academic program development. The college will
benefit from Dr. Taylor’s expertise and management
abilities as she guides the School of Arts,
Humanities, and Social Sciences forward to enhance
student success at Westchester Community College.
Dr. Karen Taylor, Dean Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL CAREERS Dr. Carmen Martínez-López, Dean
Location: Classroom Building, Room 201
Phone: (914) 606-6435
SBPC SUPPORT TEAM
Our school is very proud and grateful for the
assistance that our support team gives to ensure our
School’s success. Teresa Michaud, Fran Regan,
Lissette Iglesias Pérez, and Linda Portsmouth are
always available to serve not only our students and
faculty, but also students’ family members and
outside stakeholders when they have concerns.
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They have been instrumental in managing the
logistics for several activities, such as scheduling
the visit of the members of external review teams
(ERT), putting together materials to send to the
ERTs, and organizing the academic welcome for
our students, among other activities.
The support team of the School of Business and
Professional Careers engages in a wide variety of
tasks. Teresa, Fran, Lissette, and Linda contribute
to the School's success on a daily basis; they orient
the students when they need clarification related to
the new Schools’ structure, and they guide the
students to the appropriate areas in the college when
they have questions or concerns to ensure that their
concerns are addressed appropriately.
Teresa, Fran, Lissette and Linda are always
assisting our faculty when they have concerns
related to logistical issues that are important for
faculty success.
Francine Regan assisted with the Great Cohan
Award ceremony this past April. The support team
has also been working very hard with faculty on
Program Reviews, Search & Screen interviews,
adjunct interviews, and other projects that will help
the college community as a whole.
Our school continues to bring examples of
partnerships between our college and external
stakeholders. Our Management 101 class
participated in a visit to PepsiCo’s corporate
headquarters in Purchase, New York. Our students
from the Consumer Behavior class competed in the
Pace University App Bowl, sponsored by
Westchester County and Google.
TERESA MICHAUD
SCHOOL SECRETARY CLA 201
FRANCINE REGAN
OFFICE ASST.
PROFESSIONAL CAREERS
DEPT. CLA38
Lissett Igllesia Perez OFFICE ASST.
PROF. CAREERS DEPT.
BUSINESS DEPT. CLA44 & GTW 352
LINDA PORTSMOUTH OFFICE ASSISTANT
ACCOUNTING DEPT CIT DEPT
EDUCATION DEPT
CLA 42
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ALPHA BETA GAMMA BUSINESS HONOR
SOCIETY
On Thursday April 2017, Professor Ruth Levy
officiated at the Delta Chapter of Alpha Beta
Gamma International (ABG), the business honor
society of Westchester Community College, as part
of their 47th annual Initiation Banquet held at the
Elmwood Country Club in White Plains. This
initiation banquet was the 43rd consecutive ABG
initiation ceremony for which Professor Levy has
acted as faculty adviser.
There were 89 students initiated; the students
represented curricula including accounting, business
administration, marketing, fashion merchandising,
culinary and foods management, computer
information systems, cybersecurity, office
technologies, and web development.
The evening was a culmination of the year-long
efforts by ABG President Tahamina Akhtar and her
fellow officers: Aparna Bist, Marie Altagracia Jean,
Johnnie Angeline Anne Asibuo, James M.P.
Laughlin, Haile Laurency, and Jasper Syrig.
The ceremony included congratulations and
encouraging words by one of the evening’s
honorees, Dean Carmen Martinez Lopez, who
spoke passionately about student success.
Additionally, Cyber Security curriculum Chair,
Professor John Watkins, was honored for his
dedication to students.
In his keynote address, Dean Ed Weis of Mercy
College advised the students to get a mentor, get
involved outside of classes by joining clubs and
organizations, such as ABG. He also encouraged
students to participate in internship opportunities.
Congratulations to our faculty advisors, Professor
Ruth Levy, Professor Carolyn Christesen, and
Edward Hengel, for supporting the Delta Chapter of
Alpha Beta Gamma International (ABG), the
business honor society of Westchester Community
College.
LAMBDA ALPHA BETA GAMMA
On Wednesday April 19th, 2017, Professor Ruth
Levy was one of the guest speakers at the annual
high school business honor society induction of
Lambda Alpha Beta Gamma at Eastchester High
School. This organization has been at Eastchester
High School since June 2001; Professor Ruth Levy
has participated in all but one of the annual
initiation ceremonies during the past 17 years.
BUSINESS STUDENTS VISIT PEPSICO
HEADQUARTERS FOR EXECUTIVE TOUR
On April 23, 2017, students from Judith Chang’s
Global Business class and Suzanne Matthews’
Management 101 class participated in a visit to
PepsiCo’s corporate headquarters in Purchase, New
York. The group had an opportunity to meet with
leaders from the strategic planning, finance, and
marketing areas within Pepsi. PepsiCo is the
second largest food and beverage company in the
world with over 200,000 employees worldwide.
Students were able to get a sense of how PepsiCo
operates globally and how they coordinate the
marketing, finance and strategic planning functions.
They were especially interested to hear a detailed
overview of how PepsiCo manages its marketing
activities.
The visit included a tour of PepsiCo’s newly
renovated headquarters building, and students were
able to see how the office environment is designed
to promote collaboration, creativity, and
communication between employees. Students also
enjoyed sampling some of PepsiCo’s new product
innovations.
WESTCHESTER FASHION IN ACTION
The spring 2017 Fashion Show was a successful
event. Students and their families enjoyed the event
organized by the Fashion Club with the assistance
of Professor Stacy Scibelli and Professor Karen
Schlusberg.
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For the non-textile garments exhibition, the winners
are:
Best in Show: Two piece outfit created from safety
pins & zippers by Cassandra Burnley
Best Material Used: Two piece outfit made out of
duct tape by Carole Morris
Most Creative: Outfit of leaves and flower petals
by Mona Aljjayyosi
MARKETING MANAGEMENT IN ACTION
In the Consumer Behavior course, six teams of
students competed in the Pace University App Bowl
sponsored by Westchester County and Google.
Each team had an app in development, designed to
enrich the lives of senior citizens and their
caretakers in the community.
The final judging was held on April 28th, 2017. The
experience gave students real world “Shark Tank”
like experience in coding training, and the
opportunity to use the focus rooms on campus and
Qualtrics technology for market research. The
teams were diverse in their app-making approach.
For example, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner is an
app for seniors who like to gamble; Ahead of Time
is an app for seniors who could use voice activated
scheduling to keep track of their medicine and
appointments; The Bucket List is an app that gives
seniors who are filled with enthusiasm a chance to
use virtual reality to explore their dreams in their
homes, like skydiving and Paris travel; and Sunday
Dinner is an app that curates menus aligned with
medical conditions like diabetes and high blood
pressure.
The Marketing Management class hosted an
exciting Pop up fragrance exhibit, showcasing
“Sensational Women in History.”
This branded fragrance exhibition imagined by
Professor Fein’s Marketing Management class used
women in history to inspire 3D modeled perfume
bottles, unique brands, and unusual scents. The
project was curated by guest "nose" Sue Phillips, a
fragrance expert globally-recognized in the
fragrance and perfume, cosmetics, and personal care
fields. Sue presented to visitors of the exhibition a
short overview about the magic and mystery of our
most powerful sense--our sense of smell. She has
developed fragrances for Lancôme Paris, Elizabeth
Arden, and more.
WCC Students were inspired by a visit to The
Scentarium. Students discovered their olfactory
personality and learned about the different fragrance
families and created their own fragrance for the brands
that they were conceiving to celebrate Women's History
Month. The class also learned about the product
development process from guest speakers in branding,
consumer trademarking, event planning, and Tinkercad.
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SCHOOL OF HEALTH CAREERS,
TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED
LEARNING Dr. Ronald L. Bloom, Dean
Location: Science Building, Room 252
Phone: (914) 606-6912
STAFF
DELZORA MABRA My career at Westchester
Community College first began
in September of 1995 when I
worked as an Office Assistant
in Multicultural Programs and
Services. I worked in this area
until December 1999. In April
of 2012, I returned to
Westchester Community
College as the Division Secretary of the Arts and
Humanities Division where I offered support to the
Reading, English, Communications and Media Arts,
Arts, Film and Performing Arts Departments. In
September of 2015, I transferred to the Division of
Natural and Health Sciences, now known as the
School of Health Careers, Technologies and Applied
Learning. I am the Assistant to Dean Ronald Bloom.
With the help of two office assistants, we offer
support to the following programs: EMS/Paramedic,
Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Nutrition and
Dietetics, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Nursing,
Physical Education, Personal Training, Health and
Human Performance, Health Studies, Radiology
Technology, Respiratory Care and Veterinary Care.
I am a proud alumna of Westchester Community
College. I graduated in May 2002 with an AAS
degree in Business Administration and inducted into
Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society. In June 2012, I
received a Bachelor’s of Science in Community
Human Services from SUNY Empire State
University. As School Secretary, I strive to make
sure that the needs of students and faculty are met. I
make an extra effort to seek out the answers to
questions I do not know. My focus is to help as much
as I can to ensure that students are successful in their
college careers.
ELIZABETH SLOAT I am the new Lead Technical
Assistant in the Department of
Culinary Arts, Hospitality
Management, Nutrition &
Dietetics. I started my career at
SUNY Westchester Community
College in January after the
retirement of Emmy Cresky.
After high school, I obtained an Associate Degree in
Occupational Science from SUNY Cobleskill. I
worked in the hospitality industry for many years
before returning to SUNY Westchester Community
College. At the College, I completed both the
programs in Food and Nutrition and Dietetics. I then
attended CUNY Lehman College where I graduated
with a BS in Nutrition. I am excited about my
position in the department and the opportunity to
work with faculty and assist students as they begin
their careers in culinary arts, hospitality, and the
nutrition industry.
WALTER HAUCK My interaction and
assistance to students and
faculty is multifaceted. In
addition to my duties in
the Physical Education
Department, I have
responsibilities in the
Athletic Department that
include coaching three teams. I assist faculty with
computers and completing online research, forms,
and reports. I assist faculty in setting up equipment,
ordering equipment and supplies, and tracking items
when they are received. I monitor maintenance of the
building for both Physical Education and Athletics
by spotting needed repairs and ordering custodial
services for special events. Both departments put me
in contact with students. For Physical Education, I
help them navigate the ins and outs of functioning in
our building and Department. Through Athletics, I
help students to function as a team, and to develop in
their sport. My role includes helping students
understand college life and how to potentially
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continue in their studies and participate in sports after
they graduate from Westchester.
ERIC HVISC I have been employed at the
College for 35 years, the
first 16 at the Media Center.
Over the course of my
career, I have seen many
changes, but my commitment to students remains the
same. I believe my job is to pay it forward. I feel a
sense of pride every time I walk into a hospital in the
area and our graduates recognize me. I hope to
continue to work in the Health Science Building for
as long as I can. The mission of Westchester
Community College motivates me and I am hopeful
that I can continue to support our faculty and students
to become excellent health professionals.
CELESTE CABRAL I joined Westchester
Community College in
January 2017 working for
Dean Bloom in the School of
Health Careers, Technology,
and Applied Learning. I
provide administrative support to the Nursing,
Radiology Technology, Respiratory Care, and
Veterinary Technology programs. Prior School
experience includes working for BOCES, Irvington,
and Greenburgh. I also worked many years as an
IBM employee, on-site trainer, payroll instructor,
payroll administrator, payroll accounting
professional, and Corporate Banking Administrator.
VICTORIA OWENS I joined Westchester
Community College in
February 2017. I am an office
assistant in the Dean’s Office
in the School of Health
Careers, Technology and
Applied Learning. I provide administrative support
to the EMS and Paramedic Program, Physical
Education and the Culinary Arts, Hospitality
Management and Nutrition and Dietetics
Departments. I come from a business background
working with VPs in corporate America; academia is
quite new to me. Right now, I am working closely
with the Dean to bring the Health Equity Symposium
to the College on June 6, 2017
BRIANA O’MALLEY I am the lab assistant for the
Veterinary Technology
Department. I am a licensed
veterinary technician and
part of the first graduating
class from WCC’s
veterinary technology program. I help set up lab
experiences for the students, which includes the vet
tech lab, or off campus at our participating animal
shelter or teaching hospital. My daily activities vary
from setting up dog mannequins for pet CPR to
collecting blood samples so students can practice
microscope techniques. Because I support faculty’s
daily instruction, I play an integral role in the
educational and clinical program. Having gone
through the program, I also serve as a mentor to
students.
NEWS FROM EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Paramedic student Patrick Swift and 2016 paramedic
program graduate Walter McCabe delivered a baby
during his ambulance internship. Mr. Swift
responded to a call for a “woman in labor” with his
field-training preceptor, Walter McCabe. They
found the woman to be in the final stages of labor and
decided it was best to proceed with the delivery in
her home. After the birth, they stabilized both the
mother and baby before transporting them to the
hospital. They are both healthy and thankful for the
quick thinking and professionalism of the team.
The Westchester County Regional EMS Council has
chosen to recognize two members of our EMS
program this year at their annual awards dinner.
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Adjunct Professor, Martin Greenberg was selected as
the Educator of the Year. Paramedic student James
Gallagher was selected as Basic Life Support
Provider of the Year.
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS,
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Dr. Kwesi Amoa, Dean
Location: Technology Building, Room 106
Phone: (914) 606-6787
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
SERENA CHAMBLEE
joined the Westchester
Community College family in
August 2016 as the School
Secretary for the School of
Mathematics, Science and
Engineering. Although she
has only been with us for a
short time, she has had a tremendous impact on our
school environment. Serena works diligently to
ensure that students’ needs are addressed; and she is
committed to helping the College and faculty to the
best of her ability. In addition, she volunteers with
the Staff Council Helping Hands Committee. We are
happy she is a part of our school.
The School of Mathematics, Science, and
Engineering is also supported by other great support
staff members. Many of the support members have
long-term dedicated service. The staff includes:
Ellen DiFrancesco, 21 years of service, Catherine
Frater, 5 years of service, Barbara Murry, 16 years of
service, and Linda Walle, 44 years of service. I and
Westchester Community College would like to thank
them for their service.
CENTER FOR LEARNING
RESOURCES, LIBRARY, MEDIA
AND INSTRUCTIONAL
TECHNOLOGY Pamela Pollard, Dean
Location: Harold L. Drimmer Library, Room 148
Phone: 914-606-8581
The Library is pleased to report that it offered
extended hours during finals assessment week -
Monday May 8th through Thursday May 11th. The
library was open for regular use until 9:30 pm
during those nights. After 9:30 pm, the first floor of
the library was open till 11:00 pm, offering students
study space, computers, and reserve textbook
availability. A reference librarian, media-computer
technician and library technician were present to
assist students during this time. Virtual reference
(chat, email, and text messaging) was also available
to students off campus. During the first night of
extended coverage, over 80 students utilized the
space at 6:30 pm and over 50 students utilized the
space during the extended coverage. The library
will continue to support these students and the
hundreds of students who use the library during
regular hours of assessment week.
The Testing and Assessment Center tested 127
students on Acceptance Students Day April 28th
between 9am- 12pm and all scores were uploaded
into to students’ PeopleSoft accounts. Scores were
uploaded on the same day to enable students to
meet with an Academic Advisor and complete the
registration process for the upcoming semester.
Our new Testing and Assessment Coordinator
Malcolm Gareth visited and helped administer the
Accuplacer math subtest and/or an essay to students
who are in Grades 10 through 11 as part of the ECE
program. This resulted in 366 students from 5 high
schools in Westchester County testing with an
additional 12 test sessions scheduled through June.
In addition, The Testing and Assessment Center
also identified candidates for the Honors College.
We also tested 71 EAP students who were part of
the non-credit ESL classes to ease their transition
into higher-level ESL courses.
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OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT
DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Danielle DiGrazia, Assistant Dean of Academic
Affairs, Location: Hartford Hall, Room 16
Phone: (914) 606-6719
CELLBRATING SUPPORT STAFF
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE ASSISTANT,
MONIQUE “NIKKI”
RUTLEDGE
You might have received an
email from Monique
Rutledge, but she goes by
Nikki. Nikki is a childhood
nickname that stuck when
her uncle called her Mo-
Nikki! Nikki has been with
the College since September
of 2016 and has quickly
learned her way around,
including volunteering for the Staff Council
Helping Hands Committee. She has also found her
way to the Culinary Dining Room and is a big fan
of the program! Visit her in Hartford Hall, Room 15
whenever you are in the building!
THE FORTY-THIRD ACADEMIC
RECOGNITION CEREMONY AT
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
As Provost, it was a pleasure to select her as
Valedictorian and to invite her back to address her
alma mater. The Keynote Address for this year’s
Academic Recognition on Thursday, May 11th is
Isabela do Couto who was named the 2016 class
Valedictorian at Westchester Community College.
While attending WCC, she was a Phi Theta Kappa
Honor Society and Alpha Beta Gamma Business
Honor Society student leader. Additionally, while
attending the College, Ms. Couto participated in the
Honors Program. Isabela was selected to be on the
New York Academic Team and was a recipient of the
SUNY Chancellor’s Award. After graduating from
WCC, she was offered the McGhee Transfer
Scholarship and enrolled at New York University’s
(NYU) School of Professional Studies where she is
currently majoring in Economics. At NYU, Isabela
is a member of the student Economics Club and the
McGhee Student Association. Upon completing her
Bachelor’s Degree at NYU, Isabela plans to enroll in
law school. In addition to attending college full-time,
Isabela works full-time at a Manhattan real-estate
company.
BEHIND – THE - SCENES:
AMY MOZINGO,
APPLICATION SUPPORT
SPECIALIST
In order to make applications
function properly behind the
scenes, Amy Mozingo is hard
at work ensuring accuracy of
data and scribing in Degree Works and CoursEval
programs. She is also pivotal in the faculty advisor
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assignment process running queries to ensure
accuracy in assignments. She is known for her
attention to detail, problem-solving nature, and is
applauded for her dedicated work ethic. Amy has her
Master of Science degree in Computer Information
Systems from Marist College, has been with
Westchester Community College since 2006, and she
has been in her current position since 2010. Say hello
the next time you are in Hartford Hall, room 14!
IT’S OFFICIAL – NEW PROGRAMS AT
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE!
New at Westchester Community College this fall
2017 are the following programs:
- Health and Human Performance, A.S.
- Health Studies, A.S.
- Medical Billing Certificate
- Medical Coding Certificate
Go to www.sunywcc.edu/catalog to ‘Programs of
Study’ to learn more about them!
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (CUNY),
ACCELERATED STUDY IN ASSOCIATE
PROGRAMS (ASAP)
Left to right: Danielle DiGrazia, Assistant Dean of Academic
Affairs; Leonore Rodriguez, Office Assistant; (back) Madalena
Mansinho, Math Coordinator; Sara Thompson Tweedy, Vice
President of Student Access, Involvement, & Success; Dr. Laurie
Miller McNeil, Director of Institutional Advancement, Iskra
Hernandez, Acting Director, Center for Academic Counseling
and Student Success; (right, bottom) Anita Cook, Director of
Financial Aid; Assistant Professor Lori Murphy; Jeanette Kim,
Assistant of High School Partnerships.
April 26th through April 28th, a team of Westchester
Community College faculty, staff, and
administrators participated in an “immersion” type
training, along with colleagues from Skyline College
in California, to learn how to implement CUNY’s
ASAP Program. Westchester Community College
members visited colleagues on the LaGuardia
Community College and Medgar Evers College
campuses. Can you feel the excitement and positive
energy in this photo? The team looks forward to
sharing their excitement with everyone on campus as
we work together to implement ASAP for future
WCC students!
TOURO COLLEGE / NEW YORK MEDICAL
COLLEGE ALLIANCE
Twenty graduates from this year’s
Westchester Community College
Nursing, A.A.S. program have a seat
saved for them in the new RN-BS
program with Touro College, now in
the neighborhood beginning this fall 2017 on the
New York Medical College campus in Valhalla,
New York. An articulation agreement signing
ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Below are some photos from a recent visit to New
York Medical College.
New dental school facilities at New York Medical
College:
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A 3-D virtual table for students to practice surgery
and other procedures. (From left to right: Danielle DiGrazia, Assistant Dean of
Academic Affairs; Dr. Edward Halperin, President and CEO of
New York Medical College; Dr. Ronald Bloom, Dean of Health
Careers, Technology & Applied Learning; Dr. Peggy Bradford,
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs (Interim).
By Danielle DiGrazia aka “Little Dags”
This semester, I
had the fortunate
opportunity to
attend the
national Alliance
conference, an
annual user-
driven conference
of Oracle
applications; in
WCC’s world,
that is
PeopleSoft! The
conference took
place in Las
Vegas and
featured keynote speaker, Erik Wahl, an
internationally recognized graffiti artist, author and
motivational speaker who has presented across many
circuits such as Microsoft, Disney, and NBC.
In the MGM Grand Arena, Wahl created artwork of
cultural icons during his creative presentation, which
simultaneously included music, inspiring videos, and
his action-packed painting on canvas. His message of
“coloring outside of the lines” was literal and
figurative, recommending that we use (and smell)
Crayola crayons at our next staff meetings! A
creative artist, promoting his new book, The Spark
and Grind, Ignite the Power of Disciplined
Creativity, Wahl also promoted himself on social
media periodically throughout the presentation; I
‘tweeted’ that night with only a few others in the
audience.
The following morning getting ready for the
conference, on Facebook I see Wahl painting in his
hotel room, looking out of his window at the Statue
of Liberty at the New York, New York Hotel! At the
end of the video, he proclaims there will be an
“artdrop” on his way out to the airport; it is a
scavenger hunt for the painting with a result of
“finder’s keepers” with clues along the way on social
media! With that, I jumped up and tweeted to Wahl,
“I guess I should get up and out of my pajamas.” He
tweets back, “PJs off – running shoes on, Good luck.
Happy hunting.” With that I reply, “Game on!” and I
began running through one of the largest hotels in the
country to all possible locations I thought the
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painting might be. Time passed and Wahl eventually
posted a clue of the painting in an emergency
stairwell. The challenge was that there is more than
one tower and many stairwells! Luckily I was able to
zoom in on the photo enough to faintly see the floor
number 12. With that, I took the elevator up to the
floor and I was then in an octagon of hallways! I
went to the first emergency exit I saw and there she
was waiting for me, Lady Liberty!
Wahl was very happy that someone from a New
York institution won the painting; he also tweeted
that he thought my quadriceps would be in pain! I
politely corrected him because in fact I took the
elevator; he responded, “smart girlz use technology!”
OFFICE OF ADJUNCT
SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
& ONLINE EDUCATION
Hector Graciano, Associate Dean
Location: Science Building, Room 251
(Entrance through Room 252)
Phone: (914) 606-6977
ONLINE EDUCATION
As of April 2017, all staff members affiliated with
supporting Blackboard, the learning management
system utilized at WCC, will be working under one
umbrella: the Office of Adjunct Services,
Professional Development and Online Education -
Academic Affairs. This transition will help to
strengthen the training and support services we can
offer to faculty and will assist in the college’s goal to
increase online course offerings.
This semester, our Online Education staff has offered
Blackboard training to over 60 faculty members,
offering over 15 workshops and certifying 18 new
faculty to teach online. The Online Education unit
also introduced a new workshop, Introduction to
Goals and Alignments in Blackboard, showcasing a
progress-reporting tool that can help students track
their goal progress with graphics and visuals. In
addition, online training sessions are now being
offered with a tool called Zoom, a free web-
conferencing and screen-sharing software that allows
for virtual training sessions.
Our Online Education staff consists of:
Danielle Plass is the Program
Administrator/Instructional Designer of Online
Education. She has been with Westchester
Community College for over three years and has over
15 years of experience in higher education, including
experience in adult education, faculty development,
and online education at Pace University.
Juan Soria, our Application Specialist, started at
WCC in 2001 in the IT department as a Workstation
Engineer and then in 2003 became the Applications
Specialist in the Online Education office. He is also
an Adjunct professor for the Computer Information
Systems and Computer Science departments at the
college. Thanks to the support of Information
Technology division, we will continue to utilize IT’s
Helpdesk system. For Blackboard support or
technical issues, faculty may continue to reach out to
Juan by emailing helpdesk@sunywcc.edu.
Elaine Farrally Plourde is our Program Specialist
for Online Education. Elaine works part-time but is
an essential part of the team providing Blackboard
faculty training and support services. She has held a
diverse array of positions in Information
Technology, Graphic and Web Design. She has
worked in corporate offices implementing technical
training initiatives and supporting new software
installations; Elaine ran her own small graphic/web
design business for ten years.
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ADJUNCT SERVICES
Genevieve “Genny” Holland is our Office
Assistant in Adjunct Services, Professional
Development and Online Education. She plays a key
role in the adjunct hiring process including
coordinating with department chairs, Human
Resources, school secretaries and working with new
Adjunct professors in their onboarding processes at
the college.
Genny also uses her administrative skills in the
preparation and organization of faculty events. Last
month she coordinated all the logistics for the 2017
Teaching and Learning Symposium, which was
attended by over 40 faculty members. Genny has
been with WCC supporting our department since
October 2015 and has been an administrative
assistant for 16 years. She is an honors alumna of
WCC and Pace University, where she earned a BBA
in International Business.
OFFICE OF HIGH SCHOOL
PARTNERSHIPS Jeanette Kim, Assistant Dean
Location: Library 217
Phone: (914) 606-6010
The Office of High School Partnerships oversees
several pre-college programs such as the Early
College Experience (ECE), the college’s dual
enrollment program, StepUp: Transition to College
program, P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early
College High School) and SMART Scholars
Programs. Our primary goal is to strengthen
relationships between the college and area high
schools to help students prepare and succeed in
college.
This year, we celebrate Karen Proft’s service to
Westchester Community College, as she marks her
25th year as an employee on campus. Karen has
worked in the Library, as well as in the Division of
Arts and Humanities, supporting the Modern
Languages department as well as the Division Office.
She currently supports the Office of High School
Partnerships as well as the Office of Learning
Initiatives and Success.
OFFICE OF LEARNING
INITIATIVES AND SUCCESS Andrea Kelli Higgs, J.D., Interim Assistant Dean
Location: Library, Room 217
Phone: (914) 606-7238
SHARING INFORMATION
To provide to students with accurate and helpful
information, particularly when emergencies arise,
the Coaching Connection Program invited Dr. Ruben
Barato, WCC’s Director of Student Support
Services, and Sandra Ramsay, WCC’s Director of
Scholarships and Scholarship Assistant, Julieanne
McDermott, to share their subject matter expertise
with the team. Dr. Barato spoke of his role with the
Westchester Community College Foundation
Emergency Aid Program (EAP). The EAP was
established to assist students who have unforeseen
financial hardships that occur during the semester
and endanger their continued enrollment. These
hardships students face generally involve financial
situations that are immediate and severe in nature
that cannot be remedied by Financial Aid, the
Scholarship Office, or the Benefits Access Center.
Emergency needs include, but are not limited to:
Homelessness or sudden loss of housing
Fire in living quarters
Threat of eviction
Overdue utility bills/turn-off notice
Theft of computer, books, clothing or other
essential belonging
For more information about the Emergency Aid
Program and to access the EAP application, visit:
http://www.sunywcc.edu/about/foundation/support-
us-now/emergency-aid-program
15 | P a g e
The Scholarship Office is critical to meeting many of
the financial gaps students have at the College.
Completion and Job Linkages Coaches encourage
students to apply for WCC’s scholarships. During
the months of March and April, Coaching
Connection reached out to over 60 students and made
them aware of Completion Scholarships. Designed
for students with at least a 2.0 GPA, with one or two
classes to complete to graduate, evidence of need,
and who have met with a Completion Coach at least
twice, Completion Scholarships bring some relief to
students who need a little incentive to complete their
academic journey.
Thanks to Ruben, Sandra, and Julieanne for sharing
information. As a result, Coaches are better equipped
to assist students with considering alternative plans
to cover the costs of their education and possibly
address unforeseen financial hardships.
CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY
Congratulations to the Job
Linkages Coaches! The Job
Linkages Coaches recently
celebrated the one-year
anniversary of their
continuing and successful
contributions to the success
of the Coaching Connection Program. Calvin
Demetrius, Ometria Grier, Bradman John, and
Genevieve Thevenin assist students with career
exploration and preparation to gain skills and
training in their aligned degree plans. The Job
Linkages Coaches also provide students with
referrals to the Career Services Office and the Office
of Transfer Services, and demonstrate navigation of
WCC’s career and transfer tools:
CollegeCentral.com and CollegeFish.org. Stop by
the Coaching Connection Program Office (Library
Room 217), and give Genevieve, Calvin, Ometria
and Brad a thumbs up! Contact the office via email,
coachingconnection@sunywcc.edu, or phone,
914.606.6158, to reach a Job Linkages or
Completion Coach, connect with a program or
service, and help students complete their coursework
at WCC!
MULTIPLE MEASURES UPDATE
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Westchester
Community College hosted a site visit by a 3-
member team from the Center for the Analysis of
Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR), which is
affiliated with the Community College Research
Center at Teachers College, Columbia University,
New York, NY. WCC is a participant in CAPR’s
Multiple Measures Study, which focuses on
placement procedures for students who are enrolling
in college for the first time. The Study is designed to
learn about the effectiveness of alternative methods
of placing students into math and English courses
upon their college enrollment.
Elisabeth Barnett, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate
Teachers College, Columbia University thanked
WCC for “putting together a very useful day of
interviews with a varied group of people.” Faculty
and staff from the English Department, Math
Department, Academic Support Center, Testing and
Assessment Center, Registrar’s Office, the Center
for Academic Counseling and Student Success, IT,
and the Office of Planning Assessment, and
Institutional Effectiveness helped to make the visit a
success.
The final cohort of students for the Study’s data
collection will be placed during Fall 2017. The
initial results of the Study will be distributed during
Spring 2018, with the final outcomes anticipated
before year-end 2018.
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THANKS AND BEST WISHES FOR OUR ACE
FELLOW DR. NICOLA BLAKE!
As we close this academic year, the Office of
Academic Affairs, extends a big thank you to Dr.
Nicola Blake, ACE Fellow in the Office of the
President. Dr. Blake has participated in many of our
Academic Leadership meetings, helped the office
with various mission driven initiatives, and has
worked on our online and print materials for our
Academic Recognition Ceremonies, Newsletters,
and Reports. Many of you have seen her around
campus interacting with students, and attending
events as she co-chaired both the Diversity and
Student Success and Academic Excellence Summit.
Behind the scenes, Dr. Blake has been hard at work
with multiple grant efforts. It has been a great
pleasure watching her work collegially and
collaboratively with all members of the campus
community. Guttman Community College, her
home campus, is lucky to have her! We wish her all
the best in her endeavors to become a campus
President. Given her vast experience, talents, and
collaborative and strategic approach, she is well on
her way! Best wishes Dr. Blake!
CLOSING REMARKS AND QUOTE
I would like to close the May 2017 Communicator
with a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
A mind that is stretched by a new experience can
never go back to its old dimensions.