New Beginnings

During her time at NCC, alum Jennifer Bruno, said her intro to social work class went to New Orleans to volunteer to clean up and rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina. Bruno explained that her passion for helping and giving back to people started at that very moment, and after doing more research she realized that her passion could also be transformed into a career. Jennifer Bruno graduated from Northampton Community College (NCC) with an associate degree in social work, leading her to transfer to Cedar Crest College for her bachelor's and ultimately finish her studies at Marywood University to receive her master's in social work.   

Bruno explained “NCC has helped me to gain the self-confidence, leadership and skills that I still use on a daily basis. I am now able to model and implement the care and compassion to others that was once given to me by those at NCC.”  

Bruno now owns her own therapy practice called Fruitful Seeds Counseling, LLC with plans to grow and expand her business as time goes on.  

Bruno’s road to success wasn’t an easy journey. Some of her biggest obstacles in life came from being born to teen parents in the Bronx New York, where her grandmother mainly raised her. In 1999, Bruno moved to Bethlehem Pennsylvania and had a lot to adjust to with her new surroundings. She kept her head high and continued to find her passion and spark, which is when she discovered the college.  

NCC has been home to some of Bruno’s best experiences throughout her educational career. The relationships she had with her professors and her involvement in various clubs helped her build a home at the college. She was involved in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, the Student Senate, and served as a resident advisor in the Bethlehem campus residence halls. She also gave credit to her grandparents and aunts, who have been by her side giving her support and motivation for as long as she can remember.  

To give back to the NCC community, Bruno plans to attend an open discussion event at NCC involving a panel of professionals in the mental health field. Students can ask panelists about mental health work and related subjects. As of now, the event is planned for March at the Bethlehem and Pocono Campuses, and students can find event information on the college events calendar. 

Bruno is looking forward to inspiring others just as NCC has once inspired her.