Fowler Celebrates 20 Years

On the Southside of Bethlehem stands a six-story landmark that once served as Bethlehem Steel’s corporate headquarters. Today, the building at 511 East Third Street has forged a legacy as the Northampton Community College (NCC) Fowler Family Southside Center, a hub of innovation, community partnerships, and lifelong learning. Named in honor of Linny and Beall Fowler, whose generosity helped make the Center possible, the Fowler Center has become a cornerstone of opportunity and collaboration in the region. 

“Northampton really is a college of the community, and the Fowler Center perfectly illustrates that,” said President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., as he addressed the room full of students, staff, and community members gathered on November 6 to celebrate Fowler’s 20th anniversary. “Thousands of students and community members each year pursue education or take advantage of the resources and programs offered here at the Fowler Center.”  

Among those in attendance at the celebration were local officials including Legislative Aid and Hispanic Center representative, Enid Vazquez, Representative Steve Samuelson, and Deputy Director of Economic Development, Sean Ziller. 

The campus began with 2,000 students in 2005 to provide Southside Bethlehem with access to affordable education and training with the long-term goal of improving the quality of life for its residents. Now, when you step through the sliding doors to the beautiful renovated first floor, anything is possible. 

In the state-of-the-art Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab), community members can work on projects using equipment like the 3D printer or recording studio or even work on their Luthier Certification. On another floor, students can take personal enrichment courses — cooking in the demo kitchen, dancing in the studio, or earning their WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Level 1 certification, a globally recognized course recently made available in the Lehigh Valley. 

An employee at a local business can work on professional development through workshops with the Center for Business and Industry (CBI). NCC students can be found working on their English language skills or earning their GED, or taking courses toward a degree, certificate, or other workforce training, in healthcare, emergency services, hospitality, manufacturing, and more. 

Over the years, the Fowler Center has partnered with area businesses to build opportunities for NCC students to gain hands-on experiences and to help improve the lives of community members on the Southside. One such partnership is with St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) to offer community health and dental clinics, and another is with Cops ’n’ Kids, a program sponsored by the Bethlehem Police Department to pair kids with books and lessons on safety in a fun learning environment. Children can take home up to five free books each week, and through the program more than 2 million free books have been given away. 

The Fowler Center hosts events for individuals and organizations, reaching as far as Australia. The Northeast Forensic Training Center has provided training to law enforcement and first responders for years in Fowler’s educational suite, and in 2013, forensic scientists from Australia held a sold-out weeklong blood-stain pattern analysis class at the Fowler Center — the only such program in the world of its type at the time.  

In 2018, the Follett Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) was established as part of NCC’s strategic initiative to support entrepreneurship. Designed to inspire NCC students, budding entrepreneurs, local start-ups, and community members, the space fosters collaboration and creativity that help turn ideas into reality. The late Don and Mibs Follett, along with Steve and Jeanne Follett, made generous contributions in support of the CIE, and a memorial plaque of Don and Mibs Follett was unveiled during the 20th anniversary celebration. Looking ahead, two new entrepreneurship programs, a specialized diploma and a two-year degree, will launch at the Fowler Center in fall 2026. 

In commemoration of 20 years of service to the community, several local officials honored Fowler with proclamations, which recognized the Center’s contributions to a better and more productive society. "This is the Fowler Family Southside Center, and we have the Follett Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It all shows that this is a family place,” said Founding Dean of the Fowler Center, Paul Pierpoint, who helped build a solid foundation for the Fowler Center. 

Looking forward, the Fowler Center will be home to a new Business & Community Engagement Office. This office will cultivate relationships with businesses, community organizations, and workforce partners, as well as streamline collaboration and enhance NCC’s ability to deliver impactful programs and services. 

The Fowler Center is more than a building of classrooms and workshops. As a community center, it’s a space for children, adults, and families to learn and grow, both professionally and through personal endeavors. For 20 years, the Center has been making its mark on the Southside and will continue to do so moving into the future.