Celebrating virtually
Northampton Community College's annual Staff Appreciation Dinner, usually held in May, is one of the most-anticipated events of the year. A time to recognize milestones and achievements by faculty and staff, it brings colleagues together to celebrate in fun and often unexpected ways. In past years, a top-hatted Dr. Erickson "Charleston-ed" in a Putting on the Ritz theme, the crew of Starship Northampton beamed down for science-fiction fun, and everyone let the good times roll during Mardi-Gras revelry.
This year, due to COVID-19, the dinner had to be cancelled.
"The cancellation was a curve ball for the Staff Appreciation Committee, but the members didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge," said Caroline Clifford, director of special events and committee chair. "We ended up having a lot of fun producing a series of videos to recognize each category of honorees. The teamwork involved raised our spirits and we hope it resulted in raising the spirits of other members of the NCC Family!”
The series of video tributes the committee created recognized those with milestone years of service, including Ken Krauss, professor of mathematics and computer science, the first NCC employee to reach 50 years of employment. They also honored retirees, faculty and staff who earned advanced degrees, and those who garnered promotions this year.
Awards for professional excellence were given at the college's Opening Days professional meetings.
Professor Jeffrey Armstrong received the College's highest honor – the Christensen Award for Excellence in Teaching. Armstrong was hailed as a teacher who is "tireless in his pursuit of student success. He wants to know his students as people, and they respect both his effort and his humanity."
Other awards for professional excellence went to:
Mark Henry, director of advising, transfer and accommodation services, for outstanding performance by a member of the administrative staff. Henry was praised for his unwavering commitment that no matter what, his team always has the best interest of the student in the forefront of all they do.
Keith Fallows received the award for excellence in instruction by an adjunct faculty member. Getting Fallows as an English instructor was, according to one of the students who nominated him, "the best thing that happened to me. He not only motivated me inside of the classroom, but also outside."
Carl "Corky" Held was chosen to receive the award for excellence in non-credit instruction. A Vietnam and Desert Storm veteran, retired police chief, and member of the PA Army National Guard, he is instructor and program manager for the ACT 235 Lethal Weapons Training Program. His students describe him as having a "wealth of experience and always taking the time to explain procedures."
Joan Tomino was named Support Staff Member of the Year for performing her job as the Humanities Department secretary "quickly, flawlessly and always with a smile." Her nominees declared her "essential to the functioning of the Humanities Department" and that "we'd be lost without her."
Lauren Wightman, library reference assistant, is the recipient of the award for outstanding performance by a part-time member of the College staff. She has been with the college since 1993, and along the way has mastered an increasingly advanced array of skills which she used for two large technical service projects that, thanks to her help, marked a record-high level of productivity.
Kathryn Kashner and Christina Lincoln were the recipients of the Dick and Pat Richardson Northampton Spirit Award for their work on an initiative that made NCC the first in the state to offer an Infant/Toddler Apprenticeship for those working in the field without college degrees to be paired with mentors.
Among the other faculty and staff members who received special recognition at Opening Days were retirees Dr. Mathew Connell, Teresa Donate, and Dr. Virginia Gonzalez. For their years of distinguished service to the college, Connell was named Dean Emeritus of the Monroe Campus and Donate and Gonzalez were given the honor of Professor Emeriti.
RETIREMENTS
Mary Kae Mayock - Secretary, Library, May 23, 2019
Rebecca D. Dean - Professor, Communication/Theatre, May 31, 2019
Sandra L. Achey - Payroll Manager, June 7, 2019
Denise A. Harris-Ector - Office Assistant, June 28, 2019
Michele Pappalardo - Associate Dean, Workforce Development, August 29, 2019
Kathy L. Kapcsos - Director, Institutional Research, September 20, 2019
Joseph F. Szivos - Maintenance I, November 5, 2019
Cynthia L. King - Director, Financial Aid, January 2, 2020
Gail M. Mrowinski - Associate Dean, Community Education, May 1, 2020
Maria Teresa Donate - Professor, Counseling, May 31, 2020
Eileen M. Finelli - Assistant Professor, English, May 31, 2020
Kenneth G. Krauss - Professor, Mathematics/Computer/Information Science, May 31, 2020
Susan R. Manela - Assistant Professor, Healthcare Office Administration, May 31, 2020
Susan Roth - Assoicate Professor, Culinary Arts, May 31, 2020
Marvin Beahn - Maintenance I Crew Leader, June 30, 2020
Diana M. Holva - Financial Aid/Veterans' Affairs Assistant, June 30, 2020
Elizabeth Sue Morgan - Financial Aid Officer, July 1, 2020
PROMOTIONS
To Professor
Belinda Bartholomew, Reading
Marie Everhart, Nursing
Karen M. Klein, Biology
Kurt Withey, Mathematics
To Associate Professor
Kate Curry, Early Childhood Education
Rebecca Martin, English
Amy VanVarick, Business Law/Paralegal
To Professional Assistant II
Denise Madzik, Coordinator, Reibman's Children's Center
To Professional Assistant III
Faye Freer, Coordinator, Hannig Children's Center
Li-Fen Yang, Math Coordinator
ADVANCED DEGREES
Karen S. Britt, EdD, Educational Leadership, Drexel University, September, 2019
Mark E. Koberlein, MFA, Interactive Design, SCAD, May, 2019
Michelle A. Palmisano, MS, Communications, Purdue University, December, 2019
Michael Cunningham, MBA, New Jersey Institute of Technology, May, 2018
Sedgwick Harris, DEd, Community College Leadership, December, 2019
YEARS OF SERVICE
Academic Affairs
10 Tiffany M Achenbach - Adjunct Faculty, Nursing
10 Brian E. Alnutt - Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences
10 Jeffrey A. Armstrong - Associate Professor, Psychology
10 Belinda M. Bartholomew - Associate Professor, Reading
10 Maria Batista Abreu - Adjunct Faculty
10 Gary A. Brienza - Adjunct Faculty, Business Administration
10 Catarina D. DiMaria - Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics
10 Douglas M. Follweiler - Adjunct Faculty, Chemistry
10 Dino L. Forst - Program Manager, Materials & Weld Training
10 Mary Garm - Adjunct Faculty, Library Tech. Asst.
10 Susan L. Giachero - Adjunct Faculty, Early Childhood Educ.
10 Thomas C. Helm - Adjunct Faculty, Psychology
10 Robert J. Janusko - Adjunct Faculty, English
10 Karen M. Klein - Associate Professor, Biology
10 Kristopher S. Mattson - Adjunct Faculty, Emergency Services
10 Erin A. McClelland - Adjunct Faculty, Music
10 Andrew R. McIntosh - Associate Professor, Sociology
10 Mark T. McKenna - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Chloe Y. Miller - Adjunct Faculty, English
10 William G. Mutimer - Associate Professor, Communication/Theatre
10 Andrea M. Petresky - Adjunct Faculty, ESL
10 Michael L. Pogach - Professor, English
10 Theodore Ritsick - Adjunct Faculty, Communications 2
10 Gina M. Robertiello - Adjunct Faculty, Criminal Justice
10 William R. Rusk - Adjunct Faculty, Communications Design
10 John M. Saimbert - Adjunct Faculty, Political Science
10 Julie A. Schmittel - Adjunct Faculty, Biological Science
10 Katie M. Selness - Assistant Professor, English as a Second Language
10 Margarita R. Serna - Tutor, Professional II
10 Gina A. Turner - Professor, Psychology
10 Jennifer S. Ziegler - Adjunct Faculty, Nursing
10 Tara M. Zrinski - Adjunct Faculty, Philosophy
10 Janette Lee Zuk - Family Success Coordinator
15 Wendi L. Achey - Professor, Business/Marketing
15 Mahta M. Afshar - Adjunct Faculty, Sociology/Anthropology
15 Kelly A. Austin - Adjunct Faculty, Biological Science
15 Kenneth I. Burak - Professor, Philosophy
15 Floyd F. Caiazzo, Jr. - Adjunct Faculty, Electromechanical
15 Andrea L. Corrado - Associate Professor, Nursing
15 Celisa Y. Counterman - Professor, Mathematics
15 Melissa A. Gioglio - Adjunct Faculty, Computer Science / Info
15 Kathryn A. Gordon - Adjunct Faculty, English
15 William J. Magilton, III - Professor, Chemistry
15 Vertel T. Martin - Professor, Criminal Justice
15 Cara McClintock-Walsh - Professor, English
15 Christine M. Pense - Dean, Humanities & Social Sciences
15 Christy R. Rothermel - Adjunct Faculty, Psychology
15 Melenese Sivells - Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education
15 Paul E. Trainor - Adjunct Faculty, Electrical
15 Matthew D. West - Adjunct Faculty, Geography
15 Karol A. Yundt - Adjunct Faculty
15 John N Zugarek - Adjunct Faculty, History
20 Anne C. Bittner - Associate Professor, Cataloger/Bibliographer
20 Randy L. Boone - Professor, English
20 Maria Brandon - Adjunct Faculty, English
20 Barry A. Cohen - Adjunct Faculty, Construction Management
20 Joanne M. Curran - Adjunct Faculty, Office Administration
20 Anthony J. Cuvo - Adjunct Faculty, Physics
20 Keith J. Davis - Lab Assistant (PT)
20 Jay T. Dieter - Adjunct Faculty, Computer Science / Info
20 William A. Doney - Professor, Engineering/Physics
20 Faye A. Freer - Professional Assistant II, Coordinator, Hannig Children's Center
20 Kathryn B. Graham - Adjunct Faculty, Philosophy
20 Robert K. Hays - Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences
20 Kathleen Kresge - Professor, Biology
20 Sharon S. Lee-Bond - Adjunct Faculty, Biological Science
20 Timothy Molchany - Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences
20 Jack A. Panella - Adjunct Faculty, Political Science
20 David Raker - Adjunct Faculty, Chemistry
20 Damian H. Righi - Adjunct Faculty, Communications 2
20 Thomas J. Shillea - Director, Art Programs
20 Shannon E. Tompkins - Tutor, Professional II
20 Kenneth Trionfo - Professor, Architecture
20 Eileen Truscott - Associate Director, Center for Healthcare Education
25 Isadore LaDuca - Adjunct Faculty, Communications Design
30 Mary Ellen Hicks - Secretary
35 Nancy E. Fogel - Childcare Classroom Lead
40 Nancy E. Trautmann - Professor, English
45 Elizabeth A. Smith - Adjunct Faculty, Chemistry
50 Kenneth G. Krauss - Professor, Mathematics/Computer/Information Science
Community Education
10 John T. Evans, Jr. - Program Manager, Emergency Medical Services
10 Constance P. Frazier - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Alan C. Hartley - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Denise G. Holub - Senior Business Manager, Community Education
10 Patricia E. Korp - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Christine M. Mengel - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Erica L. Mohr - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Barbara L Parzych - Non-Credit Instructor
10 Janet Sandoz Ballard - Secretary, ABE Monroe
10 Lynn Teles - Program Manager
10 Debra A. Youngfelt - Non-Credit Instructor
15 Sharon C. Kritzberger - Non-Credit Instructor
15 MaryAnn Ludka - Non-Credit Instructor, ABE Monroe
15 Ingrid Martz - Non-Credit Instructor
15 Dennis E Rohaly - Non-Credit Instructor
15 Wendy E. Stehly - CBI Leadership Assistant
20 Karen M. Crouthamel - Non-Credit Instructor, ABE Inst North
20 Joseph R. David, Jr. - Non-Credit Instructor
20 Tina L. Frindt - Director, Driver Training Programs
20 ChaoQun Hu - Non-Credit Instructor
20 Sharon A. Linardi - ABE Enrollment Wayne
20 William R. Schaffer - Director, Center for College & Career Readiness
20 Scott A. Zrinski - Non-Credit Instructor
30 Richard E. Weaver - Non-Credit Instructor
35 Nancy G. Johnson - Non-Credit Instructor
Finance & Operations
10 Robert D. Bryant - Facilities Manager
10 Catherine E Deleon - Finance Office Assistant
10 Daniel Driscoll - Custodian
10 Nathaniel A. Hanni - Custodian
10 Christine M. Krentler - Bursar Assistant
10 Mark A. Stetler - Custodian
10 Raymond J. Tackash - Custodian
15 Thomas S. Baytala - Mail/Receiving Clerk
15 Lisa D. Harrod - Assistant Controller, Payroll and Finance Technology
15 Jeffrey Mickey - Postal Clerk
15 Marlene A. Read - Bursar Assistant
15 Rosa H. Urquiza - Custodian
15 Brian T. Varcos - Manager, AV Services
20 Gail S. Baytala - Information Technology Assistant
20 David Colon - Custodian
20 David J. Hassick - Manager, Desktop Services
20 Bernabe Marquez - Custodian
25 Kathleen Barner - Assistant Controller, Accounting
Institutional Advancement
10 Lucas J. Burits - Director, Creative & Web Services
10 Tracey B. Johnson - Director, Grants
President’s Office
15 James F. Dunleavy - Vice President, Finance & Operations
20 Carolyn M. Bortz - Vice President, Academic Affairs
25 Matthew J. Connell - Dean, Monroe Campus
Student Affairs
10 Catherine R. Kehler - Academic Advisor I
10 Debra Kelly - Secretary
15 Matthew N. Bartholomew - Associate Professor, Counseling
15 Shawn S. Fortley - Switchboard Operator
15 Clayton E. Smith, Jr. - Attendant, Fitness Center
20 Marvin L. Gruber - Assistant Chief, Public Safety & Security
25 Rosa E. Ferguson - Financial Aid Officer
25 Cynthia L. King - Director, Financial Aid (retired)
25 JoAnne E. Mercovich - Records Assistant
25 Elizabeth S. Morgan - Officer, Financial Aid
35 Mary Sinibaldi Mancino - Senior Associate Director, Enrollment Services
40 James L. Lenert - Public Safety Officer