Naugatuck Valley Community College’s president, faculty, staff, and students held their All College meeting in the new Community Room located in the Center for Health Sciences for the first of what will be many community gatherings in the new space. 

“This is a new and beautiful year…because we are here, moved-in on time for a new semester in this gorgeously renovated Founders Hall—a new home for our Center for Health Sciences and for our Community and Economic Development programs. Both of these programs are top of the line in their own respective fields of studies; both are brought together in the splendor of this beautiful space as natural partners in the future of workforce in Health Sciences and Health Care for the communities we serve,” said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. in her welcoming remarks.

In addition to the President’s welcoming remarks, the All-College meeting opened the spring semester with an agenda that included:
 

• A procession by the United States Army Waterbury Center Hartford Recruiting Company Color Guard
• A  recitation of, “The Pledge of Allegiance,” led by SGA President Keila Franco
• A patriotic-themed sing-along of “The National Anthem,” and “This Land is Your Land.”
• An update on the Center for Health Sciences Capital Campaign by Dr. Peter Jacoby, the Campaign Champion.
• Recognition of the generous gift recently provided to the college by Darlene Stromstad, President & CEO of Waterbury Hospital and Greater Waterbury Health Network (GWHN) 
• A Curriculum and Education Affairs Committee (CEAC) report and voting led by NVCC Professor of Mathematics and CEAC Chair, Jane Wampler.
• A first-time lighting of the stately fireplace in the new Community Room
• A drawing for the book “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly.
• Introductions of newly-appointed colleagues by Provost James Troup, Dean of Academic Affairs Irene Rios-Knauf, and Dean of Student Services Sarah Gager followed by individual updates by the college units.

“This is really a work of love and devotion to something I truly believe in: the Health Sciences at Naugatuck Valley Community College and the work that this college continues to do for our community,” said Dr. Peter Jacoby of the year he’s spent as Campaign Champion.

The community room enables NVCC to practice an important part of its mission—to respond to emerging community needs. Its modern design allows room configurations that can accommodate groups of all sizes and can allow one to three events to be held simultaneously. Leaders from education, government, business, and the community will benefit from the state-of-the-art audiovisual system and internet connections that support conferences, classes, exhibits, celebrations, and special events. The prime location offers a fireplace that encourages visitors to feel at home. The Community Room is designed to be an education, training, and community destination for NVCC’s 22-town service region and beyond.