Following the NECHE kickoff, Dr. Lisa Dresdner, NVCC’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, welcomed faculty, staff, and students back to the College’s virtual campuses, expressing her appreciation for the hard work being done to keep students, faculty, and staff safe during the pandemic. Celebrating the collaborative efforts of faculty and staff to help students reach their goals, she noted that “we are confident that focusing on and measuring specific intervention strategies we will see the real difference we are making in our students’ lives.”

New faculty and staff were officially welcomed to the college by Dr. Justin Moore, Interim Dean of Academic Affairs, and Dana Elm, Interim Dean of Administration, introduced a short video COVID Won’t Get Us Down, about how NVCC has addressed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Official college business also included important changes to CEAC (Curriculum and Educational Affairs Committee) processes and forms, as well as a report from Dr. Ron Picard, President of NVCC’s Faculty Senate on the multiple resolutions passed by the Senate to ensure the quality of education at the College.

Hailey Moran, President of NVCC’s Student Government Association, updated the College on events including the weekly SGA meetings that bring students together to plan activities that engage students. She expressed her goal to unify the NVCC community through upcoming virtual activities such as paint night, Hispanic Heritage Month trivia, an open mic night, and several Halloween activities including decorating masks and an online Halloween party. Hailey noted that the events the SGA is producing are intended to “create memories” and encouraged all students to participate.

Formal college updates and business were interspersed with short videos showcasing the talent of NVCC students and staff. Professor Jason Seabury, chair of the Curriculum and Educational Affairs Committee (CEAC) and Assistant Professor of Theater Gil Harel reminded everyone that “You’ll Be Back” to NVCC after the pandemic subsides – through their parody of “You’ll Be Back” from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton.

Videos included a virtual teaser from the musical, Carrie, based on the 1974 Stephen King novel.  The NVCC Theater Department Theater department also introduced a teaser for She Kills Monsters, their upcoming performance to celebrate Halloween which will premiere on Zoom on October 29, 30. More information about these performances will be shared soon!