Prior to serving as Mayor of the City of Waterbury, O’Leary began chairing the NVCC Regional Advisory Council, a position he holds to this day, supported the NVCC capital campaign to outfit the new Center for Health Sciences, and—over the last decade—attended many meetings and special events that focused on supporting NVCC students.

A valued community leader, O’Leary helped establish the Waterbury Police Activity League, served on the Waterbury Board of Education, and continues to be a tireless advocate for education, health care, employment, and equal opportunity. A tribute video to Mayor O’Leary created by NVCC can be seen here.

“Naming this corridor after Honorable Neil M. O’Leary is a fitting recognition of his commitment to NVCC, its students, and the communities it serves,” said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “Mayor O’Leary was instrumental in the launch of the College’s capital campaign for the renovation of Founders Hall and generously hosted a fundraiser at City Hall. The Mayor has supported vital NVCC initiatives such as the College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, evening bus service, and the campaign for sidewalks on Chase Parkway. We are so grateful for his ongoing support.”

Founders Hall, which is located on the east half of NVCC’s Waterbury campus, houses the Waterbury Hospital / Saint Mary’s Hospital Community Room and NVCC’s Nursing & Allied Health and Community & Economic Development (CED) programs. On the site where Founders Hall was first built 53 years ago, the new Center for Health opened ahead of schedule in January 2017. Today, Founders Hall is a three-story building with state-of-the-art computer and learning labs for its nursing, physical therapy assistant, radiologic technology, and respiratory care degree-granting programs as well as several continued learning non-credit programs like its affordable Home Care CNA program. The corridor named after Mayor O’Leary is a pathway leading to the four Fundamentals Labs and other facilities in the Center for Health Sciences. Each lab is a state-of-the-art instructional facility with the latest technology in "smart" classrooms and teaching tools. The labs are named individually to recognize Robert W. Garthwait, Margaret M. O’Leary, the Waterbury Police Activity League, and the Blasius Family. Each lab invites students, health care workers, and trained professionals to a setting that fosters interaction, hands-on learning, and team debriefing to develop for competencies in patient care, critical thinking, decision making, communication, teamwork, and leadership. A five-year labor of love, the Center in Founders Hall is filled with new equipment and software purchased with the generous support of NVCC colleagues, the Student Government Association, the Regional Advisory Council, and the greater Waterbury community. Through the support of state bonding for construction and a capital campaign for the furnishings, the Center is a resource for students, faculty, health professionals, and the community.

Following the dedication, Brian Amero, Director of Resource Development for the United Way of Greater Waterbury and Rob Sheftel, NVCC United Way Campaign Coordinator, appealed on behalf of the United Way’s 2018-2019 campaign, “Everybody Up.” The meeting proceeded with updates from various programs and initiatives underway such as NVCC’s Food Pantry, its Opiate Awareness and Education Grant; Vanguard Leadership Academy, which provides in-house Professional Development; the Honors Program, and the College’s Social Justice Speaker Series

NVCC’s All-College meetings, which are held twice a semester, bookend the flurry of activity that each semester carries. The meetings allow vital briefings to faculty, staff, and community members on programs and initiatives underway at the College and also include timely updates from the various offices and departments such as the Curriculum and Education Affairs Committee, Student Services, and Academic Affairs.  The meetings also allow all faculty and staff who are present to vote on curricular changes and discuss any old or new business.  In addition, the meetings frequently feature guest speakers from the Board of Regents, elected officials, and community members with strong ties to the College. Faculty, staff, students, and community members who participate in the meetings have come to recognize that the meetings also create a space where various individuals and organizations can be recognized and honored for noteworthy and exceptional service to the College and its students. Once a year, the All-College meeting includes a much-beloved talent show that showcases performances of dance, poetry, and music, by students, faculty and staff as a way to kick-off the December solstice and holiday season.