The meeting opened on a festive note with a recording from Felipe Karam, NVCC's 2016-17 jazz violinist Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, called Jacareando em Waterbury, loosely translated "to go serenading in Waterbury." Felipe recorded this with Peter Michaels and Jason Jenkins during his Fulbright year at NVCC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tF3Yo0Wa20 

NVCC CEO, Lisa Dresdner, Ph.D., greeted the college community with an enthusiastic tribute to Karam’s video and recognized how it demonstrates that NVCC “reaches out all over the world!” CEO Dresdner expressed sincere thanks to the NVCC faculty and staff who have worked so diligently to bring a very challenging semester to a close. She also expressed NVCC’s pride and congratulations to the 109 students whose applications for graduation were confirmed.

Jason Seabury, Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Curriculum and Educational Affairs Committee, introduced curriculum proposals from the Allied Health, LABSS, and STEM divisions which were unanimously approved. Seabury’s announcements usually come with a parody performance inspired by the best of Broadway and the performing arts. He did not disappoint.  With NVCC Assistant Professor of Music Gil Harel and guest artist Kat Lee, Seabury orchestrated a festive holiday plea to scientists and the pharmaceutical industry to "Deliver Us” from the pandemic. 

Dean of Student Services Sarah Gager introduced the NVCC Virtual campus tour recently produced by the Admissions and Marketing Teams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRTgQocVHyY&feature=youtu.be 

Sharing thanks on behalf of students to Student Activities Director, Karen Blake, Student Government President Hailey Moran noted in particular the Weekly Student Newsletter that Blake initiated in March to support communications during the pandemic. The newsletter continues to be a main source of student information and communication. Moran also reminded students of the upcoming robust roster of spring activities. 

Dean of NVCC’s Danbury campus, Antonio Santiago presented a slide show honoring NVCC colleagues for years of service from 10 to 40 years. Sasha Bratt, Assistant Professor of Theater, read a poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Finals, based on the Clement C. Moore classic, A Visit from St. Nicholas. The NVCC parody was written by Dean of Community Engagement, Waldemar Kostrzewa. Here is a brief excerpt:  

'Twas the night before finals, when all through the house 

We were cleaning for Covid, yes, even the mouse; 

Wet face masks were hung by the chimney with care 

In hopes they’d be dry with all classmates there; 

Our students were nestled all snug in their jeans; 

While visions of Blackboard danced on their screens . . .  

But I heard him promise, for all of us to hear— 

“Happy Finals to all; we’ll do it right, next year!” 

The meeting ended with yet another example of creative collaboration for which NVCC is known: Musical Theater and Digital Arts Technology students, guided by inspiring Professors Gil Harel (music) and Ray Leite (DAT), worked together to produce a video musical performance. Dr. Harel explained that “the unusual circumstances created by the pandemic forced us to adapt and innovate. The project presented at the All-College Meeting represented fruitful efforts of a collaboration between the music, theater, and digital arts department at NVCC.”