CONNECT CEOs and liaisons met for their annual retreat on July 14th. During the retreat, goals were established for the upcoming year. CONNECT's goals for FY22 include expanding early college, cybersecurity, and DEI initiatives. Pictured here are (front row) Dr. John Cox, President, Cape Cod Community College; Dr. Deniz Leuenberer, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Planning and Strategy; Dr. Brenda Molife, Interim President, Massasoit Community College; Dr. Stacey Kaminski, Executive Director, CONNECT; Elizabeth Simmons, Vice President for External Affairs, Massachusetts Maritime Academy; Chad Argotsinger, Chief of Staff Academic Affairs, Bristol Community College; Back Row: Fred Clark, Esq., President, Bridgewater State University; Dr. Michael Goodman, Acting Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth; Dr. Laura Douglas, President, Bristol Community College; Rick Wixsom, Chief Information and Technology Officer, Cape Cod Community College; Steve Zuromski, Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Missing from the photo are: Dr. Mark Fuller, Interim Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Rear Admiral Francis McDonald, President, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Lydia Camara, Chief of Staff, Massasoit Community College, and Dr. Ray DiPasquale, newly appointed president, Massasoit Community College.
Dr.Laura Douglas,president of Bristol Community College and Board Chair for CONNECT talks about how CONNECT partners respond to continue their services to the students during pandemic and plan to get back to on-campus activities. Read the full story on The Herald News
In recognition of their service to the region and advocacy for public higher education, Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative David Vieira were named 2019 Distinguished Legislators at the CONNECT Partnership's first Legislative Gathering and Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 21, at Bridgewater State University.
“It is thanks to the support and relentless advocacy from our local legislature that our institutions are able to deliver on the promise of a brighter tomorrow for the students of Southeastern Massachusetts,” said John Cox, president of Cape Cod Community College and chairman of the CONNECT Partnership. “Representative Vieira and Senator Rodrigues embody this support, and their work has cleared pathways for thousands of students across all our institutions. We are deeply appreciative for their advocacy and unwavering support for higher education and our students.”
In addition to the awards, a panel discussion entitled "Celebrating CONNECT Student Successes" featured students who transferred between CONNECT institutions. Alex Fagundes (MCC to BSU), Grace Jensen (CCCC to MMA) and Jennifer Santana (BCC to BSU) shared their stories during the discussion facilitated by BCC President Laura Douglas. Each emphasized the necessity of affordability and access to higher education, the challenges they've faced along the way, and the value and opportunities they've experienced through public higher education in Southeastern Massachusetts.
More than 60 local legislators, trustees, and guests from CONNECT campuses attended this inaugural event. Pictured above are: BSU President Fred Clark, Senator Vinny deMacedo, Representative Norman Orrall, Representative Alyson Sullivan, Senator Paul Feeney, Senator Michael Rodrigues, Jennifer Santana, BCC/BSU, student panelist, Representative James Hawkins, Alexander Fagundes, MCC/BSU, student panelist, Grace Jensen, CCCC/MMA, student panelist, MCC President Gena Glickman, Representative Steven Howitt, Representative David Vieira, BCC President Laura Douglas, CCCC President John Cox, and MMA President Fran McDonald.
