NECC Now Northern Essex Community College

Jouel Gomez was a senior manager at Mass General Brigham: Newton-Wellesley Hospital, but he regretted never earning a college degree. The father of five enrolled at NECC and, after earning his associate degree, he went on for a bachelor degree from Boston University and an MBA from Bentley University. He’s now teaching in the program where he earned his bachelor’s. Find out what motivated him, how he balanced everything, and what he appreciates about NECC.

NECC President Lane Glenn has been a vocal advocate for increased funding for community college students. In the most recent NECC Now podcast, he explains that the state only funds 1/3 of the college budget. He also shares that federal grants doesn’t begin to cover the costs for low income students, along with some suggestions on how we can help bridge the gap, making college within reach for all students.

An innovative collaboration at Northern Essex Community College is allowing students to experience the benefits of a foreign exchange program, without leaving home.
NECC Director of Instructional Technology and Online Education Melba Acevedo talks about how this virtual exchange is providing opportunities for all students, many of whom would never get the chance to study abroad. 

She shares how the partnership with two French universities came about and how the virtual exchange is woven into classes at NECC. 

To learn more about international virtual education opportunities at Northern Essex, contact Acevedo, at macevedo@necc.mass.edu.

On the first episode of NECC Now, NECC Police Academy Director Joshua Stokel talks about the changing definition of "community policing," what a day is like for student officers at the academy, and the challenges of creating a police force that reflects its community.