Each November, I am struck by the proximity between Veterans Day and the two fall events which precede it: the anniversary of 9/11 and Election Day. The extra special nature of 9/11 this year was the celebration of the 20th anniversary of an American catastrophe turned into American triumph. Election Day, as it always does, reassures us – everyday Americans…
Continue readingCCBC is an institution that holds diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value. But good words are not enough. Words are ephemeral, quickly forgotten. It is action that can influence change for generations at CCBC and we choose action. That is why the college is deeply committed to being purposeful about its equity agenda. We are laying out a…
Continue readingAt CCBC, diversity isn’t just a buzz word or something the tenor of the times has forced us to embrace. It is an innate part of our “open door” mission. CCBC is now a minority-majority institution. We are a college that not only lives its mission, CCBC loves its mission. Although we already do more than many when it comes…
Continue readingToday we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 national tragedy. Although the distance of time and memory has dimmed the shock of that event, throughout this past week commentaries, reflections and images of that infamous day have quietly informed this week’s news stories, jogging memories we might prefer to forget. On September 11, 2001 many of us sat stunned,…
Continue readingOne of the finest moments for every college is the first day of the fall semester when bright, energetic faces fill classrooms before spilling out into hallways and campus quadrangles. It is wonderful to feel the electricity of students back on our campuses again. Even though we are not yet fully out of the darkness of the pandemic, we start…
Continue readingFor the past two years, I have missed the experience of seeing our graduates’ smiling faces gathered under the huge tent at CCBC Essex. Surrounded by friends and family, it was always an impressive sight to behold. While the sights and sounds of our in-person commencement couldn’t truly be replicated, we still celebrated with the same spirit, energy and zest…
Continue readingIn responding to the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, Vice President Kamala Harris sagely noted, “We are all part of the George Floyd legacy, and our job now is to honor it and to honor him.” I want to share with our college community the way in which CCBC will do its part to respond to the Vice President’s challenge…
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