Inside Bergen Community College: Volume 9, Issue 3

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

With more than 40 percent of Bergen students self-identifying as Hispanic or Latinx, the College continues to take steps aimed at enhancing its support services, partnerships and relationships with this growing community. The steps align with recognizing the importance of maintaining an inclusive cam-

pus environment and aligning with President Eric M. Friedman’s expansive goals on diversity. Since becoming president, Dr. Friedman has prioritized developing new resources for Bergen’s diverse student population. Among them, he chartered the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — a group

of students, faculty, staff and community members committed to ensuring Bergen identifies barriers to student success.

Turn to page two for additional photos, stories and coverage of Bergen’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage, which took place throughout the fall semester. n

Bottom right: Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Hispanic Heritage Month Chair Gloria Cevallos, Commissioner Germaine Ortiz and Board of Trustees Secretary Joe Barreto.

On-Campus Celebrations

Students’ View on HACU

it back to the students.

Boada Maldonado: We were like sponges out there! Information over here … over there … and you just had to be collecting and listening.

Diaz: I’m a video person. I’m going to work on a series of videos, exclusively for the College, about the ESL center. I was also thinking about making a video of resume workshops in Spanish.

A delegation of College officials led by President Eric M. Friedman and Board of Trustees Secretary Joe Barreto travelled to San Diego in early October to participate in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities annual conference. The event provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to present on best practices, network with new colleagues and learn how colleges can best support Hispanic students.

Through the financial support of the Bergen Community College Foundation, the delegation also included two students —Justin Diaz (pictured, far left) and Richard Boada Maldonado (pictured, second from left) —who recently reflected on the experience.

On the experience … Diaz: We tried to record and document everything we’ve learned, so we could bring

On Bergen’s support … Boada Maldonado: To be able to do it with no money out of my pocket, it just felt special, like Bergen cares about the Hispanic community, and they want the best for us.

Diaz: If you think of community college as a bridge, you can go anywhere possible. You just have to make the most of it.

On major takeaways … Diaz: For me, it was just be prepared at any second, have your pitch ready, have your LinkedIn ready, have a resume ready, read the person.

Boada Maldonado: Closed mouths don’t get fed. Really!

On paying it forward …

Boada Maldonado: I’m the president of the Latin American Student Association and we plan on using LASA as a vessel to get this knowledge and information to our members.

On future plans … Diaz: I was inspired to apply to some of the best schools — MIT, Stevens, everywhere on the east coast, even abroad. For me, I just want to make the best for myself. I’m going to work as hard as possible.

Boada Maldonado: I’m aiming at the Ivys. I’ll be really excited after I graduate from Bergen, still helping the community here and maybe helping LASA or maybe helping STEM or any other department that needs me.

Recommendations for others … Diaz: My advice is to make your own opportunities. No one is going to come up to you and say hey, this is a conference that you should go to or this is a job or internship that you should apply to.

Boada Maldonado: If you really want to do something, you just have to be out there, because if you keep your thoughts inside and you’re not telling anyone, you’re not sharing your goals and you might not meet the right people that can help achieve your goals. n

Among the many events during Hispanic Heritage Month, organizers hosted activities such as a painting and a Kahoot challenge on the painter, Frida Kahlo. Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement CEO Dr. Ivonne Diaz Claisse (pictured in the first photo surrounded by students) provided the keynote address. n

Students Lead “The Only Program of its Kind”

In just six months, Bergen students have assisted nearly 500 local entrepreneurs in bouncing back post-COVID as “small business support specialists” through a collaboration with the Bergen County Business Resource Network. The nationally heralded program has received recognition from numerous media outlets, government officials and business organizations. The College hosted two events this fall that spotlighted the students’ work.

Heading to the Office

In recognition of the program’s growth, and to provide additional support for the students, Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III and Bergen County Commissioners Mary Amoroso, Germaine Ortiz and Thomas Sullivan joined President Dr. Eric M. Friedman on October 20 as the College opened an office on the first floor of the Pitkin Education Center for the small business support specialists. The event coincided with Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, which helped influence the day’s activities as well. After the office doors officially opened, two local female restaurateurs who worked with the small business support specialist students presented refreshments showcasing their culinary talents, while Commissioner Amoroso led a panel discussion on women in entrepreneurship featuring local business owners.

Gather, Gain, Grow

The College and the Resource Network welcomed more than 300 local entrepreneurs to a complimentary showcase event, on

September 29 that offered workshops, professional services and consultations with small business resource specialists. New and existing small business owners also had the opportunity to take professional headshots, meet government leaders and sample the talents of Bergen’s culinary students. The showcase took place at Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands, one of three locations the institution maintains within the county.

The resource network, an initiative of the Bergen County Division of Economic Development, the Board of Commissioners and the county executive, launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the local economy. Shortly after its inception, College leaders partnered with county officials to integrate student small business support specialists to provide entrepreneurs with free consulting. Dr. Friedman credits the College’s Linda Caruso, manager of Bergen’s business accelerator for entrepreneurs, for working with Bergen County Division of Economic Development Director Joanne Cimiluca to launch the program.

The College’s involvement with the Bergen Resource Network represents one of the first major initiatives emerging from the Economic Recovery Committee. The group, which began meeting in 2021, serves in an advisory capacity to the president, creating and implementing strategies that position the institution as a catalyst for recovery from the pandemic.

For more information on the Business Resource Network, visit bergenforbusiness. com. n

Staying on Message Recognized with National Honor

The College, and its members of the Office of Public Relations, recently earned national recognition for excellence in strategic communication, storytelling and com munity engagement. On the strength of a cross-platform campaign that spotlighted the stories of currently enrolled students, the College earned a National Council on Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) Medallion Award in the “communication success story” category. The honor marks the ninth time Bergen has received recognition from the American Association of Community Colleges affiliate in the last seven years.

“This campaign worked because of its humanity,” Executive Director of Public Relations, Community and Cultural Affairs Dr. Larry Hlavenka said. “Coming out of the pandemic, we knew our campaigns needed to inspire our community to take action and return to campus. There’s no better way to convey positivity and belongingness than featuring portraits of real students, with real emotions, telling their individual stories. I’m very proud of the work we did in achieving those objectives.”

The award-winning campaign featured the stories and images of seven Bergen students written and photographed (including the image above) for use on social media, digital advertisements and outdoor billboard displays. Public Information Assistant Dr. Jessica Fargnoli directed the campaign, organizing photoshoots, writing copy and securing placements. Manager of New Media Services Tom DePrenda designed the creative.

Bergen has previously won NCMPR Medallion awards for excellence in newsletter production, video programming and fundraising campaigns. President Eric M. Friedman has prioritized enhanced communication and engagement efforts, citing storytelling and external affairs activities as institutional and presidential goals. n

Students met with business owners at the G3 resource event.

Math and Science Walk-In Center Dedicated

In memory of Professor Robert Neil Ender, and in recognition of his family’s legacy of philanthropy at the institution, the College has renamed its math and science tutoring center in his honor. The Bergen Community College Foundation, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) that supports charitable giving at the institution, sponsored a dedication event October 20 to celebrate the facility’s rechristening. Twelve members of the Ender family, including family matriarch Joan Ann, attended the ceremony. The family has a long-standing history at the College, with many of them either graduating or taking classes at Bergen.

Professor Ender passed away in 2002. He has since earned the title of “professor emeritus” at Bergen, an honor reserved for the most influential faculty members to serve the College.

The renamed Professor R. Neil Ender Memorial Mathematics and Science Walk-In Center remains part of the College’s overall tutoring resource, the Cerullo Learning Assistance Center. Peer and professional tutors assist students in all subjects and disciplines, providing a support resource twice recognized by outside agencies as one of the best in the country.

The math and science walk-in center represents the second facility named in Ender’s honor. Shortly after his passing, College faculty and staff led an effort to rename the institu-

Accreditation Update

Middle States Matters

At the start of the fall semester, approximately 50 faculty and staff had already volunteered to participate in the College’s Self-Study efforts. Continuing outreach included a call for faculty, with a focus on new professors with little or no accreditation experience. That request yielded an additional 10 volunteers. The College held a training session explaining the process this month. Meanwhile, an outreach effort to attract student participation from Phi Theta Kappa, honors and student government began in October. A training session will take place later this month and additional calls for students will continue through fall 2024.

Also this fall, the College unveiled new

tion’s first building — East Hall — in Ender’s memory. The campaign not only succeeded in seeing the building become “Ender Hall,” but it established a perpetual fund for student scholarships in his memory. Students continue to receive scholarships in the Ender name and his family members remain active in supporting the fund honoring his legacy.

Ender, who taught math and computer science, worked at Bergen for more than 30 years. During that time he distinguished himself as both a scholar and leading member of the

overall College community. Ender served as the president of the faculty senate, the academic governance arm of the College, and as president of the Bergen Community College Faculty Association, the collective bargaining unit for Bergen professors.

Outside the College, Ender lived in Bergen County and maintained an active role in his local community. He and his wife had eight children and 14 grandchildren. A veteran, Ender served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. n

“assessment support office” decals on doors where assessment support personnel work.

The decals indicate where faculty and staff can receive assistance with assessment questions. Additionally, and in preparation for the SelfStudy Process, the College’s current vision, mission and values received a comprehensive review in May. That review determined that the current statements did not align with the mission and goals Standards of Accreditation. Further, the existing statements did not lend themselves to strong linkages with the College’s strategic goals and would not provide an appropriate foundation for the next strategic plan. During the last few months, internal and external constituents have proposed, reviewed and modified a new set of statements. Trustees will review the statements next.

Finally, members of the College community attended a training webinar in October and November called the “Self-Study Institute.”

Participants include the seven chairs of the standards working groups, the three steering committee chairs, the Accreditation Liaison Officer and the dean of research and institutional effectiveness. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education offers the Self- Study Institute to provide direct assistance to colleges beginning the Self-Study Process. n

Changing the Landscape with Women Leaders

In recent months, the College has hired four women and promoted another to key leadership roles, further diversifying the perspectives, goals and composition of the management team.

n Ellianne Gallardo arrives at Bergen as the associate director of employee relations and organizational development. A recruiting specialist fluent in both Spanish and English, Gallardo will help shape the next generation of Bergen hires.

n Yessika Garcia-Guzman joined the College in November as assistant vice president of fi nancial aid after serving in leadership roles at Ocean Coun ty College. In addition to her professional experience, Garcia-Guzman re mains a frequent community voice on topics such as immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion.

n Dean of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Tonia McKoy has joined the cabinet. Dr. McKoy has previously served the College in research, assessment and data roles. In her new position, she will help ensure the College effectively gathers data, analyzes it and makes

use of the results to contribute to continuous improvement.

n Dr. Anjali Thanawala has immediately inserted herself into major college projects as the assistant director of grants. She brings significant New Jersey community college experience to the role, previously working at Hudson County Community College and Passaic County Community College. Dr. Thanawala has worked extensively on grants, noncredit programs, and STEM initiatives.

n Longtime community college leader Suzanne M. Wetzel now directs the development of community partnerships for the institution as vice president of external affairs and a member of the executive cabinet. Wetzel brings extensive experience to the new position at Bergen, having served Monroe County Community College (Michigan) in a variety of outreach and development roles. She will lead development initiatives including the expansion of the College’s donor base, strengthening external relations and establishing a partnership development hub. n

Students Share Pizza and Participate in Governance

Deep dish, thin crust and shared governance? Hold the anchovies! As President Friedman has sought to shore up the College’s methods of shared governance, “Pizza with the President” has become an important avenue to solicit feedback from students. Effective shared governance at a college ensures students, faculty and staff each have a voice in the decision-making and operational process.

Silverman Library Offers Impressive Collection

Often considered the intellectual center of a collegiate campus, students acquainting themselves with Bergen’s Sidney Silverman Library have discovered the facility offers far more than books (though there’s plenty of those too!). Here’s a rundown of services offered:

n Study Spaces - individual, group and silent study rooms.

n Technology - more than 100 onsite computers, complimentary scanners, Chromebook rentals and help desk assistance.

n Reserve Textbooks - at least one copy of every textbook used by faculty.

n Meadowlands Resources - open three days each week.

n Reference/Service Desks - faculty, staff and helpful librarians to assist with research, questions and collaboration.

n Electronic Resources - databases and e-materials available 24/7 at Bergen.edu/ library. n

At the event, Dr. Friedman discussed major College initiatives, while facilitating an interactive exchange of thoughts and ideas. Following the formal program, the president and students enjoyed pizza and conversations on what matters most to them.