Fall 2010 Published by the Alumni Office at North Shore Community College
Distinguished Alumnus Award Anh Dao TranMoseman ’88 (left), is presented with the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award at commencement by NSCC Alumni Association President Judi Gentleman ’96.
Celebrating NSCC’s Class of 2010 North Shore Community College’s 44th Commencement conferred a record 1,000 Associate Degrees and Credit Certificates to the Class of 2010 – NSCC’s largest graduating class to date. This year’s commencement speaker was Karen Andreas, publisher of the award-winning daily newspaper, The Salem News. A 20-year newspaper industry veteran, she is also publisher of The Salem News’ Internet division, salemnews.com, which recently won “Website of the Year” honors from its parent company, CNHI, publisher of 90 U.S. daily newspapers. In addition to her volunteer work for community organizations, she serves as board member for the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Salem Partnership and the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development. Charles Desmond, Ed.D, Chair of the state’s Board of Higher Education delivered greetings to the graduating class and attending audience from Governor Patrick and the Board of Higher Education. Dr. Desmond worked for 30 years at the University of Massachusetts Boston where he was Associate Chancellor for School/Community Collaboration, Vice Chancellor for Student
Left to right: Dr. Charles Desmond, Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education; Karen Andreas, publisher of The Salem News and NSCC 2010 Commencement Speaker; Bethany Doane ’10, NSCC 2010 Student Speaker; and, Dr. Wayne Burton, President of North Shore Community College.
Affairs, Director of the Department of Pre-Freshman Programs and Project Director of College Preparatory Program/Upward Bound. He also has held other positions both at UMASS as well as other colleges. He is a Fulbright Scholar, award-winning community activist and decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, receiving both Silver and Bronze stars. The Student Speaker was Bethany Doane of Danvers, a Dean’s List and Business Administration Honors Program student. Bethany, who became a member of NSCC’s Economics and Finance Club, participated in the College Fed Challenge, a prestigious national college competition held at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston. Despite a recent diagnosis of Attention Deficient Disorder, she graduated from NSCC with a near perfect grade point average and has been accepted at Northeastern University where, as a junior, she plans to study sociology and English literature with a focus on pre-med. Long-term plans include medical school where she plans to study pediatric neurology.
Anh Dao Tran-Moseman, a 1988 graduate of NSCC’s Engineering Science Transfer program, is the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus award. She currently lives in Missouri where she is Director of Quality Operations at Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Anh Dao left South Vietnam in 1983 with her mother and seven siblings to escape political discrimination, leaving behind her father, Colonel Nghia Tran, who was forced to remain in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. Despite hardships and challenges, Anh Dao excelled in her new country. She and her siblings enrolled in NSCC’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program where she worked so hard, one of her professors said, she was soon tutoring other ESL students in math, chemistry and calculus. She received several scholarships for academic excellence, including NSCC’s prestigious Henry Cabot Lodge Scholarship. Anh Dao and three of her brothers attended NSCC’s Engineering Science program. Upon graduation all four siblings transferred to Tufts University where they received competitive merit-based scholarships. Anh Dao earned both her Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at Tufts, graduating in 1993 with honors. Now married with two children, she has expressed her thanks to NSCC for encouraging her and helping her realize her dream to become a successful American citizen. In addition to academic and career success, Anh Dao is active in her community, volunteering her time to build and repair homes for people in need and teaching Sunday school. Anh Dao returned from Missouri to the North Shore for NSCC’s commencement, taking time to spend the morning at graduation rehearsal. She congratulated the graduates and encouraged them in their pursuit of higher education and career goals. After the rehearsal Anh Dao attended a luncheon in her honor where she visited with current and former faculty, staff and administration. Anh Dao was thrilled to see Elaine O’Brien, retired Special Programs Coordinator, who she remembers fondly from the ESL program – teaching, supporting and reassuring her in her early days struggling to learn English and the culture of her new country. Anh Dao also enjoyed reconnecting with Dean Nancy Alberto who she said “treated her like family, helping her with every aspect of her education” and she says she considers Nancy a role model to this day, as well as Professor Frank Day, “an exceptional professor who helped me find my passion for chemistry.” Anh Dao said “Throughout the years, these memories still affect me every time I think about them … they are the most dedicated teachers/professors … [and] have touched my life in a big way.” “NSCC is proud to recognize Anh Dao with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her numerous achievements. She exemplifies the highest standards of hard work, commitment and giving back to others, and demonstrates the success and potential that can be realized with encouragement Distinguished Alumnus continues on page 2