Haverhill, MA (September 2, 2025) — The ’25-26 academic year is officially underway at Northern Essex Community College. The fall semester started with Tuesday’s Convocation ceremony. The traditional gathering is used as a time to provide important college updates, as well as to examine topics crucial to NECC’s strategic plan and institutional priorities.

Meeting New Leadership

President Lane Glenn began the meeting by introducing two new members of the college’s leadership team. Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Joanne Landers and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Austin Gilliland began their roles over the summer.  Landers was previously the vice president of enrollment management and communications at Plymouth State University. Gilliland comes to NECC from Bunker Hill Community College, where she was the dean of Professional Studies.

“We’re trying some new, innovative things to get students involved in the campus community,” said Landers of her plans for the upcoming semester. “We want it to be a seamless transition from when students first walk in the front door until we get them across that stage at commencement.”

Gilliland discussed expanding the current strategic plan to create an academic master plan for the upcoming year. “This is going to give us the chance to really focus on our programs, on teaching and learning, and on our classes. We’ll figure out where we want to be and ensure we’re all moving in the same direction,” she remarked.

VP of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations Naydeen Gozález De-Jesús, President Lane Glenn, MA Taxpayers Foundation Policy Researcher and Operations Coordinator Pablo Suarez, NECC Board of Trustees Secretary and Alumni Board President Jouel Gómez ’15, Executive Director Merrimack Valley Workforce Board Frank Bonet, NECC AVP of Strategic Relations and Resource Development Karen Rooney, NECC Board of Trustees President Jennifer Borislow

¡Vamos NECC!

The latter half of Fall Convocation was devoted to examining a new report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Association and We Are ALX. The report, ¡Vamos Massachusetts! Unlocking Hispanic/Latino Economic Advancement, revealed that eight out of ten new Massachusetts residents are Hispanic or Latino, and Hispanic or Latino residents accounted for more than 80% of the state’s population growth over the last decade.

“As New England’s first federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, with the largest proportion of Hispanic students in the region, Northern Essex Community College has a particularly important role to play in the future success of our students and the communities they call home here in the Merrimack Valley,” said President Glenn. “The economic gaps persist for Hispanics/Latinos in Massachusetts, and the better we get at closing those gaps, the more prosperous our Commonwealth, and all of its residents, will be.”

To further discuss the report, Vice President of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations Naydeen Gozález De-Jesús hosted a panel. Guests included: Executive Director Merrimack Valley Workforce Board Frank Bonet, MA Taxpayers Foundation Policy Researcher and Operations Coordinator Pablo Suarez, NECC Associate Vice President of Strategic Relations and Resource Development Karen Rooney, and NECC Board of Trustees Secretary and Alumni Board President Jouel Gómez ’15.

Suarez, who co-authored the report, noted 75% of the state’s new Hispanic residents are under the age of 45. They will play a key role in addressing labor shortages in healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, clean tech, and manufacturing. “The state’s economic success hinges on the Hispanic population. There’s no way around it. And it starts with education,” he said, further explaining that these potential workers will add billions of dollars to the Massachusetts economy.

Gómez has experienced the power of education firsthand. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States as a teenager. He initially tried college right out of high school, but felt lost and unprepared. Years later, with a young family, he realized that to advance his career, he would need to further his education. He enrolled at NECC in 2013 and, after graduating in 2015 with a Business Transfer Degree, Gómez earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University in management and then an MBA from Bentley University. He is starting his doctorate work this week. He is now a senior manager at Massachusetts General Brigham: Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

“It was convenient and it was in my backyard in Haverhill, and it was affordable,” said Gómez of his initial decision to enroll at NECC. “It takes a village, and programs like PACE can help first-generation students like myself to figure out what’s available. That engagement is critical.”

About HSI Designation

The U.S. Department of Education defines an institution of higher education as eligible for HSI designation if its enrollment of undergraduate, full-time equivalent students is at least 25% Hispanic at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

In 2024, the NECC student population reached 48% Hispanic, most of whom are from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about HSI and services at NECC by visiting the webpage.