The President’s Report From the desk of Mark McCormick, Interim President March 20, 2019 Placing a Winning Bet on Education Casino Night brought out 300 members of the College community and friends of MCC to have fun in raising nearly $50,000 to support the mission of the MCC Foundation. In the Winner’s Circle

Biology Professor Donna-Marie Gardner was invited by the National Human Genome Research Institute, a Division of the National Institutes of Health, to be the general project coor- Art Professor Dennis Lick was one of four artists whose work dinator for the development of a curriculum on CRISPR/Cas9 was on display this winter at the Center for Contemporary Art gene editing technology for use by high schools and colleges. in Bedminster in an exhibition entitled “Collage: Other Dimen- She will coordinate a team that includes a NHGRI scientist and sions.” educators from across the country. The project involves cre- ating lesson plans, wet labs, curriculum and courses based on a newer gene editing technology (CRISPR/Cas9). Once these tasks are completed, the plan is to roll the information out at the national level to high schools and colleges. She is shown with students Jonathan Abouhayla, center, and Edmundo Leiva.

The Maintenance Department is putting the finishing touches on the newly renovated and expanded Information Technolo- gy offices in Johnson Learning Center. This 7,800-square-foot space will allow IT staff to work in one location. The renova- tions included new carpeting, ceilings, LED lighting, air diffus- ers, data ports, receptacles and a fresh coat of paint. Transom windows were also added to bring in more light to the interior spaces. By performing these types of projects in-house the Professors Melissa Luis and James Martiney presented on College saves on the cost of contractors. The Maintenance staff “Helping Students Work Their Working Memory” at the Innova- manages such large-scale projects while continuing to respond tions Conference of the League for Innovation in the Commu- in a timely fashion to routine work orders and provide preven- nity College. They provided conference attendees with some tive maintenance. Pictured above are members of the Mainte- great tools to use in the classroom. nance Department in the new lounge/workroom. Congratulations to the 33 MCC students inducted into Kappi Pi, the international art honor society. For 100 years, Kappa Pi has offered thousands of art students and professionals an umbrella under which success, talent, creativity and scholarship can be covered. Michael Stanley, the president of Kappa Pi and the Chair of the Art Department at Delta State University, inducted the students. Following the ceremony, students, friends and families visited the Studio Theatre Gallery, where the students exhib- ited their artwork. MCC art students also put the “A” (Art) in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). Students in Professor Susan Altman’s Printmaking and Art Seminar classes this semester researched moths native to and created beautiful paper representations of them as part of an international public art project called the Moth Migration Project.

A total of 110 students were inducted into the MCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. In addition, Joseph Pascale, Learning Center Coordi- nator, was inducted as an honorary member. He is flanked by PTK Co-Presidents Sitwat Syed (left) and Jessica Ballenilla. MCC was recognized by the national PTK office as a REACH Chap- ter, awarded to chapters achieving or exceeding a 15 percent membership acceptance rate in 2018.

More than 150 Educational Opportunity Fund scholars and professionals from MCC participated in the annual EOF Day at the Capitol in Trenton. The attendees were greeted by Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Senator Troy Singleton and Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, among others. In addition to the event, it was an extremely busy day at the Capitol; Governor Murphy presented the proposed State Budget for 2019-2020, which includes a proposed $2.25 million increase for EOF funding. Making Connections Piscataway Regional Day Interim President McCormick along with Part of an ongoing commitment as MCC School Trustees Anderson, Daley, and leaders to live out the College’s Finkelstein read classic Dr. Seuss books commitment to serving all residents of to multiply disabled students as part of Middlesex County, including the Read Across America Week activities students, teachers, and staff at elementary and secondary schools Middlesex County Academy Interim President McCormick, Acting VP Part of on an ongoing effort to connect for Science, Mathematics, Herron, and Natural Sciences Chair MCC administrators and faculty with the and Engineering Donna Howell served as judges for the teachers, staff, and students at the Technologies (Edison Edison Academy’s annual Tech Fair Edison Academy, which is located on the Academy) MCC Edison Campus Woodbridge Township Interim President McCormick and Explored ideas for developing greater Trustee Taffet met with Woodbridge connections between Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac and Chief of Staff Township and MCC to serve more Caroline Ehrlich Woodbridge residents and businesses Puerto Rican Association for Interim President McCormick met with Explored ideas for expanding Human Development PRAHD President/CEO Kim Ruiz collaboration between PRAHD and MCC (PRAHD) to provide services for underserved populations in Middlesex County

Recent Recruitment Activities Thursday, February 21 CCOG* (“free community college”) presentation MCC – Edison Campus Tuesday, February 26 High School visit Tuesday, February 26 Instant Decision Day at the High School New Brunswick High School Wednesday, February 27 College and Career Day South Plainfield High School Wednesday, February 27 CCOG* (“free community college”) presentation Woodbridge Public Library Wednesday, February 27 College Fair for employees Amazon Thursday, February 28 Information Session Piscataway Vo-Tech Campus Wednesday, March 6 College Fair Bishop Ahr High School Wednesday, March 6 College Fair Woodbridge High School Tuesday, March 12 Instant Decision Day at the High School East Brunswick High School Wednesday, March 13 Instant Decision Day at the High School Woodbridge High School Wednesday, March 13 Information Session MCC – Perth Amboy Center *Community College Opportunity Grant Upcoming Events at MCC Thursday, March 21 College Center, The Corral (3rd Floor) Journeys of Success: MCC and Beyond – 2:00-3:15 p.m. panel discussion by recent MCC alumni, including Trustee Giannini Thursday, April 4 Performing Arts Center The Toxic Avenger – MCC Theatre - 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Program Spring Musical production Friday, April 5 - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 6 - 2:00 and 7:00p.m. Sunday, April 7 Edison Campus: Check in at West Hall Spring Open House 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 11* Chambers Hall, Boardroom Board Committee meetings Wednesday, April 17 MCC New Brunswick Center Board meeting 8:30 a.m. 140 New Street, New Brunswick [NOTE THE LOCATION] *All morning (schedule to be determined)

for inclusion in the March 2019 Board Report