Lead the Educational Ecosystem | 2025 January Professional Day Webpage
Sessions are flagged for audience intent with F representing faculty, S representing staff and F|S representing all campus community.
Outside Gym in Building 2 | Beverages & a light breakfast will be provided | Please bring your refillable water bottle to fill outside the Gym at the water fountain. Be sure to pick up your raffle ticket at the Registration Table.
Dr. Christopher Thuot & Vice President Darcey Kemp
|F|S| Building 2 | Gym
|F|S| Building 2 | Gym
Leading the Ecosystem: Advisory Boards in Action Explore the critical role of advisory boards in shaping programs, fostering partnerships, and aligning education with workforce needs.
This roundtable will discuss strategies for leveraging advisory boards to strengthen Springfield Technical Community College's position as a leader in the educational ecosystem. Engage, share, and innovate together.
Please share your thoughts on today’s Roundtable Discussion.
Time | Skills and Practice | Equity | Innovation | Ecosystem Partners |
10:00- Session 1 | Guide Your Students: Teaching Key Executive Functioning (EF) Skills F | Bldg 2 Room 601 Learn practical tips for managing time, data, and information to support your students’ executive functioning skills. This session provides strategies you can share with students to boost their academic success, while also giving you tools to refine your own organization and productivity. Kyle Stephanie Kraus Marisha Marks | Practicing Equity: Strategies for Classroom and Student Support F | S | Bldg 2 Room 504 Join a panel of equity practitioners as they discuss the essential role of equity in the classroom and in student support services. Gain insights into creating inclusive learning environments and effective support systems that address diverse student needs. A Q&A session follows for deeper discussion and practical strategies. Prof. Ashley Pease Dr. Vanessa Hill Dr. Kiyota Garcia Jasmine Herman Prof. Renee Tetrault Dr. Mary Wiseman (Moderator) | Explore, Empower, Achieve: Standardized Career Services at STCC F | S | Bldg 2 Rooms 703-704 Join our Director of Career Services to see how STCC delivers a consistent, comprehensive approach to supporting students and alumni. Discover standardized tools, structured resources, and personalized guidance designed to help every student explore their passions, build essential skills, and confidently transition from college to career. At STCC, we empower students to set clear goals and achieve measurable success. | Clean Crop & STCC: Bridging Students to Green Jobs F | S Bldg 2 Rooms 701-702 Clean Crop Technologies is a fully electric industrial innovation start-up located in Holyoke that serves the food and agriculture industries, aiming to get more food on people’s plates using fewer resources. This session highlights the burgeoning relationship with STCC, including a discussion of workforce needs, talent development, and creative internships that lead to full-time employment Dr. John B. Cook Christine Roddy Vice President, Strategy & Operations Clean Crop Technologies |
11:00- Session 2 | Explore & Engage: A Walking Tour of Student Support Services F|S | Bldg 19 | Welcome Desk Tour Guides Join us for an exciting and interactive walking tour that takes you on a journey through the heart of our campus student support services (Building 19)! This dynamic workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the various offices and departments dedicated to enhancing student success. This tour will leave you energized and equipped with valuable knowledge to better assist our students. Lace up your walking shoes and get ready for a memorable adventure! Christian Dejesus Carol Flores | Classics Reimagined: Inclusive Literature for Today’s Students F | S | Bldg 2 Rooms 701-702 Explore how diverse texts and universal themes enrich student learning and engagement. This interactive session challenges the traditional canon, showcasing literature from underrepresented voices. Equip your syllabus with dynamic, inclusive works that resonate with today’s diverse classrooms, moving beyond familiar texts for broader, deeper perspectives. Kat Good-Schiff Emily Butler | Five-Minute Wins: Best Practice Showcase F | S | Bldg 2 Rooms 703-704 Unleash your creativity in our "Best Practice Slam!" Faculty and staff are invited to come share your favorite strategies for enhancing student success in a lively, story-slam format. In just five minutes, inspire others with your innovative practices while learning new approaches to enrich your classrooms or offices. This is an audience driven session where you are the presenters. This is your chance to shine. Collaboration and energy guaranteed! Dr. Mary Wiseman (Moderator) | No session offered at this time. |
|F|S| Building 2 | Gym| Boxed lunch & beverages will be served
Time | Skills and Practice | Equity | Innovation | Ecosystem Partners |
1:00- Session 3 | Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity (PAA): How it impacts our Campus Community F | S | Bldg 2 Room 601 Dr. Senie engages with senior administrators, faculty and staff to implement the College’s Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity (PAA), which promotes non-discrimination on the basis of protected classes/classifications and incorporates by reference, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Civil Rights Acts, Title IX, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. She will provide an overview of the PAA. Dr. Kathryn C. (K.C.) Senie | Comprehending Financial and Academic Suspension Appeals F | S | Bldg 2 Room 504 Student Financial Services and the Student Success Center will be discussing their new process for appeals. The previous "Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal" and "Academic Suspension Appeal" forms have now been combined! Join us to get more information on these important academic and financial policies, and understand how it impacts students. We will go into great detail about how you as faculty and staff play a role in supporting students in this process. Aaron Morabito Anthony Hernandez | Valiente [Brave]: Building Strength & Authenticity F | S|Bldg 2 Room 703-704 Reflect and discover how embracing authenticity and identity can empower you to overcome biases and build resilience. This session explores strategies for bringing your full self to classrooms and workspaces, fostering strength, and creating an inclusive environment that values diversity and encourages genuine connections. Meghan Bone Carol Flores Dr. Melishia Santiago Dr. Mary Wiseman | Know Your Gen A’s (alphas) to Z’s (zoomers): Engaging Early College Students in the Classroom F | S | Bldg 2 Rooms 701-702 Explore effective strategies for engaging high school and Early College students in the classroom. This workshop covers age-appropriate pedagogy, relationship-building techniques, and tailored approaches that support young learners, helping them thrive academically and transition smoothly into college-level expectations and environments. Melanie Laurin Kyle Stephanie Kraus Marisha Marks Dr. Aimee Dalenta Prof. Renee Tetrault |
2:00- Session 4 | Starting Strong: The STCC Student Onboarding Experience F | S | Bldg 2 Room 601 Explore the STCC New Student Onboarding process from application to enrollment. This session highlights tools like CRM, orientation Zoom sessions, the new student checklist, personalized outreach, and the RAM Welcome Event, all designed to support students as they begin their journey with confidence, clarity, and a welcoming community. Dr. Samantha Ploud Kyle Stephanie Kraus | Cohorted Courses: Unlocking Student Engagement and Success F | S | Bldg 2 Room 504 Explore the transformative benefits of cohorted courses and how they foster deeper student engagement, collaboration, and retention. Learn best practices for teaching these sections and discover how you can play a vital role in shaping impactful educational experiences through programs like Lead and MILE. Dr. Miguel Maria Dr. James Riddle Dr. Kimberly Reese Prof. Yasotha Sriharan | Empowering Women in STEM: Insights from Society of Women Engineers (SWE) F | Bldg 2 Rooms 703-704 Join attendees of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference as they share insights, key takeaways, and innovative ideas from the event. This session offers an opportunity to learn about the latest trends, resources, and strategies for supporting women in engineering and fostering a more inclusive STEM environment. Prof. Lineisha Dominicci-Rosario Prof. Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh Dr. Melishia Santiago Prof. Barbara Washburn | Equity in Action: The Power of Early College F | S | Bldg 2 Rooms 701-702 Early College serves as a powerful equity initiative, providing high school students, particularly underrepresented students, with access to opportunities to earn college credit. This workshop highlights the inclusive process by which the Veritas Prep Charter School developed and now sustains their Early College model. Highlights will include a discussion of the ongoing collaboration between STCC faculty, STCC's Early College office, and Veritas staff. The session will also outline the role of Early College liaisons in the classroom. It is designed for faculty and staff and will be particularly helpful for those faculty who may be considering teaching Early College classes. Adrienne Mantegna, Veritas Dr. Christopher Thuot Melanie Laurin |
|F|S| Building 2 | Theater
Dr. Christopher Thuot | Closing Session and Raffle - you must be present to win!
Please add 1-3 ideas that you learned today that will help you lead the educational ecosystem. This is an anonymous survey. Ideas and tips will be archived on the January 2025 Professional Day webpage, along with any slide decks or resources presenters provide.
Title: Director of Career Services
Bio: Nathan Andary, a PhD candidate at Texas Woman’s University, has over 20 years’ experience connecting college students with community partners through experiential learning and career readiness. With 12 years as a professor and expertise in Student Affairs, he supports STCC by aligning skills, interests, and needs to enhance job placement outcomes.
Title: HSI STEM Activity Coordinator
Bio: Meghan focuses on programs fostering STEM confidence and career pathways. She earned her M.Ed. in Integrated Science Education.
Title: Open Educational Resources and Digital Media Librarian
Bio: Emily has worked in the STCC Library since 2019. In her current role, she facilitates the use of Open Educational Resources on campus. She has a Master's in Library and Information Science from Simmons University and a Bachelor's in English from UMass Amherst.
Mahera Chiarizio
Title: Director of Education for Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Headstart
Bio: Mahera Chiarizio is the Director of Education for HCS Headstart, overseeing and monitoring education programming and servicing area children ages birth through 5, including oversight of curricula, school readiness outcomes, data driven reports, planning and assisting in professional development opportunities for teaching staff. In addition, Mahera is an independent contractor and education training facilitator in the field of Early Childhood Education for over ten years. Her areas of expertise include Early Childhood Development, Curricula implementation, and Reflective Supervision.
Title: Educator and Expert in Teaching Pedagogy and Student Engagement
Bio: Aimee has presented nationally on teaching pedagogy, student engagement, and assessment. Her doctoral dissertation focused on developmental readers at the college level.
Title:Curriculum Coordinator and Assistant Professor for the Architectural and Building Technology Department
Bio: Jennifer holds a Masters degree in Sustainable Architecture from the Boston Architectural College. She is committed to bringing her students on the path of sustainable designing and building through real life examples and experiences.
Title: Academic Coordinator for Student Initiatives
Bio: Christian holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Bridgewater State University. Christian’s professional experience has been centered on supporting all students in finding their voice and creating a positive rich educational experience. Christian is committed to empowering students as they navigate through their experience in Higher Education.
Title: Assistant Professor of Electronics, Energy, Optics and Mechanical Technologies
Bio: Lineisha is a Professor at the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program and specializes in imparting comprehensive knowledge to students about the intricacies of designing and manufacturing quality products and systems. Her life is driven by her deep-seated passions, which include nurturing the growth of aspiring engineers, contributing to her community, and empowering future generations of female engineers.
Title: Oversees the TRIO SSS Peer Tutoring Program
Bio: Carol holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and has over 25 years of experience in Higher Education at STCC. She is a board member of the Hispanic Association of Higher Education and Co-Advisor for the Latino Leaders Achieving a Valuable Education (LLAVE) Club at STCC.
Title: Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Interim Chief Equity Officer
Bio: Kiyota holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology and is passionate about advancing equity and supporting underrepresented students. She has been with STCC for over a decade.
Title: Instructional Services and Outreach Librarian
Bio: Kat coordinates library instruction at STCC and has a background in public librarianship, creative writing, and health communication. She holds degrees from Hampshire College, Goddard College, and Simmons University.
Title: Staff Assistant, Student Initiatives
Bio: Jasmine Herman is a STCC alumnus (‘13) and an Equity Leader & Guide who works closely with both staff and faculty to ensure equity is considered when providing student support. Advocating for support and encouragement to our Student Veteran and Military-connected community is a passion for her, as well as seeing all our students succeed.
Title: Senior Financial Aid Counselor with the Student Financial Services
Bio: Anthony is a STCC alumnus dedicated to providing financial aid information and support in an inclusive and equitable manner.
Title: Professor of Mathematics
Bio: A proud alum of STCC, Vanessa has taught at the college for 18 years. She holds a deep belief in creating equitable spaces, that honor the unique identities of all individuals, and the belief that everyone can be successful, given the opportunity and culturally relevant environment.
Title: Instructional Designer in the Center for Online and Digital Learning
Bio: Kyle has been working in higher education for over 26 years, spanning multiple disciplines. She teaches First Year Experience at STCC. Her areas of expertise include faculty and student technology training, technologies in the “classroom” for teaching, online engagement and facilitation.
Title: Director of Early College Initiatives
Bio: Melanie has worked in higher education for 11 years, 6 of which have been at STCC. As Director of Early College Initiatives, Melanie coordinates and oversees high school partnerships and program operations with a focus on enhancing student access, retention, and success. She earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University and a B.A. in Psychology from Assumption University.
Title: Dean of Early College, Veritas Prep Charter School
Bio: Adrienne Mantegna is the Dean of Early College at Veritas Prep Charter School, where she leads a transformative program enabling high school students to earn associate degrees alongside their diplomas. With more than 17 years of experience as an educator, curriculum developer, and administrator, Adrienne has crafted and implemented innovative, culturally relevant programs focused on equity and academic excellence. Adrienne’s graduate work in Social Justice Education drives her passion for empowering students and fostering educational equity.
Title: Director of Wellness at Glenmeadow, Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Bio: Kelsey comes from an educational and practiced background in Occupational Therapy, with a focus in Geriatrics. To her, wellness and occupational therapy go hand-in-hand; wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes so that our residents are thriving, not just surviving!
Title: Assistant Dean of Student Initiatives.
Bio: Dr. Maria oversees SUCCESS-funded initiatives focused on student support, including the Lead Female Leadership and Mentoring Program and the Male Initiative for Leadership and Education (MILE) Program. These programs offer academic support, mentoring, and community engagement opportunities for STCC students. He holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership, focusing on millennial administrators in higher education.
Title: Instructional Designer in the Center for Online and Digital Learning
Bio: Marisha Marks is an Instructional Designer in the Center for Online and Digital Learning. Marisha focuses on accessibility and Universal Design for Learning as a way to remove learning barriers. She guides faculty to apply technology and innovative teaching strategies with student success in mind.
Title: Professor of Engineering and Physical Science
Bio: Beth is a professor of engineering mechanics and physics at Springfield Technical Community College or STCC. She holds an A.S. in Engineering Transfer from STCC and a B.S. and M.S. in Civil (Structural) Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A SWE member since 2008, she co-leads the SWE Community Colleges affinity group and Women in Academia committee. McGinnis-Cavanaugh received the SWE Engineering Educator Award in 2024 and is a member of the Editorial Board.
Title: Success Coach with the Student Success Center
Bio: Aaron holds a Master's degree in Counselor Education: Student Development in Higher Education. Their passion for equity and inclusivity drives their work with students, creating a warm environment to support others.
Title: Associate Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of Behavioral Sciences
Bio: Ashley has been part of the STCC community since 2016. She earned her MS from Springfield College and is ABD in Springfield College’s Sport and Exercise Psychology Program. She is passionate about fostering student growth and understanding through behavioral sciences.
Title: Dean of Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Bio: Samantha has been working in higher education for 14 years focusing on student affairs, enrollment management, and process improvement. She holds a doctorate in higher education from Wilmington University.
Title: Veterans Academic Counselor
Bio: Kimberly is an Air Force Veteran whose dissertation focused on creating veteran-inclusive campuses. She is also a UDL Fellow.
Title: Associate Professor of English
Bio: Jamie earned his MA and PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and began teaching at STCC in 2018.
Title: Vice President, Strategy & Operations, Clean Crop
Bio: Christine brings over 12 years of experience spanning strategy consulting, operations, nonprofit management, and development finance. She has extensive experience supporting social entrepreneurs in East Africa, Latin America, and Asia. She holds a BA from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from Georgetown University.
Title: Director of Internal Operations LEED and PHIUS Certified Fontaine Bros., Inc
Bio: With her 20 years in the industry, Tracy is a highly knowledgeable and experienced construction professional. She attributes her success to applying her “lead-by-example” approach. As Director of Internal Operations, Tracy plays a pivotal role in the success of her Leadership team by aligning company initiatives and goals with company strategic objectives.
Title: Assistant Dean of STEM
Bio: Melishia graduated from STCC as a pre-med student, and transferred to UMass Amherst where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. She has two master’s degrees in biogeography and Earth systems science. Melishia earned her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University. Her research focused on seasonal chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Pacific Arctic Region (Bering and Chukchi seas) using in-situ and satellite remote sensing imagery. Melishia’s background also focuses on student success.
Title: Director of Compliance; Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Coordinator & ADA Coordinator
Bio: Dr. Senie received a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Bridgeport, School of Law, Bridgeport, CT and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. She has over twenty years of experience in the community college sector in higher education.
Title: Professor of Humanities
Bio: Yasotha received her undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College and her MFA in Poetry from UMass, Amherst. She has been teaching at STCC since 2011.
Title: Professor for the Office Information Technology Program
Bio: Renee has over 30 years of teaching experience and is active in the Supplemental Instruction and Early College Programs.
Title: Professor of Engineering and Physics
Bio: Barbara is a Tenured Professor with over thirty-one year’s proven commitment to education and technical training with seventeen years in leadership roles, including Interim Dean of STEM. She is a Fulbright Specialist Candidate for 2023-2026. She has a passion and is an advocate for promoting Women in STEM and Engineering.
Title: Professor and Program Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Bio: Cristy is a STCC alum and faculty member who has been teaching at STCC since 2009. She graduated with a M.Ed from ELMS College and received a graduate certificate in Leadership and Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Her commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment helps students build critical thinking skills and prepares them for careers in the field of Occupational Therapy.
Title: Director of Instructional Innovation & Faculty Investment
Bio: Mary designs innovative opportunities for faculty & staff to continuously learn promising practices that enhance their ability to support our students in transforming their lives. Mary is committed to equity and inclusion initiatives.