Volume 6, No. 3	March, 2008

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Welcome to our monthly E-Newsletter, an overview of news and activities at ECC. We encourage you to learn more about our College by going through the rest of our web site.

President Yamba Receives Leadership Award

From left, Trustee Chair Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, County Executive DiVincenzo, Dr. Yamba, Trustee Rev. Levin B.West, Trustee Joseph Yeadon

On Tuesday, February 19, Dr. A. Zachary Yamba received the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award from the County of Essex. The award, which was bestowed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., was in recognition of Dr. Yamba’s 27 years as president of Essex County College. In brief remarks provided by Dr. Yamba, he emphasized the longstanding relationship between the County and ECC in supporting excellence in higher education for all residents of the County.

Also on hand was Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner of NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection, who received the Coretta Scott King Leadership Award in recognition of her accomplishments in ensuring that the State is environmentally safe.

Conference on Medication-Assisted Recovery

On March 14, Dr. Peter Myers, Coordinator of the Essex County College Addiction Counselor Training Program (Social Sciences Division), will co-chair with Lynda Arnold, RN, Essex County Division of Community Health Services, the 23rd Annual Training Conference on treatment of substance abuse. The conference will be held at the new Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove. Counselors and addiction specialists from agencies throughout the county will participate in the event.

Nationally known speaker Jeffrey Berman, M.D., Fellow of the American Society on Addiction Medicine, will lead off with a presentation on an important new medication, buprenorphine (Suboxone), followed by Mike Perry, a seasoned trainer, who will discuss methadone treatment. Dr. Naipaul Rambaran, Medical Director of the Essex County Hospital Center, will talk about the latest research on antidepressants in co-occuring disorders.

The conference will include presentations of Recognition Awards to employees who have delivered extraordinary services to clients. The program is sponsored by the Professional Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Local Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Click here to access the agenda for the conference.

Separately, another book edited by Dr. Myers is hot off the press. It is entitled 21st Century Research on Drugs and Ethnicity (2008: The Haworth Press/Taylor and Francis Group).

Spring Career Fair

On March 19, the College is holding its Spring Career Fair in the Physical Education Building at the Newark campus, from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. The program, funded by a Carl D. Perkins Grant, is jointly organized by ECC’s Career Resource Center, Corporate and Business Training, WISE Women’s Center, One-Stop Career Center, and the NJ Department of Labor. ECC students, alumni, and clients from the community are invited to register and attend. More than 60 firms from the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area are expected to attend.

A Résume Clinic has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Learning Center on the 2nd Floor to help students prepare good resumes to present to employers at the fair. An Employer Panel has also been scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 in the 4th Floor Multipurpose Room from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The panel will feature prominent employers from the area who will discuss workplace readiness and answer questions. Students interested in attending these sessions are encouraged to register in advance at the Career Resource Center. For further information or to register, click here or call the Center at (973) 877-3350 or Training, Inc. at (973) 877-3467.

Scholarship/Internship Information

Leonard Perryman Scholarship [Contact: Mickey Slayden at (615) 742-5400 or go to www.crt.umc.org]

Eligibility: Ethnic minority students from community colleges, transferring to a university as a junior. Award varies and is limited to students majoring in religion, journalism, or mass communications. Application deadline: March 15.

Fund for American Studies [Contact (800)741-6964 or go to www.tfas.org or e-mail info@fas.org]

The award is for an annual eight-week summer institute at Georgetown University that includes courses and internships. Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors majoring in political science, economics, and journalism. Award varies. Application deadline is March 31.

Women’s History Month Celebration

ECC graduate Elon Bomani, who is now an author and a highly successful entrepreneur, will address the college on Tuesday March 4, from 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. in Smith 2131, main campus. The free program is in celebration of Women’s History Month. Bomani will speak about the value of self-help and how to achieve good health, wealth, and spiritual maturity. This is a great opportunity for the college community to see the success of one of our own graduates.

The Women’s History Month Luncheon for women of Essex County College will be held on Wednesday, March 26 in the 4th Level Multipurpose Room, main campus, from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. The keynote speaker will be the Honrable Esther Salas, judge of the U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey. Salas, who assumed the post in November 2006, had previously served as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey.

Local Author Conducts a Creative Writing Workshop

Author Ethel Lee-Miller conducted a creative writing workshop and read excerpts from her book “Thinking of Miller Place: A Memoir of Summer Comfort” on Monday, March 3, at ECC’s West Essex Campus.

Lee-Miller was a teacher for 28 years at the Washington School in West Caldwell before retiring in 1997. Since that time she has been writing and is a member of the Write Group of Montclair. Her autobiographical book relates to her early years, the summers she spent on Long Island, and her close bond with her twin sister Eileen.

The free program was sponsored by the West Essex Campus Library.

Celebration of Native American and African Culture

The college will host a program entitled, A Celebration of Native American and African Cultures on March 8 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. in the Mary Burch Theater on the Newark campus.

The program will focus on the beauty and similarities between the two cultures through historical teachings, Native American and African dance, storytelling, and the sampling of traditional foods. Presenters include Chief C.W. Longbow of the Cherokee Nation of New Jersey, Zul-Latifatu Zahiratu from the Spektrums Afrikans Folkloric Historical Performing Company, and performing artist Marjorie Williams. The free program is sponsored by the college’s Africana Institute. For further information call (973) 877-3219.

African American History Month Highlights

African Footprint, a spectacular South African Dance Production by producer/director Richard Loring, came to ECC on February 28, mesmerizing the Burch Theater audience. The hypnotic beat of the African drum, the soulful saxophone, the haunting pennywhistle, and the meld of kwela jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet, and hip hop were all part of an explosive and emotional performance that told the vibrant and diverse history of South Africa. The program was sponsored by ECC’s Africana Institute and the Office of Student Life and Activities.

African American History Month Opening Ceremony

Members of the Black Panther Party in New Jersey discussed the organization’s legacy in a forum at the college on February 20. The keynote speaker was Dr. Komozi Woodard, a leading academic scholar of Amiri Baraka's (Leroy Jones) works and political career. The program was sponsored by the Africana Institute and the Student Government Association.

More February Events

Professor Eileen DeFreece on Era Bell Thompson & the Chicago Renaissance (February 7). The program was sponsored by ECC’s Humanities Division..

Poet Bobbie Gonzalez reading from his collection entitled Last Puerto Rican Indian (February 21)

Essex County High School Basketball Championships on February 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty News

Humanities Professor Daphne Benyard’s latest poem “No One’s Perfect” is among the literary works that are included in the textbook Psychology and Personal Growth (seventh edition), edited by Nelson Goud and Abe Arkoff.

Alumni News

ECC graduate Cynthia Okaduwa (Class of 2000) is scheduled to graduate with an M.D. degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark this May. After Essex, Cynthia transferred to Montclair State University and graduated (with high honors) with a B.S. in Biology. We wish Cynthia the best for securing the residency of her choice.

ECC Men’s Basketball Team Wins Title

Our men’s basketball team captured the Region 19 title March 2 to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association District 9 championship. Paced by John Pringle, the NJCAA’s leading rebounder with nearly 17 a game, and Region 19 tournament MVP Donovan Willis, the Wolverines defeated Mercer 96-80 and Delaware Tech 80-66. Next up for Coach Tarik Brown’s squad is a home game March 8 at 6 p.m. against the Community College of Rhode Island.

The Wolverines currently have a 15-14 record. Click here for more details.

Indoor Track Championships Set for March 7-8

ECC’s Lady Wolverine indoor track champions are looking to defend their National Junior College Athletic Association title this weekend at Eastern Illinois University. ECC’s strong men’s team also looks for a high finish in the championship meet. Coach Michael Smart’s squads will each compete in seven events.

A number of ECC student-athletes have turned in top performances this winter in advance of the championship. Freshman Natasha Ruddock has improved on her January record setting performance in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.13 second time last month at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Sasha-Kay Matthias has the best leap of 19 feet, 9.75 inches this season in the long jump, also at the New Balance meet, while the men’s 4x400 meter relay team set a national junior college record of 3.08.30 at the Iowa Classic on February 16. For further details, click here.

Upcoming ECC Events

Name	Date and Time	Location
Creative Writing Workshop conducted by author Ethel Lee-Miller	March 3 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Multipurpose Room A West Essex Campus
Annual Spring transfer Day	March 4 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	2nd level Forum Main Campus
Women’s Health Issues Speaker:  Elon Bomani	March 4 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Smith 2131 Main Campus
Friendship Games sponsored by Student Life & Activities	March 4 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 –p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Geographic Information Systems Information session	March 5, 14, & 20 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	2nd Level Forum Main Campus
SGA’s First General Assembly	March 6 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Main Dining Hall Main Campus
Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony	March 6 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Essex Room Main Campus
Latino Open House ORM	March 8 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	2nd Level Forum Main Campus
Evening/Weekend College Job Readiness Workshop	March 8 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Learning Center Seminar Room, Main Campus
One People:  A Celebration of Native American & African Culture Sponsored by the Africana Institute	March 8 12 noon - 4:00 p.m.	Mary Burch Theater Main Campus
Phi Theta Kappa Blood Drive	March 10 10:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m. March 12  10 a.m.  – 4:00 p.m.	2nd Level Forum Main Campus Dasher Student Center Main Campus
Senator Lipman Saturday Seminar	March 15 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room, Main Campus
CCE Scholarship Plant Sale	March 19 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room, Main Campus
Spring Career Fair	March 19 12 noon – 3:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Summer Program for Kids Orientation	March 18 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.	Multipurpose Room A West Essex Campus
Women’s History Month Luncheon Sponsored by WISE Women’s Center	March 26 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room, Main Campus
Evening/Weekend College Social	March 26 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.	Main Dining Hall Main Campus
Ethics in Engineering, Electronic Engineering Technology, & Computer Science	March 27 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.	Center for Technology Main Campus
Adult Learning Center Registration for Summer I	March 27 & 28 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.	Multipurpose Room A West Essex Campus
27th Talent Show	March 28 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Mary Burch Theater Main Campus

For more information, call (973) 877-3208 or (973) 877-6637 for main campus events and (973) 877-1903 for West Essex Campus events.

Contact Information

This newsletter is prepared by the Office of Publications and Production in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please address them to Dr. Lekha Keister at lkeister@essex.edu.