Volume 7, No. 11	December 2009

Seasons Greetings! 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.

Celebration of Dr. Yamba’s Legacy

It was a grand event indeed! The longest serving college president in New Jersey and one of the longest serving academic chief executive officers in the nation, Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, was honored on December 4 at a Celebrating the Legacy gala at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark.   It was an impressive and well deserved send off to a beloved leader on the occasion of his upcoming retirement. 

The tribute celebrated the achievements and boundless energy of Dr. Yamba who has lead Essex for three decades of unprecedented growth and stability and devoted 41 of his 45 years in education to the college. For details regarding Dr. Yamba’s tenure, go to this special web page.  

Highlights of the Celebration

Enlarge This Image President Yamba and wife Trish Morris Yamba arriving in Prudential Hall of NJ Performing Arts Center	Enlarge This Image Dr. Yamba with key to the County of Essex he received from County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo (he also received key to the City of Newark from Mayor Cory Booker)
Enlarge This Image Dr. Yamba , Newark City Council president Mildred Crump & Newark Mayor Cory Booker holding the A. Zachary Yamba Plaza sign for the University Avenue and West Market area that will be so designated.	Enlarge This Image Dr. Yamba, County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, & Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver
Enlarge This Image Dr. Yamba with Alhaji Dr. Asoma Abu Banda, prominent Ghanaian business leader, member of the Council of State for the Republic of Ghana & former university chancellor who travelled from Ghana to visit his close friend.	Enlarge This Image Dr. James Mc Ginty, VP of Technology and Campus Services, Ocean County College, Dr. Edward Yaw, president of the County College of Morris, Lawrence Nespoli, president, New Jersey Council of County Colleges, & Dr. Steven Rose, president, Passaic County Community College.
Enlarge This Image Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Jeanette Brummell, Executive Director of University Heights Science Park, Maria Vizcarrondo, Director of Newark’s Department of Child & Family Wellbeing, & ECC Trustee William Vazquez.	Enlarge This Image Junius Williams (former ECC trustee) of Rutgers-Newark, Marcia Brown, Vice Chancellor at Rutgers-Newark, former Newark School Superintendent Marion Bolden, Diane Hill of Rutgers-Newark, & Assemblyman Thomas Giblin.
Enlarge This Image Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, Chair of the College Board of Trustees (at podium) with, from left, trustees Rev. Levin B. West & Jeweline Grimes, the Yambas, & trustees Dr. Lawrence Feinsod, William Vasquez, and Al Bundy.	Enlarge This Image ECC’s recent alumni:  Oluwaseun Aladese (NJIT), Bertheleau Ngahkam (Cornell), Shaey Beaumont (Rutgers), & Wilson Aiwuyor (Syracuse).
Enlarge This Image ECC profs (from left) Timothy Stafford, Helen Kuruc & Michael King with ECC Student Life & Activities Director Patricia Slade (center).	Enlarge This Image Dr. and Mrs. Clement Price, Rutgers-Newark, with the Yambas
Enlarge This Image Dennis Bone, President of Verizon, President and Board Chair of the American Conference on Diversity Diane Swartz and Robert Rose respectively, and NJIT President Dr. Robert Altenkirch.	Enlarge This Image College faculty and staff
Enlarge This Image The Yambas on the dance floor amidst cheers For more photos of the event, click here For video highlights of the event, click here

Three Finalists for the Presidency of ECC

Finalists for the presidency of the college met last month with faculty, staff, and students as well as members of the community during open forums at the main Newark campus.

The first open forum on Friday November 20 featured Dr. Darnell E. Cole, former president of Milwaukee Area Technical College at 1 p.m., followed by Dr. Valerie R. Roberson, former president of Olive-Harvey College of the City College of Chicago at 2:15 p.m.  The third finalist, Dr. Edythe M. Abdullah, president of the Downtown Campus of Florida Community College at Jacksonville, was featured on November 23.

The finalists were selected from a larger group of candidates interviewed by a Search Committee of the ECC Board of Trustees and a college-wide Advisory Search Committee. The committees were formed last May following the announcement of the upcoming retirement of President A. Zachary Yamba who will step down December 31 after a 29-year tenure. Assisting the college in its national search was the Association of Community College Trustees. For more information on the finalists, click here.

Holiday Traditions

The holiday spirit comes alive this month as ECC celebrates the season with an array of festivities.

All are invited to take part in the Alumni Association’s Angel Tree Gift Program, star ting December 10, to make the holidays a little brighter for those less fortunate. Take the name of a needy child off the Christmas tree on the Level II Forum at the main Newark campus and donate a gift to that youngster.

Gifts will be distributed to children between the ages of 6 months to 17 years who live in homeless shelters in Newark and the surrounding communities. Please drop off your unwrapped gift by Monday, December 14 to Lola Akiwowo, Alumni Advisor, Room 6105, at the main campus. Gifts will be distributed on Friday, December 18. For more information on the gift drive, call Akiwowo at (973) 877-1893.

 

Winter Intersession and Spring Registration Dates

Registration is in progress through December 22 for Winter Intersession; students can earn up to three credits in just two weeks -- December 26 to January 6. All classes are held in the Center for Technology at the main Newark campus.

Web registration for the Spring 2010 Semester is on-going through January 15, with classes from January 11 to April 26. In-person registration will be from January 5-8 (9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) at both campuses, with late registration and add/drop the following week (January 11-15, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.). Students can also register for the Weekend College which starts January 15, with classes on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Weekend College classes end April 24.

In-person registration for Spring II 2010 (Late Start Semester) is from January 29 to February 4 (10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Fri 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.).  Classes are from January 29 to April 24. For registration guidelines, click here. For further information, call (973) 877-3100 (Main Campus) or (973) 877-6590 (West Essex Campus).

Enlarge This Image David Lammy (Center) with Dr. Patrick, Dean of Faculty Dr. Ladylease White, UK Staff, and ECC Students and Staff.

UK Member of Parliament Visits ECC

On November 19, the Honorable David Lammy, the United Kingdom’s Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, visited ECC with his staff.  The purpose of his visit was to identify improved ways of delivering basic skills and career education to adult learners. 

After meeting with members of President Yamba’s cabinet, Minister Lammy toured Training, Inc., The Learning Center, and the Center for Health Sciences, meeting with directors and other program officers at each location.  In Dr. Yamba’s absence, Provost and Executive VP Dr. Vernell Patrick served as host for Minister Lammy and his staff.

 

 

Commendation for ECC’s Customized Training Program

On October 7, Essex County College was given a commendation for providing computer software training to the entire staff of Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders’ Clerk’s Office. 

ECC’s Corporate and Business Training Center designs specialized course curricula and delivers various levels of technical and soft skills training that are tailored to meet the specific needs of companies, hospitals, agencies, and community-based organizations.

Enlarge This Image From left, Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez, Freeholder Clerk Deborah Davis Ford, Freeholder Donald M.Payne, Jr., Freeholder Rufus I. Johnson, ECC’s Customized Training Program Coordinator Carmen Pichardo, Customized Training Director Maureen Behr, Freeholder Patricia Sebold, Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, Freeholder Linda Lordi Cavanaugh, Freeholder D. Bilal Beasley and Freeholder Vice President Ralph R. Caputo.

Events in Celebration of the Season

Kwanzaa  -  On December 10, the College will celebrate the importance of Kwanzaa and African culture. The free program will be held at the third level Snack Bar at the main Newark campus. The celebration will include lighting of seven candle signifying seven principles, dance performances, a student group presentation, and poetry reading. There will be free food, cultural displays, African drummers, and more.  The program is organized by the Africana Institute, African Student Association, Business Club, Cari Club, Dominican Student Association, Forensics and Debating Society Club, Haitian Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and Student Life and Activities.


Multicultural Forum - ECC’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program is holding its eighth annual Multicultural Forum on Thursday, December 17 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in the Green Area Snack Bar, main Newark campus.  The free program, in celebration of diversity and the holiday season, will feature music, dancing, stories, traditional desserts, and more. 

PTA Club’s Toy and Clothing Drive

The Physical Therapist Assistant Club is looking to make the holidays a little brighter for the less fortunate through its annual Holiday Toy & Clothing Drive. All items collected will be donated to children in the shelter program at Newark YMCA.
    
Items needed the most include diapers, bottles, blankets, clothing for infants and very young children, and, of course, toys.

Please bring all unwrapped gifts to the donation bin located in the 2nd floor Blue Area at the main Newark campus by December 18.

ECC Finishes in 5th Place Tie in Soccer National

Enlarge This Image ECC’s men’s soccer team

ECC’s men’s soccer team, winners of the Region XIX (November 2) and Northeast District (November 19) championships, deadlocked Yavapai College 1-1 in the fifth place game November 22 in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament at Mercer County Community College. Because there is no overtime play on championship day, the 16-3-3 Wolverines finished the tournament tied for fifth place with the Arizona school. Coach Hugo Pierre’s team was seeded seventh in the national tournament.
 
Earlier in the tournament, ECC lost an overtime heartbreaker to runner-up Georgia Perimeter College. The Wolverines bounced back to defeat Barton College 2-1 in a game decided by penalty kicks.

Goalie Marco Ortiz was named to the all-tournament team.   Freshman Herve Valcourt was named one of the region’s top five players. He was joined on the All Region XIX first team by fellow freshman Sheldon Palmer.  Valcourt and Palmer were joined on the All GSAC first team by fellow freshman Mamadou Barry.
 
While the women’s soccer team did not make the playoffs, Coach Yatchine Michel’s Lady Wolverines placed freshman backer Anika Aguirre on the All-Region XIX team. Aguirre joined fellow first year player Ann-Kay Lawrence, a mid fielder, on the All Garden State Athletic Conference team.

For further details, click here.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Enlarge This Image ECC’s Africana Institute hosted a month-long art exhibition (October 24 - November 30) in the college Gallery, featuring the work of New Jersey artist Carol Black-Lemon.  The theme of the exhibition was “Enchanted Journey.” At the reception honoring Black-Lemon, the artist (far right), discussed how poetry inspired her artwork.	Enlarge This Image Scene from the play Yo Soy Latina in the Mary Burch Theater - November 11
Enlarge This Image ECC’s Africana Institute held its Second Annual Pan African Martial Arts conference on November 14 at ECC’s main Newark campus and November 15 at Rutgers-Newark’s Paul Robeson Center.  The theme of the event was “Remembering Dr. Ivan Van Sertima: The African Origins of Asian Martial Arts.” Among the speakers were Runoko Rashid who co-authored a book with Van Sertima; Dr. Leonard L. Bethel – Rutgers University, New Brunswick; Dr. Leonard Jeffries – City College, CUNY; and Mfundishi Jhutyms Ka N Heru Salim.  The conference was sponsored by the Africana Institute, Ka Kheper Ra Shule, Maasi N Family System, and the Organization of Black  Faculty and Staff at Rutgers-Newark  Panelists and participants in the Conference with the Director of the Africana Institute, Dr. Akil Khalfani
Enlarge This Image UK Member of Parliament David Lammy Addressing ECC’s Cabinet members – November 19

Upcoming ECC Events

Winter Career Fair Employer Panel	December 2 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.	Smith 2131 Main Campus
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony	December 2 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	2nd Floor Forum Main Campus
Drug Court Graduation Superior Court of New Jersey	December 3 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Smith 2131 Main Campus
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony	December 4 11: 00 a.m.	Student Lounge West Essex Campus
Winter Blaze Cari Club	December 4 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.	Main Dining Hall Main Campus
Boxing Match Edmond Promotion	December 4 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
The Cotillion Program	December 5  9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Dasher Student Center Main Campus
Masjid Rahmah Lecture Series	December 5 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	Smith 2131 and Siegler 2132 Main Campus
Merry Movie Monday	December 7 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Student Lounge West Essex Campus
English Final Prep Workshop	December 8 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.	Room S005 West Essex Campus
Math Final Prep Workshop	December 9 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Multipurpose Room-A West Essex Campus
African Consciousness movie	December 7 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Africana Institute Main Campus
ECC Chapter United Adjunct Faculty	December 8 & 9 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	Essex Room Main Campus
Winter Career Fair	December 9 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Getting Your Life on Track Sponsored by the WISE Women’s Center	December 10 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room Main Campus
Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration	December 10 6:30 p.m. – 8:30- p.m.	3rd Level Snack Bar Main Campus
Women’s Basketball ECC vs. Mercer County Community College Men’s Basketball ECC vs. Mercer County Community College	December 10 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Math Final Prep Workshop	December 11 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Multipurpose Room-A West Essex Campus
Winter Break Party Organized by Student Life & Activities	December 11 8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
An Evening with the Three Doctors	December 11 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Siegler 2132 Main Campus
Dance Recital On-Campus Continuing Education	December 12 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Burch Theater Main Campus
Fellowship Workshop Wise Women’s Center	December 12 & 19 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Yellow Snack Bar Main Campus
Women’s Basketball ECC vs. Delaware Technical & Community College-Stanton (DTTC-Stanton) Men’s Basketball ECC vs. DTTC-Stanton	December 12 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Community & Continuing Education Holiday Celebration	December 15 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room Main Campus
Educational Opportunity Fund Program Multicultural Forum	December 17 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 pm.	Green Snack Bar Main Campus
Navidad Latina Student Life & Activities	December 18 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.	Main Dining Hall Main Campus
NJ KAPMMA Amateur Championship	December 18 7:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Next Step Program Recognition Ceremony Community & Continuing Education	December 21 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	4th Level Multipurpose Room Main Campus
Women’s Basketball ECC vs. Harcum College Men’s Basketball EC vs. Harcum College	December 22 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building Main Campus
Holiday Basketball Tournament Newark Public Schools	December 29 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. December 30 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Physical Education Building 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.