Eight New Members Appointed to the Regional Advisory Council for MCC

Manchester, CT- (December 19, 2006). . . Manchester Community College President Jonathan M. Daube has announced the appointment of eight new members to the College’s Regional Advisory Council.

“These eight will add strength to what is already a very strong group,” stated Daube. “I look forward to working with them.”

Evelyn V. Clark ’94, of East Windsor, has over 20 years’ experience with non-profit organizations. She worked as coordinator of liturgical ministries for St. Bridget Church in Manchester and was the co-director of Breakthrough to the Aging based in Hartford. Clark has served on various boards and committees for organizations including Witness for Peace, Catholic Family Services and St. Bridget Church Pastoral Council.

Clark is a graduate of Manchester Community College with an associate of science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and holds a bachelor of arts degree in Latin American Studies from Smith College in Northampton, MA.

Melody A. Currey was elected mayor of East Hartford in 2005. Prior to that, she served as state representative for the Tenth District in the Connecticut General Assembly for seven terms and she held numerous leadership positions in the House, including serving as a member of the Appropriations Committee, deputy majority leader and deputy speaker. She was instrumental in advocating for the funds needed to construct the new buildings at Manchester Community College.

Mayor Currey serves on the Executive Board of the Capitol Region Council of Government, is an executive board member of Riverfront Recapture and co-chairs the East Hartford School Readiness Council. She lives in East Hartford and attended the State University of New York at Cobleskill, where she majored in Business Administration.

Timothy J. Devanney, of Manchester, is the president of Highland Park Markets, Inc. and is the second generation Devanney family owner of the grocery chain, which was established in 1886. Devanney is the former president of the Connecticut Food Association and received its Person of the Year award in 1992. He also received the National Grocers Association’s “Spirit of America” Award.

Devanney has been heavily involved in the community over the years, serving as president of the St. James School Foundation, corporator for the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, director of the SBM Charitable Foundation, former president of the Lutz Children’s Museum, director of Price Foundation and trustee of the Highland Park Family Foundation.

Matthew J. Dicks ‘96 of West Hartford, has been a teacher at Henry A. Wolcott Elementary School in West Hartford for seven years. He has several years of experience teaching and providing tutoring services for students of all ages. He also operates and owns Jam Packed Dance Floor DJ’s, a mobile wedding DJ service.

Dicks is a member of the Wolcott School Chess Club, an actor for the Park Road Playhouse and a volunteer organizer for Habitat for Humanity. He is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, West Hartford Reading Committee and the Connecticut Education Association.

A graduate of Trinity College, Dicks holds a bachelor of arts degree in English/Creative Writing and an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Manchester Community College. He is currently pursuing his master of arts degree in English/Creative Writing from Trinity College.

Bob Eckert ‘00, of Simsbury, is the executive director of the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester. Prior to joining the museum in 2001, Eckert worked in the insurance industry and was a sales and marketing consultant for the Hartford Insurance Company.
Eckert is very involved in the community, serving as a member of the Manchester Community Services Council, the Manchester School Readiness Council, the Manchester Rotary Club and the Central School Parent Teacher Organization in Simsbury. He is also a member of the board of directors for Critters in Crisis Pet Rescue organization.

Eckert is a graduate of Manchester Community College with an associate of science degree in General Studies and a graduate of American College in Bryn Mawr, PA with an associate degree in Risk Management. Eckert also attended the University of Connecticut.

John V. Gannon ‘96, of Vernon, worked in various capacities for Manchester Community College for over 39 years. He has served as the associate dean of Student Affairs, dean of Continuing Education, acting dean of Institutional Development, special projects coordinator in the Office of Institutional Development, acting director for the Division of Liberal Arts and adjunct instructor for the Division of Liberal Arts.

Gannon served as a college liaison to the Tolland County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Capital Region Workforce Development Board. He was also chairperson of the Economics Development Commission for the town of Manchester, and a member of the Manchester Community College Foundation Board of Directors.
Gannon holds an associate degree in accounting from MCC, a bachelor of science degree in Education from Southern Connecticut State University and a master of arts degree in Guidance and Counseling from Fairfield University.

Major General David W. Gay (ret.) ‘78, of Manchester, served 43 years of military service in several different positions and disciplines at all levels of the Connecticut National Guard before retiring in 1999.

General Gay received dozens of federal and state medals, including the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the State Medal of Merit and the National Defense Service Ribbon. He was also recognized with the Eagle Award, the most prestigious award presented by the National Guard Bureau.

General Gay is a member of the Artillery Hall of Fame and had been presented the Order of Saint Barbara and the Order of Saint Michael.

A graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, he holds an associate’s degree from Manchester Community College and a bachelor of arts degree in Public Law and Government from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Vrinda Saxena ‘06, of Glastonbury, is in the project manager internship program at Cronin & Co. in Glastonbury, and works as a graduate assistant in the School of Communication at Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, CT

Saxena is a graduate of Manchester Community College with an associate of arts degree in Multimedia Studies and Graphic Design. She is currently pursing her graduate degree in Interactive Communication at Quinnipiac University.

The Regional Advisory Council was established in 1969 to assist the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges and the college president in promoting the development of a community college education program consistent with the goals of public higher education in Connecticut and the mission of the college.

Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.