MCC Announces Faculty and Staff Appointments

MANCHESTER, Conn. (November 6, 2019) – Manchester Community College is pleased to announce the following new appointments:

Tracy Ariel, of Granby, was named precision manufacturing program director. Ariel joined MCC after serving as director of advanced manufacturing and early college opportunities programs at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system office. Previously she held human resources positions with local manufacturers. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University and a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Hartford.

Sofia Bonilla, of East Hartford, was appointed associate director of human resources. Prior to joining MCC, she was principal human resources specialist at the Secretary of the State’s office since 2017. Before that she held positions of increasing responsibility within state agencies and the private sector. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Connecticut.

Richard Cohen, of Bristol, was named instructor of early childhood education. He was previously director of Turtle Island Children’s Center in Vermont and brings additional experience in early childhood education from across the country to his MCC classroom. He has also served as an independent consultant in the field since 1996. His bachelor’s degree is from Fontbonne University and master’s degree from Pacific Oaks College.

Adrienne Dowd, of Hamden, was appointed instructor of English. She has taught at several Connecticut colleges and universities, most recently Southern Connecticut State University, and also held a teaching position at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

John Genna, Jr., of Brooklyn, Conn., was hired as instructor of manufacturing. He has taught at Three Rivers Community College and Quinebaug Valley Community College, and he has 22 years of experience working in all facets of mechanical and manufacturing-related jobs. He holds an associate degree from QVCC and a bachelor’s degree from New England Institute of Technology. He is currently a candidate for a master’s degree at Pittsburg State University.

Kurt Lindboom-Broberg, of Newington, was named instructor of biology. He has served as adjunct faculty across the Connecticut community college system at institutions including Tunxis and MCC, and he has taught at Springfield College, Central Connecticut State University and Hillyer College at University of Hartford. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

Samantha Plourd, of Sturbridge, Mass., was named associate director of admissions. She was previously enrollment services coordinator at MCC since 2014. Prior to joining the college, Plourd was transfer counselor/student-ambassador coordinator at Rosemont College. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English and legal studies from Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree from Rosemont College.

Amy Shaw, of Willimantic, was named instructor of English. She served as adjunct faculty at Middlesex Community College since 2014 and has also taught English as a second language to students in China and Costa Rica. She has been a writing consultant and editor. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Central Florida, and she holds a master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University.