MCC Faculty Honored with Excellence Awards
Back (l-r): N. Tirfessa, R. Harden, J. Gentile; Front (l-r): B. Fox, M. DiRaimo
Five faculty members from Manchester Community College have been honored by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) for excellence in teaching. They have also received the Manchester Community College Excellence in Teaching award.
The recipients of the 2011 NISOD award are:
Michael J. DiRaimo is a Professor of English and has a master’s degree from Brown University. He was hired in 1983 by MCC to teach in the English Department after working for three years as an instructor at the Community College of Rhode Island and Roger Williams College. He teaches American Literature, Film Study, English Composition and transition courses for non-traditional students.
Barbara “Bobbi” Fox, Associate Professor/Coordinator of Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counselor (DARC) Program has a bachelor of science degree in Psychology and a master of science in Counseling/Vocational Rehabilitation, both from Central Connecticut State University. She has been the full time DARC program coordinator since 2002.
James Gentile, Professor of English and has a PhD from Columbia University in English and Comparative Literature. He currently serves as the chair of the CT Community College Center for Teaching. Dr. Gentile co-chairs the Connecticut Coalition of English Teachers, which is the professional organization for all English instructors in the community college system.
Rick Harden is a Professor of Fine Arts. He is an acclaimed artist and teacher and has received a number of awards and grants for his work. He received a BFA from the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University and an MFA from Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.
Negussie Tirfessa, Professor of Physics received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He completed his PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics in 2001 at Ohio State University and joined MCC as an instructor of Physics in January 2002.
NISOD, since its inception in 1978, has emphasized the importance of teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education learning, with the ultimate goal of student success. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony to honor distinguished educators.
