New Faculty and Staff Join Manchester Community College

Manchester, CT – (August 31, 2006) . . . Manchester Community College is pleased to announce the following additions to its staff:

Bonnie Riedinger, of Litchfield, has joined MCC as the Director of Educational Technology & Distant Learning.

In her new role, Riedinger will be responsible for developing and enhancing learning opportunities in the area of educational technology and distance learning for faculty, staff and students. She will also be responsible for making recommendations on best practices for technology-based learning environments, as well as management of the College’s Educational Technology Center, including oversight of the center’s staff, equipment and budget.

Prior to joining MCC, Riedinger was the Director of Teaching and Learning at FacultyMentor in Waterbury. Previously, she worked as the Director of Online Assessment and Associate Director of Distance Learning for Post University in Waterbury.

Riedinger is a graduate of Ohio State University with a master of science degree in English and holds a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism, Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Connecticut.

Justin Tedford, of Manchester, is the college’s new Associate Director of Financial Aid. Tedford will be responsible for assisting students, prospective students and parents apply for financial aid, advising them on personal financial management and monitoring the academic performance of aid recipients. He will also be responsible for preparing accurate and timely records and reports of financial aid funds to federal, state and private organizations.

Tedford is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic with a bachelor of arts degree in History, and was formerly the Financial Aid Staff Assistant at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Dr. Paul Edelen, of Bolton, and Kate Lombardi, of Vernon, have joined MCC as Instructors of Mathematics in the college’s Mathematics, Science and Health Careers division.

In their new role, Edelen and Lombardi will be responsible for teaching and preparing college mathematics course materials for liberal arts, business, science and engineering majors. In addition, they will advise students and assess student progress, revise and evaluate curricula, and participate on college committees.

Prior to joining MCC, Edelen practiced family medicine at the East Hartford Family Practice, LLP and was formerly an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. In addition, he was employed as the Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University School of Nursing, and an adjunct faculty in mathematics at Manchester Community College and the University of Hartford.

Edelen holds a M.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, a master of arts degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Connecticut, and a bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He is currently a member of the Town of Bolton Technology Committee and has an extensive teaching and military background, with over 20 years of experience.

Lombardi was formerly a full-time Teaching Assistant at the University of Connecticut and a Mathematics Tutor at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY

She holds a master of science degree in Mathematics from the University of Connecticut and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Mathematics from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY.

Albert Kim, of Middletown, is the newest Instructor of Communications in the Liberal Arts division at MCC. Kim was formerly an Instructor and Adjunct Professor of Communications at Central Connecticut State University, Manchester Community College, Albertus Magnus College and Shorter College in Atlanta, GA. Kim was also the Director of National Promotions for C-Media Promotions based in Middletown and Atlanta, GA.

In his new role, Kim will be responsible for teaching and preparing public speaking, interpersonal communications and other communications-related courses, advising students and assessing student progress, revising and evaluating curricula, and participating on college committees.

Kim is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a master of science degree in Organizational Management and Communication and holds a bachelor of arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Tanya Millner-Harlee, of Hartford, and Kaarina Brown Finegan, of Manchester, have joined MCC as Instructors of Developmental English in the Liberal Arts division. Developmental English is designed for students who may not be ready for college-level classes. This program provides a foundation to help students become successful college-level readers, writers and thinkers.

In their new role, Millner-Harlee and Finegan will be responsible for teaching and preparing courses in developmental English, work with other faculty and staff on assessing outcomes of current developmental programs, advising students and assessing student progress, revising and evaluating curricula, and participating on college committees.

Millner-Harlee was formerly an adjunct faculty member at Manchester Community College. Previously, she worked as an Online English Adjunct Faculty at Strayer University in Newington, VA. Millner-Harlee holds a master of arts degree in English, Linguistics and Writing from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She is currently working to complete her Ed.D in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Finegan was formerly an adjunct faculty member at Manchester Community College, and also worked as a English Instructor for CT Works/Vernon Regional Adult Basic Education in Manchester. She holds a master of arts degree in English from Trinity College and a bachelor of arts degree in Theatre and English from State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, NY.

Susan VanNess, of Newington, has been hired as Instructor of Education in the Social Science and Hospitality division. VanNess was formerly an Adjunct Instructor for Early Childhood Education at Manchester Community College and the Coordinator of the Science Outreach program for preschool teachers at the Science Center Preschool in West Hartford.

As an Instructor of Education, VanNess will be responsible for teaching and preparing specialized education courses, supervision of field experience, curriculum development, recruiting and advising students, and participating on college committees.

VanNess is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a master of science degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor of science degree in Education.

Dr. Stacy Giguere, of Manchester, and Eric Robinson, of Enfield, have joined MCC as Instructors of Psychology in the Social Science and Hospitality division.

In their new role, Guguere and Robinson will be responsible for teaching Foundations of College Success, a first year experience course, as well as courses in introductory psychology and other areas of psychology. In addition, they will develop, revise and evaluate curricula, and participate on college committees.

Giguere is a member of the American Psychological Association and was formerly a adjunct faculty member at Manchester Community College and Great Path Academy. She also worked as a Volunteer Facilitator and Program Committee Member for The Cove Center for Grieving Children and Families in Manchester.

She is a graduate of Duquesne University with a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology and a master of arts degree in Psychology. She graduated from Saint Joseph College with a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy.

Robinson was formerly an adjunct faculty member and Minority Fellow at Manchester Community College. He also taught at Capital Community College and worked as a Consultant/Clinician for Connection, Inc.

He is a member of the Greater New England Alliance of Black School Educators, the National Black Child Development Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the National Association of Black Social Workers. He holds a master of social work degree from Smith College in Northampton, MA and a bachelor of social work degree from Elms College in Chicopee, MA.

Pamela McManus, of Baytown, Texas, has joined MCC as Instructor of Biological Sciences in the Mathematics, Science and Health Careers division. In her new role, McManus will be responsible for lectures and laboratories in areas such as Principles of Biological Science, General Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology. In addition, she will develop, implement, revise and evaluate curricula in light of the National Science Education Standards with a goal of implementing technology into the teaching and learning of the course materials. McManus will also advise and recruit students into the program and participate in college committees.

McManus is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a master of science degree in Zoology and Physiology and holds a bachelor of science degree in Zoology and Botany from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. McManus attended Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, WY and studied Microbiology, Biochemistry and Archaeology.

Prior to joining MCC, McManus was an Instructor of Biology at Lee College in Baytown, TX and an Instructor of Biological Sciences at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, WY. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the National Association of Biology Teachers and Texas Undergraduate Educators in the Biological Sciences.

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.