With the end of the Spring semester drawing closer, Professor Kimberley Lyng naturally has a lot on her plate like many of her fellow faculty members, especially with acting as adviser for this year’s Speechapalooza.
At the same time however, she finds the busy schedule energizing as she enjoys seeing her Public Relations students connect about planning the event, even more so while still in the midst of the pandemic.
A relative newcomer to the NECC Community, Lyng acquired the position of Journalism/Communication Program Coordinator in Fall 2020, after Amy Callahan stepped down to focus more on her duties as Dean of Liberal Arts.
With Lyng’s long and impressive background of Communications/Journalism experience, having previously worked in newspapers, television, and public relations, it’s no wonder why she would b ea valuable asset to the department. “I’ve been so impressed in her professionalism and enthusiasm,” stated Callahan. “She’s very compassionate, encouraging, and she knows how to translate her expertise into effective, engaging teaching.”
When asked about being hired during the pandemic, “it was kind of an interesting time because when you’re being a program coordinator, you want to have those in-person interactions with people because it helps you get to know them more,” reflected Lyng during a Zoom interview. “But then I feel like everything is easier in person.”
Lyng grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and had a strong love of the arts since she was a child, particularly when it came to writing.
As she got older, Lyng further pursued that particular interest of hers, writing a substantial amount of work for her high school newspaper.
She then went to Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History/French, as Journalism wasn’t available.
“Art History had a lot of connections,” Lyng shared. “A lot of it was writing intensive, there was some history which was really interesting to me, and along with taking French was extremely helpful when I went to work on TV.”
After graduating Bates, Lyng took on various jobs related to her field, such as editorial assistant for Community Newspaper Publishers, to writing stories for The Somerville Journal and Cambridge Chronicle, to even winning an award for a documentary she produced at the 1995 Chicago Film Festival.
After thoseaccomplishments, she went to Syracuse University to pursue her Master’s Degree in Communications, as well as to experiment more with broadcasting.
“Syracuse is the broadcast school. If you want to try broadcasting, it’s awesome,” stated Lyng, who also encouraged taking profession-related jobs in between academics, as they “provide a way in.”
Prior to her hiring at NECC, Lyng had worked as executive producer and managing editor for WCVB Channel 5 and Boston Metro respectively, as well as Communications Coordinator at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts where she was awarded Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years.
“Kim is a wonderful teacher, resourceful, has excellent experience, is energetic, and holds students to high standards. From knowing her and supervising her, I would recommendher to any institution, which is looking for well-qualified instructors,” stated BobOwczarek, a now-retired faculty member at Pine Manor and close colleague to Lyng.
Lyng has not only won the praise of her fellow staff members, but also the love and admiration of her students.
“I have had Professor Lyng over the last two semesters and have found her to be an amazing professor,” stated Isa Grullon.
Grullon is not onlya student of Lyng’s classes, but also the NECC Observer’s own editor-in-chief.
“There were times over the last two semesters where I just honestly wanted to give up, but she pushed me to continue forward, and I am so grateful she did!” said Grullon.
In addition to Grullon’s praise, Lyng is described as a teacher who “truly values the input of her students and cares about their success in and out of the classroom,” said Owen Devlin, another of her students.
“She is one of the best instructors I have ever had and I look forward toworking with her again!” he said.
At the end of her busy days, Lyng looks forward to retreat to her seaside community in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
It is there where she lives with her family,and they have lived there for over a decade.
NECC is lucky to have her, and the community looks forward to what she’ll bring next to the college.
