The spacious atrium of the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence campus with hand painted murals with inspiring quotes and one large glass wall like a fancy sunroom, is mostly empty. Unless Early College students are having classes, the big lobby is far from having engaged students hanging around or studying in groups. 

In front of the lobby, there is the welcoming study room/SOAR office but if they are closed and you need to charge your device, the beautiful atrium becomes a dark place to study because it lacks of electrical outlets for laptops or cellphones. There is only one “charging station” next to the entrance door, and the other remaining outlet is next to the microwave near the food vending machine. 

I have been working standing up several times because I had to charge my laptop on the counter top where the microwave is placed, and the table next to the charging station was busy.

More than once, I have seen an elder lady carrying many bags, presumably homeless, sitting down in the lobby arranging her belongings or reading a flyer. 

There used to be a couple of soccer tables that at least, for a short time, while waiting for school busses, Early College students were interacting together in real time away from their screen. However, those “fulbito” tables are gone.  

I don’t think the lobby in Dimitry building in Lawrence needs any decoration. Instead, it needs an upgrade in being an effective and accessible space, maybe with a/some recreational or interesting entertainment that bring students together. The piano in the Spurk C-building calls curious and experienced piano player students around. 

Dr. Naydeen Gonzales de Jesus, is the new vice president of the Lawrence campus and community relations. She said regarding her first and foremost important focus about her role is “to create a sense of belonging, sense of community, so that all of the students that are coming through our doors feel that they belong, and this is their place to be, to learn, to grow.” 

She also said she would work beyond the look-and-feel of Lawrence campus. “I want to establish strong and healthy relationships with our partners in the community with employers, City Council, and other four-year schools and universities to create pathways of opportunities for students to have to get jobs, to have internships,” she said.

In order to be more engaged with Lawrence community, Dr. Naydeen moved to Lawrence with her family. 

She aims to bring local community residents and organizations to Lawrence campus so they can see NECC as a partner and they could celebrate their events in Lawrence buildings.

Dr. Naydeen was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the US when she was 14 years old. At that time she did not speak English. That was her first educational challenge, but once she started, she has taken a long academic journey. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in broadcasting, a master of arts in student personnel services, and a PhD in industrial organizational psychology. 

Through her education, Dr. Naydeen was focused in learning in empowering the lives of people working with students, as student counselors or career and advancement for college students, and lately in her PhD, she focused on identifying assets, special needs and people’s feelings about their organization or workplace to improve it. 

Dr. Naydeen, as she likes to be called, wants to help and she wants to know Lawrence campus students’ points of view, their preferences and concerns, and is organizing the Lawrence Campus Townhall for Student Voices, on Tuesday, April 1 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Dimitry Atrium (lobby). 

Light refreshments will be provided.