Observer Department: Features
Meet Phonnara Dy
By Eduardo Souza Phonnara Dy sits with his laptop open and attentively listens to Professor Diann Cahaly’s biology lecture on cell structure. Dy’s laptop displays the day’s powerpoint presentation, his notebook is open, and he’s ready to take the day’s notes. Dy is a 32-year-old resident of Lowell who moved…
PACE yourself at NECC with Karen Mitchell
By Fred Riley III Karen Mitchell is the director of the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence also known as the PACE program at Northern Essex Community College. Mitchell has been working at NECC for 21 years or one-third of her life. Mitchell started at NECC in 1993 as an…
Mike Prescott, the Renaissance man
By Duane Sherman Over the decades, NECC has seen many gifted athletes on it's campus. To find one that also has the ability to sing and enjoys working with the homeless would be rare. It would make that individual a bit of a renaissance man. Meet 28-year-old Mike Prescott, who…
Meet the new library director
By Jessica Freeman “There’s more paperwork now” jokes, Mike Hearn, the recently appointed Director of Library Services. Hearn said his job is now more administrative, and that he misses being able to work with students directly. Hearn hopes to “rebrand” the library to be a more focus based experience. Hearn…
Taylor Robin has her eyes on the prize
By Nicholas Mazzone People hate working out, and can never keep up with it. They start working out and then quit a week after. What if the key to working out was social media? One fitness fanatic who uses social media to push her to keep working out and keep…
NECC alum Lisa Morelli is now C.E.O. of a multi-million dollar credit union
By Rachael Sarcione NECC alum Lisa Morelli, 48, became the C.E.O. of a $25 million dollar credit union. Like many NECC students, Morelli juggled a full-time job and a family while taking classes at night, a schedule that would put stress on any family. A strong support network was crucial…
Veterans and service person organization
The NECC Veterans and Service Person’s Organization held its first meeting on Friday, Oct. 3 at noon. The organization plans to meet bi-weekly in SC213 of the Behrakis One-Stop Center. Anyone is welcome to join the club. There are a lot of veterans and service persons attending, working or teaching…
President’s Running Club
The President's Running Club held its first meeting on Monday, Sept. 22 at noon in the Sport and Fitness Center. The club is run by NECC President Lane Glenn and Coach Jeff Bickford, who does the Couch to 5k portion of the club. The great thing about the running club is…
Life after the military
At NECC there are many people from all walks of life and with different experiences to bring to the table. Rob Wormald, a philosophy major, served in the United States military. Wormald was a Reconassiance Marine with the rank of Sergeant (E-5) in the Marine Corps, with 2D Reconassiance Battalion,…
What’s next for recent NECC graduates?
This past spring, the students and staff said farewell to the 2013 graduates. Many students probably wonder what they are going to do after being here, and where life will take them. Jared Blouin reflects on his time at NECC, and what he has planned next. “My experience was enjoyable.…
