STCC to hold inauguration of President Dr. John B. Cook on Thursday, April 27
WHAT:
Dr. John B. Cook
The Presidential Inauguration of Springfield Technical Community College’s sixth president, Dr. John B. Cook. The ceremony coincides with the college’s 50th anniversary of providing excellence in degree, certificate and noncredit training programs.
WHEN:
Thursday, April 27, 2 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
WHERE:
Building 2, Scibelli Hall Gymnasium, One Armory Square, Springfield, Massachusetts.
ORDER OF CEREMONY:
Processional – STCC Ceremonial Brass Ensemble
Bearer of the Mace – Francie Riddle, Department Chair, Fine Arts
Marshals – Jill Mendez, Professor, English; Phil O’Donoghue, Assistant Professor, English/Theater
Stage Party – Trustees, Vice Presidents, Deans, Union Stewards and Speakers
Welcome – Dr. Arlene Rodriguez, Vice President, Academic Affairs, Master of Ceremonies
Presentation of the Colors – Commerce High School JROTC Color Guard
National Anthem – Vanessa Ford, Vocalist
Greetings
- STCC Board of Trustees: Christopher C. Johnson, Chair, Board of Trustees
- Massachusetts Department of Higher Education: Dr. Sheila Harrity, Vice Chair, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
- The City of Springfield: The Honorable Domenic Sarno, Mayor
- Faculty: Kristy Perry, Associate Professor, English
- Students: Kristiana Tadeo, Campus Activities Board Chair, General Studies Program
- Alumni: Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, Director, Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley
- Community: Alan Robichaud, Former Director of Community Development, Granite United Way
Presentation of Presidential Medallion – Michael Capozza, Student Body President, Liberal Arts Transfer Program; Mickey Prout, Student Body Vice President, Liberal Arts Transfer Program
President’s Address – John B. Cook, President, STCC
Recessional
BACKGROUND ABOUT DR. COOK:
Dr. John B. Cook began serving as the sixth president of STCC on August 1, 2016. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Cook was Vice President of Academic Affairs at Manchester Community College (MCC) in New Hampshire. In his role as Chief Academic Officer, he was responsible for the administration, leadership, and oversight of all academic programs and faculty at the college. Successes at MCC included working with faculty to revise developmental education, creating Early College pathways, and injecting energy into both a comprehensive program review and assessment process.
Cook also worked for 12 years at Granite State College, one of four institutions that constitute the public University System of New Hampshire; Granite State is known particularly as the leading provider of public online education in the state. He served in multiple roles including Assistant Dean of Faculty, Faculty Coordinator, and Research and Evaluation Coordinator for a child welfare training partnership. For a number of years, he taught Research Methods and Educational Psychology part-time to Granite State undergraduates.
Cook has long held a deep interest in the relationships between communities and their higher education collaborators. He was nominated and selected in 2010 to be an Emerging Engagement Scholar by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC), whose goal is to work collaboratively to build strong college/university-community partnerships.
His service includes membership on the boards of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Inc., Partners for a Healthier Community, Inc., Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Economic Development Council of Western, Massachusetts.
He holds a BS from St. Lawrence University in Psychology and Anthropology, a Master's degree in Community/Social Psychology from UMass Lowell, and a Ph.D. in Education (Curriculum/Instruction) from the University of New Hampshire.
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 8,500 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).
Media Contact:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu