Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Success Story: Stephen Siciliano Embarks On Fourth Decade At NMC
August 19, 2015
School and Scouts.
Back in fifth grade, Stephen Siciliano found two things he liked and decided to stick with them.
Since then, he’s climbed to the pinnacle of both worlds. He’s vice president of educational services at NMC, and not only an Eagle Scout himself but a father of three more — all of whom also attended NMC.
Yet as he embarks on his fourth decade on campus, Siciliano, who wears a Scout uniform in his campus profile picture, shows no sign of boredom or restlessness. He’s excited to continue work on the challenges the college faces, like developmental education, learning outcomes and internal communication. Viewed through the lens of history, his chosen academic field, he is confident those challenges will be met. (More on those in a moment.)
Siciliano’s own history is colored by a community college — Nassau Community College on Long Island, NY, where he grew up. A first-generation college student, he had an “absolutely wonderful experience” and chose to pursue his master’s and PhD degrees in the hope of teaching at the community college level himself. So when Walt Beardslee, one of NMC’s founding faculty members, came to recruit at a National History Conference which Siciliano also happened to attend, he found an eager candidate.
“I’m thinking, ‘You don’t have to sell me. I’d love to teach at a community college,’” Siciliano, 59, recalled of that interview.
He spent 11 years teaching at NMC, including six as director of the Humanities division, his first taste of administration. In 1996 he moved into his current role as the college’s top academic officer. One of the best changes he’s seen during that time is NMC’s shift from once-a-decade accreditation to a continuous academic quality improvement process, known as AQIP.
“They focus our attention,” he said of the AQIP action projects, including, not coincidentally, those three challenges of developmental education, learning outcomes and communication.
“People say, ‘we want to get this done,’” he said, citing developmental education, the project closest to completion. “I come away from that meeting so energized.”
And that history is why he thinks that the more recently tackled projects like learning outcomes and communications, will indeed be solved.
Siciliano’s parallel world of Scouting has been transformed by quality improvement, too. While he no longer leads an active troop, like he did for a dozen years with just-retired engineering instructor Jim Coughlin, Siciliano is still involved as a liaison between two local units and the broader Boy Scout organization.
“They’ve clearly moved to quality metrics, just like our college. How can we improve the experience for the boys?” Siciliano said.
Even after 30 years as an educator, that question still animates Siciliano, who plans to keep pursuing the answer for a little while yet.
“I hope I’m here,” he says of his plans for five years down the road.
Welcome to NMC, Joe!
Joseph Verschaeve joined NMC as a Psychology Instructor on August 17, 2015. He can be reached at (231) 995-1258 or jverschaeve@nmc.edu.
Joe grew up on a farm in the Leelanau and began his college experience at NMC in 1982 where he received his private pilot license along with an array of coursework. Finishing the B.S. in sociology and psychology at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and the M.A. in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Studies in Detroit. He went on for advanced training with the American College of Forensic Examiners and the Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara. Joe served a two year appointment (Assistant Professor) at Central Michigan University and a fourteen year appointment (Affiliate Professor) at Grand Valley State University where he served as Faculty Director of the Ghana Honors Service Learning Program focused upon the problem of trafficking in Ghana West, Africa. Joe is co-founder and president of International Sustainability Health Education and Water (ISHEW) registered in both Allendale, Michigan and Winneba, Ghana. Joe and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Traverse City with their Springer Spaniel, Shubby and cat, Larry. Together they cherish family, friends, music, traveling and outdoor pursuits. (more…)
Welcome to NMC, Mac!
Norman Beeker joined NMC as a Nursing Instructor- Medical Surgical on August 17, 2015. He can be reached at (231) 995- 1237 or mabeeker@nmc.edu.
Norman Beeker goes by the nickname of Mac and was born in Detroit. He attended Michigan State University as an undergraduate, worked in public broadcasting, completed a Master’s degree at Miami University and transitioned into non-profit development work. He and his wife have lived in Ohio, Belgium and Italy before moving to Traverse City in 2003. Changes in the health of his parents led Mac to learn more about nursing which led him to the ADN program at NMC and then work as a Patient Care Coordinator at Munson Medical Center. He went on to complete a MSN in nursing education at Gonzaga University with student teaching work precepted by Jo Hendrix here at NMC. His wife is Mary Beeker who works in the Osterlin Library and they live in the Slabtown neighborhood in Traverse City. Outside of work Mac enjoys gardening, fly fishing and is a member of Sam’s Army, the supporters of the US national soccer team. (more…)
Welcome to NMC, Keith!
Keith Weber joined NMC as a CIT Developer and Instructor on August 17, 2015. He can be reached at (231) 995-1908 or kweber@nmc.edu.
Keith Weber has joined our CIT Developer Program as a full time instructor. He was born in southern California, spent his early years in the high desert and teen years in the city of Los Angeles. He raised a family in Orange County, near Disneyland, and most recently was a resident of Long Beach. Keith built a successful business over the course of twenty-three years, installing and supporting some of the first small business networks and ERP systems, as well as writing custom software and providing business consulting services. He has been involved with various organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Y-Indian Guides/Princesses, the Independent Computer Consultants Association, and School on Wheels. Keith has five adult children. He holds an AA and a BA in Economics, as well as a MS in Information Technology from California State University, Fullerton. He is passionate about education and the mission of community colleges. (more…)
Welcome to NMC, Rachel!
Rachel Johansen- Wilczewski joined NMC as a Sociology Instructor on August 17, 2015. She can be reached at (231) 995-1295 or rjohansen-wilczewski@nmc.edu.
Rachel was born and raised in Greenville, MI, where she met her husband Steve. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Aquinas College, Rachel continued her studies by attending graduate school at Michigan State University. In May of 2015 she received her PhD in Sociology with a specialization in Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change. Rachel’s dissertation research focused on the social/neighborhood impacts of urban greenspace revitalization in Flint, Michigan. While pursuing her degree, Rachel also taught sociology courses as an adjunct instructor at Aquinas College and Montcalm Community College. Rachel enjoys cooking, yoga, camping and canoeing, antiquing/garage sales, reading novels, making jewelry, and her and Steve’s two cats, Magnus and Odin. (more…)
New books at the Osterlin Library- August’s highlights
The library has purchased many new books so far this new year. You can view a handful here or click here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the lobby of the library’s lobby. (more…)
Welcome to NMC!
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff! (more…)
Benefits corner: What can I spend my Health Savings Account on?
A Health Savings Account is an IRS regulated plan. Please review these guidelines regarding qualified and nonqualified expenses. (more…)
Position vacancies
Are you looking for career opportunities? Find it here! jobs.nmc.edu. Current openings include:
Nursing Instructor – Mental Health
Great Lakes Culinary Institute Admissions Specialist
Adjunct Instructor – Biology
Supplemental – Learning Services Assistant
Supplemental Banquet Cook
Supplemental Dishwasher
Supplemental Banquet Server
Supplemental Banquet Bartender (more…)
Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)
Announcing EES fitness class offerings
Get FIT at NMC. Below is a small sampling of fitness classes EES is offering this fall. Find one that fits your needs and schedule by viewing the full online catalog at nmc.edu/ees. Prefer to sweat alone? Join the NMC Fitness Center. A full-time staff membership is only $30/term. Adjuncts and Supplementals pay $60/term or $100 for an annual membership.
Looking good = $$ for classes; Feeling good = priceless. (more…)
July Wellness Challenge winners
Congratulations to the July Wellness Challenge (Real Age) winners: Lisa Rollin & Courtney Sorrell! (more…)
Come see the revamped Hawk Owl Cafe! Kudos to those involved!
Hawk Owl Cafe has a new look! We’ve listened to the surveys and have refreshed our food service operation and will open the last week of August (24-28.) Please stop by and take a look! Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Now serving breakfast!)
Kudos and a big ‘Thank You’ to Paul Perry, Dave Sexton, Gary Schettick, Todd Haines, Roy Bartle, Patrick Tesner, Linda Glasemer and her team, Meg Young, Rhonda Greiner and Sarah Mavis for their indefatigable efforts assisting our vision come to fruition. (more…)
Welcome to NMC, Chris!
Chris Coughlin joined NMC as an Engineering Instructor on July 20, 2015. He can be reached at (231) 995-1270 or ccoughlin@nmc.edu.
Chris is a Traverse City native and is married to his wife Jana. They are expecting a baby soon and have two dogs. Chris previously worked at Eaton Corporation and is a NMC Alum. He continued on to MTU for a bachelors and masters degree in Mechanical engineering – specializing in vehicle chassis, suspension, and steering design and dynamics. He then spent 6 years in the electrical transmission and distribution industry as a marketing engineer / sales engineer. In his spare time Chris owns and operates a professional off-road race team, specializing in designing, fabricating, and racing desert, rock, and short course race vehicles. (more…)
Welcome to NMC!
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff! (more…)
Board of Trustees recap- July 27, 2015
Here is an informal account of the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees meeting, Monday, July 27, 2015.
Details on the actions items and reports are contained in the Board Packet available online.
A full video of the meeting is available here: (more…)
Canticum Novum to hold auditions in mid August
TRAVERSE CITY — Experienced singers of college-age or older are invited to audition for Canticum Novum (kahn’-tee-koom noh’-voom), a new choral ensemble being offered at Northwestern Michigan College. Canticum Novum has several performance cycles throughout the year, with an emphasis on performances in the Fall and late Spring. Performances with the TSO and a Michigan Tour are scheduled for 2015-2016. Because of the challenging literature and the abbreviated rehearsal schedule, only singers with good reading skills should inquire.
Auditions will be held on the NMC Campus Monday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 19. Please call 231-995-1700 to set up an appointment for an audition.
More information is also available here on the website.
Release date: August 4, 2015
For more information:
Jeffery Cobb
NMC Director of Music Programs
jcobb@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1338