Hudson County Community College Named Recipient of ACCT 2021 Northeast Region Equity Award
HCCC is one of five U.S. community colleges to be considered for the national Charles Kennedy Equity Award.
July 30, 2021, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has been selected to receive the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2021 Equity Award for the Northeastern United States. The award will be presented on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at the 52nd Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in San Diego, California.
As the Regional Award Recipient, HCCC will be the sole nominee from the Northeastern Region for the prestigious nationwide Charles Kennedy Equity Award, which will be presented at the ACCT Leadership Congress Annual Awards Gala on Friday evening, October 15, 2021.
The ACCT Equity Award honors leadership in setting policies that promote and enhance opportunities for institutional diversity, inclusion, and equity for women, persons of color, LGBTQs or members of any other underrepresented or underserved population that has happened within the last five years.
The Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees, pictured from left: Karen A. Fahrenholz, Secretary/Treasurer; Christopher M. Reber, Ph.D., HCCC President; Pamela Gardner, Trustee; Jeanette Peña, Trustee; Harold G. Stahl, Jr., Trustee; William J. Netchert, Esq., Board Chair; Bakari Gerard Lee, Esq., Board Vice Chair; and Koral Booth, Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees.
(Missing from photo: Joseph V. Doria, Jr., Ed.D., Trustee; Adamarys Galvin, Trustee; Roberta Kenny, Trustee; and Silvia Rodriguez, Trustee.)
“This award recognizes the College’s work to advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all forms,” said HCCC President, Dr. Chris Reber. “It is a significant point of pride for our entire College community. DEI is a shared value and priority that has truly galvanized all members of our HCCC Family.”
William J. Netchert, HCCC Board of Trustees Chair, said that because the College serves one of the most ethnically and racially diverse communities in the United States, student success and issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion – particularly increasing access to the College’s high-quality, transformative educational and economic programs and services – have always been foremost priorities.
“These past three years we redoubled our efforts and established the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI), the principles of which are embraced and actively supported by the Trustees and the entire HCCC community,” Mr. Netchert stated. “These principles have been interwoven in every HCCC policy, procedure, program, and offering.”
Hudson County Community College was recognized with ACCT Northeast Region Equity Awards in 2012 and 2016. “This new award is a testament to our ongoing commitment of supporting and fostering a welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment on our campuses, throughout the County and beyond,” Dr. Reber said.