Hudson County Community College Welcomes Dr. Burl Yearwood as Associate Dean of STEM
March 7, 2019
Academic leader brings expertise in administration, education and research.
March 7, 2019, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has named Dr. Burl Yearwood the College’s Associate Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
“We are very happy to welcome Dr. Yearwood to the College,” said HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber. “He is as an academic administrator who is a champion for student success. He is passionate about the education, retention, graduation, and transfer of diverse students who are underrepresented in higher education and particularly in STEM. Dr. Yearwood is also committed to recruiting, developing and retaining diverse faculty who will inspire and motivate students.”
Dr. Yearwood discovered his love of science while growing up on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Alabama, and Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Kentucky. A member of the American Chemical Society, his interests have included the examination of the preparation of precursors for the production of semi-conductors, as well as the combination of chemicals in marine paints. Dr. Yearwood’s current research involves the analysis of environmental toxins in Newtown Creek River, a federal Superfund site located in Long Island City, New York.
Prior to accepting the position as HCCC Associate Dean of STEM, Dr. Yearwood was the Chairperson of the Natural Sciences Department at LaGuardia Community College (a member college of the City University of New York). His department included Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy and Environmental Science. Working with faculty and staff, Dr. Yearwood aided in the development, implementation and assessment of programs and curriculum. He also worked in the recruitment, appointment, evaluation and professional development of faculty. Early on, he taught Chemistry at LaGuardia.
Dr. Yearwood served on several committees at LaGuardia, including the Assessment Leadership Team and Committee to Align the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Student Affairs. He was the Vice-Chair of the LaGuardia Senate, the college’s shared governance body.
Prior to his tenure at LaGuardia Community College, Dr. Yearwood taught Chemistry at St. Louis Community College.
“I am excited to be joining Hudson County Community College,” Dr. Yearwood said. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, and the community to grow the STEM programs at HCCC. I also look forward to working with others to develop innovative solutions to help our students succeed in STEM.”