From the Desk of the Executive Director, Dolores Swirin-Yao
July-August 2024
I am writing this July/August blog before my August “staycation” leading up to Labor Day. While the student-facing staff at the college really gears up in August, for the Foundation it is a bit quieter time and a chance for many of us to recharge before the fall.
The Westchester Community College Foundation staff held its fourth annual staff planning retreat. Staff is seldom front-and-center in our communications, but I would like to acknowledge the remarkable and talented group of staff that I have the privilege of working with every day. We started the day by mentioning the accomplishments of the team since the first retreat in 2021—they filled up a flip chart sheet and more! We spent time discussing the implementation of the Foundation’s strategic framework developed by the Strategic Planning Committee of the board. We reviewed and enhanced our annual operating plan. Each staff member shared and got feedback on his or her top three SMART goals for the year. We had small working groups collaborating on topics to tackle in the coming year. And we had some fun playing special versions of Jeopardy and Family Feud while learning a bit more about WCC trivia and current facts about higher education. Thanks to the team for a productive and uplifting session again this year. It is hard to take five hours out of everyone’s busy schedule but, once again, we found that it was time well spent.
Our Department of Community Education again welcomed the Good for Girls organization’s “Lead with STEAAM Summer Experience” in July. “STEAM” includes science, technology, engineering, art and math. The other “A” is for asset/leadership development promoting positive identity and values. This program included about 45 7th and 8th grade girls who reside in Westchester County. It aims to close the STEAM gap for female minorities. I had the opportunity to visit classrooms busy with interactive STEAAM activities ranging from engineering to web design to art. I also saw some cool set designs that the girls made for their dance performances.
On campus on August 1, new alumni of WCC and other students in the community about to go away to residential colleges had the opportunity to receive beautifully packaged lightly used dorm room essentials thanks to our friends at Grad Bag.
The annual send-off for the WCC Summer Honors Study Abroad Programme at Cambridge University, directed by Dr. John Flynn, was held on campus on July 2. Each year since 2003—with a three-year hiatus due to Covid—WCC has selected a limited number of students doing honors-level academic work to study in the International Summer Program at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom for a two-week period in late July, while earning three WCC college credits. More than 180 students have participated over the years. This year’s cohort includes the new Student Government Association President, Billy LeBlanc, who serves as an ex officio WCCF board member.
We were saddened to learn of the passing of the Foundation’s Emeritus Director Harry Phillips, who was a past Board Chair of the WCC Board of Trustees. Here was Harry’s Journal News obituary notice.
Enjoy the rest of your summer! I look forward to returning to a campus full of students in the fall.