Fond Farewells

Retiring MWCC Professors Leave Behind Legacies of Learning

by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

As the spring semester comes to a close, the Mount is bidding farewell not only to the 527 students who are graduating (between December 2023 and May 2024), but also to several faculty who are departing for their well-deserved retirements. Among them are two professors from the English department and three from the Health Sciences department.

Paula Pitkiewicz has been a professor in the English department for 41 years. “I was a student at MWCC,” she explained. “So, in a way, you could say that I have grown up at the college.”

Pitkiewicz was a first-generation student, the first in her immediate family to pursue a college degree. She received a BA from Fitchburg State College and an MA from UMASS/ Amherst. “Getting a degree in literature just seemed a natural extension of who I was as an avid reader all of my life,” she said. “I was a quiet kid living in a small town, and reading gave me a way to escape into my imagination.”

One of Pitkiewicz’s favourite novels to teach has been Jane Eyre. When a male colleague dismissed it as shallow romance, Pitkiewicz insisted he revisit the novel. “That novel was a revelation,” she explained. “You can be female and define who you are, even though society may tell you otherwise.”

After 41 years of teaching, the thing that Pitkiewicz will miss the most about teaching is watching students grow academically and personally from one end of the semester to the other. “I think that being around young people for so long has kept me young in spirit and challenged me to keep growing,” she said, adding that she’ll also miss her friends at the college: “Faculty at MWCC are supportive of each other. I consider some members of the English department to be life-long friends—some are like family to me.”

Pitkiewicz looks forward to having the time to travel and explore; despite her anticipation, not being in a classroom and not organizing her life around the requirements of a semester will be “a lot to get used to, at least in the short term.”

Lorie Donahue, an English professor, has been teaching at the Mount since 1989. She obtained her master’s degree from Boston College and her bachelor’s from Fitchburg State University. An extended profile feature on Professor Donahue written by Observer writer Desiree Leader can be found here.

Ellen McCracken, associate professor in the Dental Hygiene program, has been a professor for 18 years. Prior to being an educator, McCracken worked as a clinical dental hygienist in a private practice. In 2004, she served as a dental hygienist for the Community Health Center in Fitchburg. They began plans to open a Dental Hygiene Clinic and a MWCC Dental Hygiene program in collaboration with the Community Health Center was also in the works. “I decided to go to graduate school and obtain my Master’s Degree in Health Education and eventually apply for a faculty position in the new program,” she said. “This just felt right in my heart. I truly believe that I was meant to be an educator.”

McCracken lives by a mantra inspired by Dr. Seuss: “‘To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.’” For her, teaching is about more than just imparting knowledge; it’s about making a real impact. She fondly reflected on her time as an educator, stating that “the feeling of accomplishment and the amazing student engagement and fun” is what she will miss the most about teaching. “I know the students have made such a difference and touched so many lives as a result of this [community outreach] program,” she added.

Although McCracken is somewhat uncertain about what the future holds for her, she said, “I will always volunteer in some aspect. I plan to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren as they hold a special place in my heart. I will take walks and be open to opportunities that I may not even realize existed. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity given me to educate dental hygiene students all these years.”

Jacqueline Shakar, professor and physical therapist assistant program director, has been a professor for over 22 years of teaching and has 29 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist. According to MWCC’s college faculty director, Shakar holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) from the MGH Institute of Health Professionals. She is certified as a massage therapist (C.M.T.) from the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy. She earned a master’s degree from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from Worcester State University.

Jennifer Gentile, fellow Physical Therapist Assistant Program faculty, said: “Jackie Shakar has been a great influence and role model for me during my time at MWCC. Her dedication to her students and the PTA Program has been extraordinary. I wish her well in her next adventure!”

Virginia Heroux, associate professor, has been a full-time educator at MWCC for 15 years, teaching dental hygiene pre-clinic and clinic with emphasis on second year advanced periodontal instruction and serving on the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) from 2020-2022. Heroux practiced dental hygiene for 25 years in general and periodontal practices in MA, RI, and CT before teaching dental hygiene.

“My instructors at the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists inspired me to pursue a career in education,” she explained. “As the first person in my family to graduate from college, a new world was opened to me when I left home and attended college. My professors and clinical instructors modeled professionalism, pushed us to perform our best, and held us to high standards of care in the treatment of patients and in how we practiced dental hygiene. Most of all, I was taught how to assess myself and to continue learning.”

As she approaches her retirement, Heroux stated that she will miss the energy and enthusiasm of the students in her classes and advocating for dental hygiene at Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House and the Student Summit. “I will miss seeing the growth of each student from the first week of school in the program to the last week of their second year when they are ready to take their boards and become a [Registered Dental Hygienist] (RDH). I am so proud of my students and am happy to call them colleagues! It has been an honor and a pleasure to be part of MWCC and to mentor future professionals in the community.”

Although Heroux will miss her students, colleagues and friends dearly, she shared that she has plans for her future. “I plan to travel, play piano, have coffee with alumni, and continue learning. I am so excited to start a new chapter with my family, friends and fellow RDHs,” she said. “Thank you for the wonderful memories!”