Posts published in “Profiles”

(Archive November 2007) Getting to Know Greg

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

By Joslyn Thiem | Observer Reporter

Perhaps you know him as the Assistant Dean of Students, or maybe as a colleague. There is a man here at the Mount who goes above and beyond his job title. This man is Greg Clement, who has been a part of the staff since January 31, 2004.. When asked if he thinks he is a workaholic, he said, “I prefer to call it a “passionate worker” because I love my job and I love what I do.”

Clement is the type of person who when you meet him, you feel at ease immediately. He is laid back and feels it is important to be supportive and help students become part of the greater college community. Student affairs staff had a huge impact on his life in college and he wants to pass that on to students he works with today. As Clement put it, “I feel as though I’m paying it forward.” He stated, “Student activities in the past gave me a voice, some of the greatest times in my life, and have given me a purpose.” read more

Profile: Lorie Donahue

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

A Mentor and Friend to Many

by Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Lorie Donahue

Lorie Donahue, a retiring English Professor at Mount Wachusett Community College, has been teaching at MWCC since 1989. Although she got her master’s degree from Boston College, her educational journey actually began right here at the Mount.

One colleague, Professor Michelle Valois has worked alongside Donahue for 22 years. Valois mentioned that with her history of the school as both a student and a professor, Donahue “holds an abundance of institutional knowledge” that goes beyond her subject matter. “She has a lot to share with her students,” she said. read more

Profile: Jordan Chila

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

A Lifelong Journey

by Princess Yeboah | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Jordan Chila

Jordan Chila, a hardworking, independent, headstrong mom and student, grew up in the bustling town of Boylston, Massachusetts. Chila has ambitions to be a writer one day, and this passion graces her with endurance as she tackles her studies at MWCC, studies that challenge her to improve her writing skills. She has had a lot of support when it comes to her academic success, including support from her fiancé whom she met in elementary school; the pair got engaged in fall of 2020. Chila’s mother is another important supporter of hers, having not only supported her with schooling, but also being her backbone as she navigated motherhood. read more

From Pain to Page

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Profile: Alessandro DiVito

By Kevin Hayes | Observer Contributor

Photo by Kevin Hayes

Alessandro DiVito, a 20-year-old student at MWCC majoring in English with a concentration in professional writing, shows promising talent as a writer. DiVito, who works as a youth mentor over the summer, is already well on his way, having three books currently in progress. Centered on sci-fi and time travel, their titles are: The Adventures of Jerry Rodger, Tyrone’s Multiversal Adventures and Mabel’s Uncharted Adventures.

But DiVito didn’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I think I’ll be a writer or mentor young people someday.’ His passion stemmed from his experiences with adversity. DiVito persevered through childhood bullying and a horrific stalking-like encounter with an older student when he was in the seventh grade, DiVito was in search of some way to deal with this trauma. Fortunately for DiVito, he has a close, supportive family. He also stumbled into a program called Thriveworks, which he found out about through the THRIVE Center at the Mount. read more

Faith, Compassion, and Determination

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

The Values of MWCC Student Sabrina Alonso

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Alonso

Sabrina Alonso, a 29-year-old student majoring in human services at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), is driven by her passion for helping others. “Ever since I was younger, I always naturally had compassion for people,” said Alonso. “I love to make people’s lives easier as much as I can, even if it is something simple like listening to them.”

Originally from Uruguay, South America, Alonso moved to the United States at the age of 7, bringing with her a strong sense of determination and empathy instilled by her mother. “The most influential woman in my life is my mother because 22 years ago, she came to the U.S., leaving her birth land behind to give me a better future,” she shared. “She’s the most influential woman in my life and my best friend.” read more

Kourtney Tibbets

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

Empowering Education Through IT and Grit

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Kourtney Tibbets, an extremely motivated Computer Information System student at Mount Wachusett Community College, is driven by her overwhelming passion for the IT industry and education sector. Tibbets is a dual enrollment student, also attending Southern New Hampshire University in addition to the Mount.

She hails from southern New Hampshire and has an incredibly diverse heritage stemming from Northern Europe and Nigeria. “I have been to the United Kingdom but looking forward to exploring both Europe and Nigeria,” she said. “I am excited to learn more of my heritage! I was proud to learn that [my great-great-great grandfather] also fought in the Civil War for the Union Army. It is amazing to be able to connect my heritage to a specific time in American history.” read more

Katy Houghton

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

Maybe She’s Born with It, Maybe It’s Neighbelline

By Lindsay Mahoney | Observer Contributor

“I love getting lost in my little fantasy worlds, I just start writing, and I melt away. I just feel like this is my home,” said Katy Houghton, a first-year student in the Professional Writing track at the Mount. Like many students, Houghton juggles work, school, and her personal life. A typical week for her includes working a physically demanding overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse from 1:30 am to 9:00 am. Afterward, she attends school in the afternoon, completes her homework, and repeats the cycle for the entire week. read more

Martha Morris

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

History Professor and World Traveler

By Amal Elkhoury | Observer Contributor

Martha Morris, an adjunct history professor at Mount Wachusett Community College and Berkshire Community College, is currently teaching three history courses across both institutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Geography from the University of Washington and earned an MSc and an MPhil in Economic History from the London School of Economics (LSE). “LSE was my first choice for graduate school because I wanted to focus on the British industrial revolution and the earlier period of import substitution,” said Morris. read more

Supporting Every Student

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

Senior Mental Health Counselor Leeanne Hadsel’s Commitment to Student Wellness

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Leeanne Hadsel stepped into the role of mental health counselor at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) in the fall semester of last year, following a vacancy left by the previous counselor’s departure in the spring semester. With over a decade of experience in behavioral health and a background in trauma-informed care, Hadsel brings not only a wealth of knowledge in her field but also a special connection to the Mount, considering it an integral part of her personal success. Having taken classes at MWCC in the past to complete her remaining credits after experiencing difficulty at a traditional 4-year school, Hadsel stated,“The Mount provided the very-needed second chance to believe in myself and my desire to be educated. It was such a privilege that opened up a lot of doors for me. So I’m excited to become a member of the community again and work with students that have faced adversity and are trying to educate themselves and better their lives.” read more

Your Head’s in the Game

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

Princess Yeboah’s Success

By Jordan Chila | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Princess Yeboah

Princess Yeboah arrived at the Mount in the fall semester of 2023 with the tough decision to make about whether she wanted to pursue a creative future in writing or a clinical career in nursing. Yeboah grew up in Baldwinsville and attended Monty Tech in Westminster for high school. Yeboah, a basketball enthusiast and person of faith, made her family very proud when she graduated in the spring of 2023. Initially, she had a strong desire to join their health technologies program; however, Yeboah ultimately ended up taking business technology. read more