2021 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report

16 WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE HONORING FACULTY & STAFF 17 STATE OF THE COLLEGE 2021 HONORING FACULTY & STAFF Joshua Gaccione J oshua Gaccione was recognized by The Business Council of Westchester as one of their “40 under 40” Rising Stars. The forty winners represent the cream of Westchester County’s young professionals in government, edu- cation, business, healthcare and other fields who have made significant contributions to the county and who demonstrate even greater promise. Josh’s passion for serving others was as evident when he served four years in the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division as it is today as Director of the Office of Student Support Services. His military career made him the ideal candidate to serve as WCC’s first Veterans Program Administrator. Josh cites Muhammed Ali’s quote, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Dr. Belinda S. Miles Dr. ElizabethMiller D r. Elizabeth Miller was recognized by the Westchester Community College Foun- dation for its annual Excellence in Service Award. Dr. Miller has been teaching Sociology in the Social Sciences department since 2014. She is widely praised by her students, whose comments include, “One of the best professors I’ve ever had” and “I absolutely LOVED her class!” In addition to her teaching and her contributions to the study of immigration and diversity in the workforce, her service to the college is extensive at both the departmental and college-wide levels. Her contributions have included the creation of a new course on Race and Ethnicity in the U.S., extensive work in mentoring students through in- dividual relationships under the Wallach Scholar- ships program, and co-organizer of the Brown Bag Lunch pedagogy discussion series. Chairperson of the Foundation’s Board of Directors Joanne Lan- dau, said, “Dr. Miller has been a sterling example of what makes Westchester Community College such a vibrant learning community.” A mong those we celebrate in our community this year is our very own college president, Dr. Belinda S. Miles. As our community and our nation faced a trifecta of crises: economic crisis that still impacts millions of community college students, the racial reckoning and social injustice, and the ongoing global pandemic, President Miles’ leadership was called upon in myriad ways to address these issues locally, regionally, and nationally. National and regional organizations invited President Miles to share her insights to address how to be a decisive leader in times of uncertainty. Dr. Miles was recruited to serve on anti-racism task forces at organizations where she provides board level leadership including Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress and the Business Council of Westchester. She shared perspectives on panels and discussions regarding safety, pandemic re-emergence, and being and facing uncertainty as an agile organization with the National Association of Independent Schools, COMBASE, the Association of Community College Trustees, and Northern Westchester. While contributing to efforts to lead our region through these crises, Dr. Miles was lauded by numerous organizations for her role as a tireless advocate of the community college mission – to offer access, op- portunity and economic mobility. Notably, she was listed among the Westchester Power 100, a list com- piled by City & State New York to put a spotlight on those who are shaping the future of the county and received recognition as the YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester Education Champion award recipient in June 2020 providing a keynote address at the height of pandemic and societal turbulence. As we re-emerge from these crises, Dr. Miles remains stalwart in promoting Westchester Community College and the thousands of students it serves.