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‘NAMI In Our Own Voice’ Aims to Break the Mental Health Stigma
Two speakers will share their perspectives on a highly misunderstood topic Tuesday, April 2 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown and online In order to help break the stigma about mental health issues, Bucks County Community College presents “NAMI In Our Own Voice” at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at the Newtown Campus and online.
Speakers Mia Scocozzo and Rachel Hetrick will share their personal perspectives and talk openly about their experiences in an attempt to change attitudes, assumptions and ideas about people with mental health conditions.
Scocozzo, the Youth Programs Director of NAMI Bucks County, visits students to talk about the warning signs for mental health conditions, facts, statistics, and how to get help. For example, she developed a program called Small Talk for elementary students to learn how to name their feelings, differentiate between emotions, and practice healthy coping skills. Scocozzo shares her personal journey of recovery to allow others to feel less alone in a drive to end the stigma around mental health.
Hetrick is a graphic designer based in Philadelphia who expresses herself through painting and illustration and loves to exercise. Mental health advocacy is a big part of her life, and she is passionate about spreading hope.
The presentation, which is free and open to the public, also provides information on how to learn more about mental health and get involved with the mental health community.
“NAMI In Our Own Voice” takes place at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the Gallagher Room, located inside the Rollins Center on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940.
The presentation can also be viewed live online. Register for the Zoom session.
The event is sponsored by the BCCC Psychology Club and DEI Programs in the College’s Office of External Affairs. To learn more, contact Jean Dolan at jean.dolan@bucks.edu or 215-968-8094.
Zlock Performing Arts Center Announces Bucks Blues Explosion Featuring GA-20
The Zlock Performing Arts Center is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Eighth Annual Bucks Blues Explosion, featuring the sensational blues trio GA-20, on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
GA-20 is more than just a band; they are leading a movement, a revival of traditional blues that is taking the music world by storm. The dynamic trio, consisting of guitarist Matt Stubbs, guitarist/vocalist Pat Faherty, and drummer Tim Carman, brings a fresh and energetic take on traditional electric blues, blending elements of blues, country, and rock 'n' roll into their signature sound.
"We make records that we would want to listen to," says guitarist Matt Stubbs. "It's our take on the song-based traditional electric blues we love." Since their formation in 2018, GA-20 has been at the forefront of the traditional blues revival, earning accolades and skyrocketing to the top of the Billboard Blues Charts.
Joining GA-20 for this electrifying evening is local blues artist Deb Callahan and her band, who will kick off the event with their soulful and powerful blues melodies.
Presented in partnership with the Bucks County Blues Society, the Eighth Annual Bucks Blues Explosion will again be an unforgettable celebration of the blues performed live on stage at the Zlock Performing Arts Center.
Tickets for the event are $27 including fees, are available now and can be purchased online. Tickets will also be available at door on the day of the show. Lobby cash bar opens at 6 p.m.
BCCC to Host Free Criminal Expungement Clinic on April 25
Free of charge and under the supervision of Legal Aid attorneys, Bucks County Community College paralegal students will assist people in determining if they are eligible to have prior arrests or convictions expunged or sealed from their record. Bucks County Community College is offering a criminal expungement clinic, free of charge, under the supervision of attorneys from Legal Aid of Southeastern PA on Thursday, April 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The clinic will be held in the Gateway Center on the College’s Newtown Campus located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940.
During the clinic, Bucks County Community College paralegal students will assist people in determining if they are eligible to have prior arrests or convictions expunged or sealed from their records. Bucks County Community College is proud to partner with Legal Aid which has assisted over 1,000 people per year in conjunction with schools. All information shared with attorneys and paralegals is confidential. The clinic will try to accommodate walk-ins; however, advance registration is preferred. The registration deadline is April 7. To register for the clinic, email legalstudies@bucks.edu.
Some convictions cannot be expunged but may be sealed so that they are not of public record. Paralegals may not practice law or otherwise provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
The clinic is for individuals who:
have arrests without convictions; or
have misdemeanor convictions, without new convictions, over 10 years old; or
are over 70 years old, and their conviction is at least 10 years old; or
passed away 3 years ago, and post-humus expungement is sought.
Please note that individuals must have paid all fines due and completed any probation to qualify for expungement. Please also note that in some instances, certain convictions cannot be expunged and will remain on the record. However, these same convictions could be sealed from the general public.
It is important to note that the clinic may need to refer some individuals to other legal organizations due to the location of individuals’ criminal records, such as Philadelphia and/or outside of Pennsylvania.
For more information or to register, email legalstudies@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8247.
Discover All That Bucks Offers at Spring Open House
Bucks County Community College to Host Spring Open House on All Three Campuses in April Spring is a wonderful time to visit Bucks County Community College, which will host an open house at each of its three of its campuses this April. Prospective students will receive valuable information whether they are looking to start their collegiate journey, return to school, pursue a skilled trade, prepare for or advance their careers, or take courses for personal enrichment.
Prospective students and their guests will learn all that Bucks has to offer and have the opportunity to speak with representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Transfer Planning, and additional resources. Plus, guided tours will be offered at each campus so that attendees can experience Bucks County Community College firsthand.
Spring Open House will be offered at the following locations, dates, and times:
Upper Bucks Campus (One Hillendale Road, Perkasie, Pa.), Wednesday, April 3, 6:30 – 8 p.m.The Upper Bucks Campus open house begins with a welcome session where you can meet with faculty, staff, and students, followed by a session about the admissions process, financial aid, and transfer services. A tour will be provided, and attendees can visit tables at the resource fair plus enjoy refreshments with representatives of the College community.
Newtown Campus (275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa.), Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.Attendees of the Newtown Campus open house will have the opportunity to speak with academic deans and faculty about the robust range of academic and career programs. Attendees can also choose from a variety of brief information sessions including topics such as English Language Learner programs, veteran resources and prior learning assessment, student services, online learning, workforce development and career-focused programs, Child Development Associate credential, and high school programs. Guided tours will be offered throughout the event as well as the chance to meet representatives from enrollment, academic areas, and support services in the Linksz Pavilion.
Lower Bucks Campus (1304 Veterans Highway, Bristol, Pa. 19007), Thursday, April 25, 5 – 7 p.m.In addition to meeting with representatives from enrollment, academic areas and support services, the Lower Bucks Campus open house will include tours of the new, state-of-the-art Center for Advanced Technologies which houses in-demand advanced manufacturing training and workforce programs, many of which are free to those who qualify.
Register to attend Spring Open House. For questions, please email admissionsevents@bucks.edu or call 215-504-8608.
Remarkable Women Share How They Broke Barriers
Bucks County Community College celebrates Women’s History Month with third annual Women’s Power Panel at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28 in Newtown and online In honor or Women’s History Month, Bucks County Community College presents “Women’s Power Panel: Breaking Barriers” at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28, at the Newtown Campus and online.
The panel discussion features three remarkable women and a moderator who will discuss this year’s national theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.”
Moderated by Erica Waller-Hill, an award-winning author, educator, and motivational speaker, the panelists are:
Elizabeth (Liz) Ellis – the first female instructional equipment specialist at Bucks County Community College’s Public Safety Training Center (PSTC), one of the first female career firefighters in Bucks County, and the second female fire chief at the Dow facility in Bristol-Croydon. Ellis has also traveled throughout the U.S., Japan, and Korea as a public safety instructor. She is currently assistant director of certification and curriculum at the PSTC.
Dr. Vail Garvin – the first female CEO of a large hospital, former top executive at a large health-insurance company, and former leader of a 1,500-member chamber of commerce. For more than 20 years, Garvin was president and CEO of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and is currently senior advisor to the Bucks County Herald Foundation.
Barbara Simmons – mediator, facilitator, and educator, who served as Executive Director of The Peace Center for more than 30 years. Simmons created hundreds of programs to address conflict, violence, racism, and bigotry in more than 300 schools, businesses, and communities in the tri-state region.
Waller-Hill will lead the discussion as moderator. She is the CEO and founder of Destined for a Dream Foundation and Speak Life LLC, and author of It’s Bigger Than Me: Conversations of Empowerment Through the Eyes of a Conscious Educator. Waller-Hill has served more than 45,000 students, schools, community centers, and churches through her foundation, and is currently completing her doctorate at Gwynedd Mercy University.
The event will also feature information tables staffed by representatives from A Women’s Place and the Bucks County League of Women Voters.
“Women’s Power Panel: Breaking Barriers” takes place at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, in the Library Learning Studio, located in the Bucks County Community College Library at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940. Admission and parking are free.
The panel discussion can also be viewed live online. Register for the Zoom session.
The Women’s History Month event is sponsored by DEI Programs in the College’s Office of External Affairs. To learn more, contact Jean Dolan at jean.dolan@bucks.edu or 215-968-8094.
BCCC Board of Trustees Announces New President
Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D., will become the College’s sixth president on July 1, 2024. Today, the College’s Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Patrick M. Jones will take the helm as the sixth president of Bucks County Community College effective July 1, 2024.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Jones home to Bucks County,” said Board Chair Thomas J. Jennings. “We are confident that he will lead the College forward with integrity, skill, vision, and enthusiasm. He is a compassionate leader, driven by results, devoted to students and well-acquainted with service to our diverse communities.”
The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Jones to lead Bucks County Community College, which serves more than 10,000 academic-credit students and 25,000 alternative-credit students annually. The nationwide search for a new president was launched last fall after Dr. Felicia Ganther announced her resignation as president effective in December 2023.
“I am grateful to the trustees for this opportunity to help Bucks County Community College continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and communities across the county” said Dr. Jones. “The college is a gem and I look forward to working with the trustees, faculty, staff, and students on our campuses and centers, and our business, community, and elected leaders in ensuring it thrives and fulfills its indispensable role as an educational, cultural, and economic engine of Bucks County.”
The intensive, focused search was led by the Presidential Search Committee which worked with RH Perry & Associates, a nationally recognized higher education recruiting firm. The on-campus visits included open forums with faculty, staff, and students as well as an interview with the full Board of Trustees. The Board welcomed input from the extended College community and thanks all who participated in the process.
About Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones is currently the chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill as well as a professor of music. During his tenure which began in January 2019, he has overseen the addition of in-demand programs such as nursing, cybersecurity, and information technology. Dr. Jones has also overseen upgrades to the campus’ physical plant including new laboratories for chemistry, nursing, and radiological sciences; a learning center; and technology and equipment upgrades to classrooms and athletic and recreation facilities. In addition, the campus partnered with the business and non-profit community to develop and launch Penn State Schuylkill Co-op in Fall 2020.
Dr. Jones served in a variety of academic and administrative roles prior to joining Penn State, including Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Drexel University, Director of Veteran Enrollment Practice and Director of the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University, Chair of the Music Education Department at Boston University, and Head of the Music Education Division at The University of the Arts. He also has held leadership positions in national and international scholarly societies, presented papers at academic symposia around the globe, and published book chapters and research articles in numerous peer-reviewed journals.
In addition to his academic career, Dr. Jones served for thirty years in both the Army and Air Force, retiring from the Air National Guard at the rank of Colonel. His assignments included serving as a musician, unit commander, and Chief of Air National Guard Bands and Advisor to the Air Force Director of Public Affairs. As Chief of Bands, he was responsible for units across the country and a worldwide mission that included diplomatic outreach globally and troop entertainment in deployed locations throughout the Middle East, Central and Southwest Asia, and the Horn of Africa.
Dr. Jones holds the Bachelor of Science degree in music education from West Chester University, a Diploma of Fine Arts in conducting and wind literature from the University of Calgary, the Master of Arts degree in conducting from George Mason University, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in music education from Penn State University. He also is a graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.
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