MANCHESTER REP. LUXENBERG STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR MCC CEO NICOLE ESPOSITO
Pinto, Giovanni
The Connecticut General Assembly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2021
Contact: Giovanni Pinto
MANCHESTER REP. LUXENBERG STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR MCC CEO NICOLE ESPOSITO
Luxenberg Questions BOR Decision to Non-Renew "Dynamic Leader"
(MANCHESTER, CT) – Today, State Representative Geoff Luxenberg (12th District Manchester) released a prepared statement regarding the news of the non-renewal of MCC CEO Dr. Nicole Esposito's contract to continue to lead Manchester Community College by the Board of Regents.
"Nicole Esposito is a dynamic leader and Manchester Community College, its students, faculty, staff and the community at large have flourished under her leadership of the College. Her tenure has even included a budget that included a surplus during the COVID-19 crisis – and MCC being named the top Community College in Connecticut. To learn, now, that her contract to lead this institution will not be renewed, and to not be given any information as to why, raises a red flag of suspicion around the Board of Regents decision making process and lack of transparency," said Rep. Luxenberg.
"I have been impressed by the outpouring of support for Dr. Esposito from the community, the petitions, the calls and emails. Everyone who has worked with her has described her work performance as professional, effective, thoughtful and collaborative. To remove a beloved leader from a public, state-funded position like this, in secrecy, without an explanation to community stakeholders, is a concern. Many of my constituents work at MCC, go to MCC, or are deeply connected to the College as the crown jewel institution of our community. We are hoping to get an explanation from the BOR as to why they would head in this unexpected direction," Rep. Luxenberg said.
"My worst fear is that Dr. Esposito has fallen victim to what happens, all too often, to highly educated, effective, professional women of integrity in leadership positions of authority in institutions that have been traditionally and are currently dominated by men. We know that often there is a price to pay for being smart, being effective, being vocal and being a woman in power all at the same time – and I hope that isn't the reason that she is being shown the door now. With the absence of any other information, it is hard not to jump to that possible and unfortunate conclusion," continued Rep. Luxenberg.
Dr. Esposito earned a Doctor of Educational Psychology (Ed.D.) degree from American International College, as well as a Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology and a certificate of advanced graduate studies in adjustment counseling from that institution. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Springfield College.
She brings a wealth of teaching and curriculum design experience to the role, having served as program coordinator/program head and associate professor in the Disability Specialist degree program, Speech-Language Pathology Assistant option, at MCC. In addition, she served on the college’s Threat Assessment and Behavioral Intervention team, the Title IX Task Force, was co-chair of the Women’s Caucus, a faculty mentor for the Minority Fellowship program and held other committee and advisory roles.
She was elected to serve as the MCC representative for the Transfer and Articulation Policy committee and a member of the Framework and Implementation Review Committee. This work involved collaboratively developing and implementing new transfer degrees and working to help review and modify state-wide learning outcomes and core competencies for the general education curriculum, while helping determine best practices for reporting assessment efforts across the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Dr. Esposito was also elected to serve as the MCC representative for the state-wide Faculty Advisory Committee to the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Up until 2019 she was also the owner of a successful psychotherapy and consultation practice, which she initiated and launched from concept to completion. She moved from her faculty position at MCC to become Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass., the position she held before returning to lead MCC as CEO.
Dr. Esposito is dedicated to the role of community colleges in today’s higher education landscape, committed to the idea that an accessible, affordable and equitable opportunity to achieve is vital to economic prosperity and social justice for everyone.
Rep. Luxenberg serves as Majority Caucus Chair and Deputy Majority Leader in the House of Representatives and is proudly serving in his 4th term in the Legislature.
Giovanni Pinto
He/Him
Press Aide – HDO
Representatives:
Aimee Berger-Girvalo
Mike D’Agostino
Michael DiGiovancarlo
Pat Dillon
Josh Elliott
Geoff Luxenberg
Cristin McCarthy Vahey
Geraldo Reyes
Caroline Simmons
Stephanie Thomas
Toni Walker