Durham Resident Receives Educational Excellence and Distinguished Service Award

Professor Rich Lenoce, director of the Center for New Media at Middlesex Community College, is the recipient of the College’s 2015 Educational Excellence and Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes employees whose performance exemplifies excellence in teaching, leadership, and administration.

“We are very proud to name Rich Lenoce as the recipient of the 2015 Educational Award at Middlesex Community College,” said Dr. Steven Minkler, dean of academic affairs. “It is clear that Rich’s passion is to ensure that he and his colleagues provide an innovative curriculum and state-of-the-art professional environment designed to prepare students for successful technical and creative careers in communication media industries.”

Professor Lenoce, Durham resident, has taught broadcast and film courses at MxCC for the last 20 years, teaching nearly every course in the program. As coordinator of the broadcast-cinema program, he has co-developed many courses and programs, including the multimedia, corporate media, and Film Industry Training programs.

Since January 2013, Professor Lenoce has stepped aside from his faculty role to serve as director of the Center for New Media. This initiative is being funded for $2.5 million from the federal Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program. Under Professor Lenoce’s leadership, the grant has met or exceeded all of its goals, even though the grant activity period still has several months left, according to Dr. Minkler.

Because of this award, Professor Lenoce has the opportunity to apply for financial support of professional activities not ordinarily available, such as instructional innovation, professional development, or to arrange for a replacement instructor to facilitate release time to pursue a special project related to the college or system.

Founded in 1966, Middlesex Community College (mxcc.edu) is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. In all it does, Middlesex Community College strives to be the college of its community. By providing high quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, the college enhances the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. MxCC, recently named a “Great College to Work For” by “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, the shoreline, and online.