MCC Students Visit Employer Partner Northern Bank

In July 2026, Middlesex Community College visited Northern Bank's headquarters in Woburn. Led by the college's Office of Career Integrated Learning (OCIL) and Professor Ashli Ree, the field trip allowed students in MCC's business program to engage in a meaningful career exploration and professional learning opportunity.

"Thank you to Northern Bank and everyone who helped make this experience possible," Ree said. "Students heard from several Northern Bank leaders who shared their career journeys, insights into the financial services industry, and valuable advice for college students."

Subscribe

One of the biggest takeaways from the visit for Widlyne Dupont, a business administration student, of Lowell, is there is no single path to success. While she is still exploring what field she wants to pursue, she enjoyed connecting what she learned in the classroom with real people, careers and decisions. Combining the variety of business topics she is taught at MCC with real-world perspectives, she not only heard more about the banking industry, she saw herself in the stories the professionals shared with the students.

"My goal is bigger than simply finding a job," Dupont said. "I want to continue learning, build businesses, become a successful entrepreneur, create opportunities for others, and eventually be in a position where my own journey can encourage another young person the way some of the stories I heard at Northern Bank encouraged me.That is what made this visit meaningful to me. It did not tell me exactly what my future should look like. It gave me more confidence to keep building it."

During the visit, Middlesex students met with representatives from Northern Bank, including Teresa Evangelista, SVP and Head of Retail Banking; Dan Ziniti, SVP and Chief of Client Experience; Joseph Lussier, SVP and Chief Financial Officer; and Kathy Harris, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Students also toured the banking office and shared a meal, giving them additional opportunities to continue conversations, ask questions, and learn more about careers in the financial services industry. Northern Bank also provided goodie bags for the students to take home.

"Northern Bank is proud to partner with Middlesex Community College to help bridge the gap between education and career opportunities," Evangelista said. "Hosting MCC students for Career Day gave us the opportunity to showcase the many career paths available within the banking industry while allowing students to engage directly with our leadership team and employees. We believe that investing in the next generation of talent is essential to building stronger communities and a stronger workforce. Our collaboration with MCC extends beyond a single event, as we continue to work together on recruitment, career exploration, and professional development opportunities that help students prepare for successful and meaningful careers."

The visit was organized by MCC's OCIL, who collaborates with programs collegewide to develop opportunities with employer partners and offer students meaningful career-focused experiences in and outside of the classroom. Available year-round, OCIL works with all Middlesex students and employees to build a foundation of career tools, develop in-demand skills, gain relevant experience, and apply knowledge to jobs. Holding a strong employer partnership with Northern Bank, OCIL connected Ree and her class with professionals at the bank.

"OCIL was pleased to introduce Northern Bank to our business faculty and students," said Jennifer Freeman, MCC's Dean of the Office of Career Integrated Learning and Apprenticeship. "Partnerships like these help students connect classroom learning with future careers while giving employers an opportunity to strengthen their future workforce pipeline and build awareness of MCC."