MCC Honors Retiring Faculty Member’s 36-year Career

On Tuesday, September 15, Middlesex Community College held a retirement event in honor of faculty member Dr. Mariluci Bladon, a pioneer in biotechnology education and chair of MCC's program. The event celebrated Dr. Bladon's distinguished over 36-year legacy of innovation, mentorship and student success at Middlesex.

"I was fortunate to share this special occasion with my family, my colleagues, my students," Bladon said. "I was also able to reconnect with graduates that I had not seen in more than 20 years and be able to witness their growth and accomplishments in the biotechnology field in many positions – such as vice presidents, directors, managers, supervisors, research associates and laboratory technicians among many other roles. Looking back to the beginning of the program in 1990 and now 2026, I feel extremely proud of all my students, and their successes have shown me that my mission was accomplished!"

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For more than three decades, Dr. Bladon has inspired and supported generations of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students, influencing many careers and contributing to the advancement of biotechnology. The retirement event raised funds for MCC to launch The Innovation Campaign: Investing in the Future to support advanced laboratories on both the Bedford and Lowell campuses.

The $2 million initiative will establish the Dr. Mariluci Bladon Life Sciences Endowment, held in perpetuity, to ensure that future students benefit from modern learning environments that match Dr. Bladon's vision and passion for education. In recognition of her remarkable legacy, MCC also dedicated the biotechnology center in the Talbot Building in Lowell in Dr. Bladon's honor.

"Dr. Bladon has inspired and guided generations of MCC students, helping launch countless careers while advancing biotech education throughout the Commonwealth and beyond," said Sherri McCormack, MCC's Dean of Advancement. "Her vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to student success have left a lasting impact on MCC, its alumni, and the biotech industry. We hope you will consider making a gift to the Life Sciences Endowment in honor of Dr. Bladon. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal and helps ensure that her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists, researchers and innovators."

Dr. Bladon created MCC's award winning program in 1990. The first community college in Massachusetts to offer an associate degree biotech program, MCC's courses are taught by experts who have worked in the biotech field and include lab experiences and conditions that are similar to those found in a work environment.

In 2024, MCC's biotech associate degree and certificate programs received a Pathmaker Validation from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) in recognition of the success and effectiveness of the program. Pathmaker validation ensures that programs up to and including associate degrees receive a stamp of approval, affirming their alignment with industry standards and Pathmaker Core Competencies.

Middlesex continues to grow the program to match the demands of the industry. In 2020, MCC introduced the Biotechnology Learn and Earn Experience for students to work full-time at a partner company while earning their associate degree.

In 2022, MCC held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the full renovation of the biotechnology center on the college's Lowell Campus. MCC's renovated biotech center features state-of-the-art equipment and materials to provide students with a space to practice, grow and apply the skills they learn in their classes.

The center is designed to use the same equipment and materials students will see upon entering the workforce. MCC was also awarded funding to expand the biotech program to build a second center location on the college's Bedford campus in July 2022.

Since 1992, more than 1,200 unique students have graduated from MCC's program, which was created and led by Dr. Bladon, according to Dr. Marie Hronik-Tupaj, MCC's Dean of STEM.

"Dr. Bladon's over 36 years at MCC represent an extraordinary legacy of commitment to students and to their futures," Dr. Hronik-Tupaj said. "Throughout her career, she has provided students with meaningful pathways to graduation, upward economic mobility, and rewarding careers. Her students have gone on to become managers, vice presidents, scientists, and professors in biotechnology. Dr. Bladon has not simply taught students – she has helped them envision what was possible."

All donors will be included on a commemorative plaque and will receive a piece of event memorabilia. Learn more about donating to the Dr. Mariluci Bladon Life Sciences Endowment!