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Nunez Community College held its annual Convocation program Aug. 11 in the Student Testing and Career Counseling Center on the Nunez campus. The program sets out the college’s goals and areas of focus for the upcoming academic year, and also celebrates exceptional faculty and staff. Pictured, Nunez Chancellor Tina Tinney addresses employees at Convocation.
The 2025-2026 Academic Year kicked off Aug. 11 at Nunez Community College with the college’s Convocation 2025 program.
Convocation is an annual event where all faculty and staff meet ahead of the fall semester to learn about the college’s priorities for the coming year, as well as plans that will extend years into the future. Nunez Chancellor Tina Tinney, Ed. D., welcomed staff and faculty, some of whom were returning to campus for the first time since the end of the spring semester.
This year, Dr. Tinney shared details about the college’s new five-year plan, which extends through 2030. The five-year plan sets long- and short-term goals that the college will work toward to demonstrate progress in its performance and curricula and keep the college in step with goals set forth by the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Louisiana Career and Technical College System (LCTCS).
"Nunez is an asset to our community and an innovative institution that has grown significantly in terms of enrollment, programs and facilities. Through the execution of our new five-year Strategic Plan, our college will continue its commitment to growth, collaboration and excellence in service to our students and our business and industry partners,” said Dr. Tinney. “It was exciting to share the plan with Nunez employees at Convocation and I look forward to sharing it more broadly with our many partners and external stakeholders as well!"
Dr. Tinney was joined in her presentation of the five-year plan by Dr. Janet Pilcher, founder and President of Studer Education, a consulting firm that has worked closely with Nunez for years.
Nunez also took the opportunity to celebrate exceptional faculty and staff with its excellence awards, its GEM awards, which correspond to the college’s core values, and service awards for employees hitting milestone years in their time with the college. Nunez recognized the following faculty and staff:
- Excellence In Teaching Award – Dr. Charles Miller, Associate Professor of Sociology (This award was announced at Nunez’s Commencement Ceremony in May.)
- Outstanding Professional Staff Award – Mike Pritchard, Interim Facilities Foreman
- Outstanding Professional Support Staff Award – Seth Braniff, IT Technician
- Outstanding Retiree Award – Kathy Huff, former Teaching and Care and Development of Young Children program chair
- Student-Centered GEM Award – Natalie Haniford, Director of Student Success
- Teaching & Learning GEM Award – Emily Sherwood, Office Manager
- Integrity GEM Award – Jermaine Labat, Registrar
- Caring GEM Award – Mary Llorance, Staff Accountant
- Innovation GEM Award – Kat Bell, Sustainable Energy Career Academy Program Coordinator
- 5-Year Service Award
- Jason Browne, Director of Communications
- Jackie Cantrell, Assistant Director of General Accounting
- Randy Hartzog, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program Chair and Instructor
- Brittney Zaffuto, Practical Nursing Program Chair and Instructor
- 10-Year Service Award
- Dr. Lauren Englade-Franklin, Associate Professor of Chemistry
- James Harper, Sheriff’s Office Deputy
- Dr. Alaa Khalil, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
- Jesús Melendez, Welding Program Chair and Instructor
- Keithia Sylve, Custodian
- 20-Year Service Award
- Clara Johnson, Custodian
- 25-Year Service Award
- Ron Chapman, Professor of American History
- Wendy Frazier, Assistant Director of Purchasing
- Chris Hintzen, Senior Systems Administrator
- Tachel Jones, Assistant Director of Bursar/Accounts Receivable
Convocation also featured several guests. GNO Inc. Policy and Research Manager Harrison Gitz and Director of Talent and Workforce Marco Tejeda-Kemp provided a summary of GNO Inc.’s 2024 Jobs Report. A Student Resource Panel included representatives from Ride New Orleans, Tri-Parish Works, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid, the Nunez Health Center, the Community Center of St. Bernard and CORE Counseling.
Nunez would like to thank our partner organizations for their generous sponsorship of Convocation 2025. Sponsors included UNO Federal Credit Union, Attaway Trophies & Awards, Blue Cube Promotions, Canseco’s Markets, Clements Insurance Services, The Coffeehouse, Methodist Health System Foundation, Raising Cane’s, Nonna Randazzo’s Bakery, SSE Steel Fabrication, Tinney Family Dentistry and The UPS Store.
