Hudson County Community College Recognized as National Finalist in Six Awards of Excellence Categories

HCCC is recognized in the following 2026 Awards of Excellence categories:

• Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging — HCCC was chosen for dedicating resources that result in measurable, equitable outcomes; produce an inclusive environment for students, employees, and the community; and engender innovative and progressive practices.
• Faculty Innovation — Professor of Theatre Arts Joseph Gallo was selected for creating HCCC’s Theater Arts Program; integrating his Off-Broadway and Kennedy Center playwright experience into teaching and learning; maintaining open-door advising; redesigning remote classes from lecture-based to interactive, including nationally-recognized artists; designing the new 100-seat black-box theatre currently under construction; building Playwrights Festivals; establishing a paid internship program; and arranging for more than 2,000 students to attend New York City theatre productions.
• Outstanding College Corporate Partnership — HCCC and New Jersey Reentry Corporation is an alliance that creates opportunities for previously incarcerated citizens to earn academic and industry-recognized credentials. Of the more than 1,000 students enrolled since the program’s inception in 2021, 83% have completed classes; 70% earned a credential, continued their education, or secured employment; 14 received a proficiency certificate; and 72 enrolled in a GED program.
• Rising Star Manager — Director of Employee and Labor Relations Amaalah Ogburn has a record of strong engagement on college committees, with external constituents, and in state and national organizations that support student success. Ms. Ogburn has identified inefficiencies, and reimagined and refined processes to solve problems and improve students’ experiences.
• Rising Star Executive — Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Heather DeVries co-chaired the Return to Campus Task Force during the pandemic; led teams from the College, business and K-12 communities, and college/university partners to develop Academic and Student Success Action Plans; worked with Achieving the Dream to produce significant gains in student retention and graduation; and co-led the Justice-Involved Undergraduate Success and Training (JUSTice) Program in partnership with the Hudson County Department of Family Services and Reintegration.
• Faculty Member of the Year — Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Karen Hosick embraces and integrates evidence-based, collaborative strategies that lead to student success. Professor Hosick helped develop the HCCC Personal Fitness and Exercise Science programs; stage pop-up events to help students interact with staff; and demonstrate techniques with state-of-the-art equipment.

“We congratulate Joseph Gallo, Amaalah Ogburn, Dr. Heather DeVries, Karen Hosick, and our colleagues at the New Jersey Reentry Corporation for their well-deserved recognition,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “We thank them and so many additional HCCC faculty, staff, and students who contributed substantively to achieve these celebrated outcomes.”

Hudson County Community College is dedicated to advancing proven student success initiatives and supporting outstanding faculty and staff. HCCC was also a finalist in six AACC award categories in 2024 and received the national awards for Student Success (Hudson Scholars Program); Faculty of the Year (Dr. Clive Li); and CEO of the Year (Dr. Christopher Reber).