Hudson County Community College Biology Professor Earns Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition
February 19, 2026
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is honoring Hudson County Community College Professor of Biology Dr. Nadia Hedhli with the 2026 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition. Dr. Hedhli will receive the honor in April at AACC’s Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.
February 19, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Professor of Biology Dr. Nadia Hedhli is being honored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) with the prestigious Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition. The AACC will celebrate this year’s honorees at a reception on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at their annual conference in Seattle, Washington.
“As an HCCC alumna and faculty member of nearly 20 years, Dr. Hedhli is a stellar example of an educator who mentors and advocates for our students and our community,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “She is intensely involved in projects inside and out of the classroom to encourage students’ successful pursuit of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, and thereby addressing serious global issues and building a brighter physical and economic future for the community and nation. Dr. Hedhli has been an inspirational instructor and life guide for thousands of HCCC students. This honor is so well deserved.”
Throughout her tenure at HCCC, Dr. Hedhli inaugurated new courses and academic programs. “I am deeply committed to inspiring students to dream big, pursue STEM careers, and provide them opportunities that exceed their expectations,” she said.
Dr. Hedhli’s notable contributions to the College include:
- Developing curricula for in-person, online, and hybrid STEM courses, including the Molecular Biology course for the Biotechnology program, and Biology and Environmental Studies courses (Anatomy and Physiology, Human Biology, Introduction to Environmental Studies, and others);
- Establishing the blueprint for STEM programs offered in HCCC’s Early College Program for high school students;
- Recruiting, mentoring and leading students – particularly women – for HCCC STEM studies;
- Creating engaging and interactive presentations for the community that trigger curiosity about scientific topics; and
- Securing internships for HCCC STEM students at four-year universities.
Dr. Hedhi has served on committees to improve student engagement and retention, and course development as Coordinator of the HCCC Environmental Studies Program. She is a member of the HCCC Curriculum and Instruction, and Online Learning Committees, and co-chairs the College’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self-Study.
A lifelong learner, Dr. Hedhli engages in scientific research related to in-vitro and animal models in cardiovascular medicine, lymphoma, and retinopathy. She has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including work in collaboration with faculty from Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Hedhli received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ), her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Rutgers University, and Associate degree from Hudson County Community College. She was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Cardiovascular Research at UMDNJ and Yale University, and a Post-Doctoral Associate in Lymphoma Research at Weill Cornell Medical School. Dr. Hedhli has presented her research and findings at scientific events in the United States and Europe.
Dr. Hedhli is the recipient of the 2014 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching Award.