Brookdale looks forward to new president, new vision

Transition team examines diverse and changing needs of students and businesses

BY KRISTEN DALTON
Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — With a new president about to take office, a transition team at Brookdale Community College is working to determine a vision for the future.

The 20-member transition team representing all areas of Brookdale, from administration and faculty to student services, is preparing for the July 1 arrival of Maureen Murphy, who will be returning to her Monmouth County roots.

“We’re always evolving. The community here is extremely diverse, so there are different needs for a lot of different people and we’re very sensitive to that,” said Jim McCarthy, director of business training at Brookdale, on June 1.

“The needs for people in Asbury may be different for people in Freehold and some of the northern towns. The people that are responsible for those areas are constantly coming back with ideas to be of service in new and improved ways. It’s a constant dynamic and constant change.”

McCarthy said that Murphy would have a smooth transition returning to New Jersey after having a very strong community college experience at San Jacinto College South in Texas, where there is a strong community focus for all constituents.

One of the strengths of Brookdale’s “Communiversity” is that it has several locations throughout the county, including centers in Hazlet, Neptune, Wall, Freehold and a main campus in Lincroft. But there is one thing that every attendee has in common: the willingness to change.

“One hundred percent of the people at Brookdale are in transition in some way, form or fashion,” said McCarthy.

“We do a lot of certificate programs, helping people change what they do. We work with the [Monmouth County] Workforce Investment Board with unemployed folks where they can come in, learn new skills and put those skills to work and get a job as soon as possible.”

Brookdale has a strong presence with many businesses, nonprofits and health care organizations in the county. Part of Mc- Carthy’s work is to set up training sessions for employees, consulting opportunities, and provide other services that will help businesses grow.

“We try to act as a catalyst oftentimes by hosting roundtable discussions and business breakfasts where business leaders can come in and talk about issues that are important to them and then help them solve those issues,” he said.

“We cover people wanting to start a business, we have people already in business who need some advice, and we help train the employees of the businesses.”

Some see Brookdale’s potential as a business resource and economic stimulator for Monmouth County residents and stakeholders as still untapped.

Should it serve as an economic catalyst for small businesses or a county think tank that breeds innovation? Is it possible to be effective in both ways?

These questions were the topic of a group session at a Creative Monmouth workshop at Monmouth University on May 22, where participants discussed the relationship between community colleges and community redevelopment.

“Workforce development is not just for the job-seekers. It’s a huge opportunity to create a business training center and educate business people to grow and develop,” said Larry Sternbach, of the Monmouth County Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

“Brookdale Community College reflects the voice of Monmouth County. It’s a focal point, and we have the chance to collect data, do surveys on the needs and wants of residents, and get financial support from the state or county.”

Sternbach said that Monmouth County residents who attend the community college, not just those fresh out of high school, could become important resources to businesses if equipped with the right skills.

“A huge percentage of Brookdale students are older and have to reinvent themselves because this is their second, third or fourth careers. We need to utilize data management and organization to assess whatever the needs are and get businesses on board,” he said.

One such student is Leland Beaumont of Middletown, a former electrical engineer at Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies who now owns his own management business, Simply Quality.

“Don’t think of it as a junior college. I took seven courses at Brookdale over 16 years and met a lot of interesting people,” said Beaumont.

“The younger people had the creative spark I was trying to get, and I had the life experience that they don’t yet have.”

Beaumont has taken classes in psychology, art, computer science and creative writing, and his only gripe is that the curriculum needs to be modified to meet the demands of future employers instead of being tied down to strict academic standards.

This is especially true if many people decide not to go to a four-year college and instead seek the necessary skills over the course of two years that will help them land a more immediate job in their communities.

Darrell Willis, assistant director of urban services at Brookdale, praised the college’s Auto Tech program for meeting those needs.

“Look at a two-year commitment as a means to an end. Students need to see an end,” he said.

“It usually comes down to development. Now is a good time to start thinking about these things, because on July 1st we have a new president coming in who is originally from Monmouth County, so she knows the area.”