Hudson County Community College students and alumni contributed to one of the largest soil microbiome mappings in the United States. Pictured here, from left: HCCC Instructor of Chemistry Raffi Manjikian, and students Katerin Marquez, Ashley Medrano, Alketa Muja, Zoe Canizares, and Aadil Ishtiaq.

Lincoln Park is one of the jewels of Hudson County, with 150 acres of athletic facilities, playgrounds, a track, golf courses, and kayak rentals on the scenic Hackensack River. Statues commemorate Abraham Lincoln and other historic figures and times. The park’s foundation – its soil – is part of the planet’s most biodiverse habitat, the source of more than half of all existing species. Its microorganisms largely remained unstudied – until now.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) students, guided by Instructor of Chemistry Raffi Manjikian, spent a week collecting soil samples in Lincoln Park for one of the largest soil microbiome mapping projects ever attempted. Students and alumni who participated in Biodiversity and Informatics for Genomics Scholars (BioDIGS) were members of the local American Chemical Society chapter. Students and alumni Ashley Meddano, Alketa Muja, Zoe Canizares, Katerin Marquez, and Aadil Ishtiaq are majoring in Biology, Nursing, Chemistry, Education, and Business, respectively. Professor Manjikian and the students were part of the BioDIGS consortium, involving about 150 researchers across many institutions, who collected samples and catalogued the findings.

The BioDIGS consortium combed through more than 40 locations throughout the United States, including farmlands, hiking trails, forests, parks, and Superfund sites. Students received pre-assembled soil collection kits and sent their samples to Johns Hopkins University, where analysis and DNA-sequencing was leveraged to unlock microbial genomes. Scientists and students looked for genetic relationships and patterns between the soil, the environment, and human health. Their work was published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics.  

The consortium logged more than 1,000 newly discovered bacterial strains, a fraction of the planet’s microbial “dark matter.” Research revealed information about arthropods, annelids, nematodes, plants, fungi, bacteria, archaea, bacteriophages, and other microbial species.

As a faculty fellow of the Genomic Data Science Community Network (GDSCN), Professor Manjikian provided students with the rare opportunity to engage in real-world scientific inquiry supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Science Foundation. “GDSCN works towards a vision where researchers, educators, and students from all backgrounds can fully participate in genomic data science research,” he said.

“My participation in the BioDIGS project began with a simple curiosity about the soil in Lincoln Park, a heavily frequented public space in Jersey City,” said HCCC alumnus Aadil Ishtiaq. “By contributing to this broader comparative study, I hope to gain insights into the potential variations and similarities in soil microbiomes, revealing how human activity and environmental factors shape these essential ecosystems.”

“We are very proud of our students and Professor Manjikian for their contributions in this important work that involved more than 40 research and teaching institutions,” said HCCC President
Dr. Christopher Reber. “The BioDIGS project is vital to understanding the soil microbiome and its impact on animals, plants, and humans, its relevance to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, and the advancement of data science.”

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  Hudson County Community College will graduate its largest class ever at their 48th Annual Commencement Ceremony on May 21, 2025 at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The Class of 2025 is the largest in the College’s History.

  Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will celebrate the academic achievements of more than 1,550 students at the College’s 48th Annual Commencement ceremonies. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Sports Illustrated Stadium, 600 Cape May Street in Harrison, NJ.  The College expects approximately 7,000 graduates, family members, faculty, staff, trustees, and guests to attend.

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The new tower will house NCAA gym, fitness center, science labs, theater, classrooms, and administrative offices.

   Hudson County Community College (HCCC) held a “Topping Out” ceremony on Thursday, April 17th, 2025, at 2 Enos Place on the College’s Journal Square Campus in Jersey City, for the new Center for Student Success. Students, faculty, staff, honored guests, the project team, and others signed the beam and raised it into position.

The 11-story, 153,186 square-foot HCCC Center for Student Success resides one block from the Journal Square PATH. The tower will replace several of the College’s small, segregated, and aging buildings. The blueprint includes 24 classrooms; full-size National College Athletics Association (NCAA) gymnasium to facilitate the debut of the College’s Athletics Department; fitness center; black-box theater; health sciences laboratories; 85 offices; eight conference rooms; a “University Center” for sister colleges and partners to offer baccalaureate instruction; expanded student services areas; and more.

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Hudson County Community College students enjoy a sharing a book together in the College’s Culinary Arts Park on the Journal Square Campus.

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Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Christopher Reber (back row center) is pictured here with Hudson Scholars students.

 Recently, Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) innovative and transformative Hudson Scholars program was presented the prestigious Bellwether Legacy Award for impacting student success in retention and college completion, particularly for those from traditionally underserved groups. The Legacy Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Bellwether College Consortium, is just one of many national accolades Hudson Scholars has received in the past two years. Others include the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 2022 Innovation of the Year Award, Bellwether 2023 Instructional Programs and Services Award, and Provident Bank Foundation’s prestigious 2023 Signature Grant ($100,000).

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Hudson County Community College has substantially increased student retention and completion over the past five years. Pictured here, are joyful members of the HCCC Class of 2023

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has earned “Leader College of Distinction” designation from Achieving the Dream (ATD), the national reform movement of high-achieving community colleges. The honor is bestowed upon innovative higher education institutions that demonstrate sustained and significant outcomes in the advancement of student success. HCCC is one of six Leader Colleges to receive this honor.

ATD is the acclaimed national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as hubs of equity and mobility in their communities. ATD created the Leader College of Distinction Award in 2018 to recognize colleges that meet challenging student success goals. It is the highest designation of institutional success outcomes in the ATD network of colleges.

“This recognition is important to our colleges. It affirms to their faculty and staff and communities the importance of their student success work and that they are making progress on important milestone metrics in their journeys,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, President and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “Hudson County Community College is an exemplar of excellence within the ATD Network. It is driving accelerated and scaled gains in equitable student success results, which affect substantive improvements for students, families, and the community HCCC serves. Their dedication and hard work both inform and inspire other colleges, and we admire them for their work.”

HCCC joined the ATD network of 300 colleges in January 2019 and achieved Leader College status last year by demonstrating continuous improvement in retention and graduation rates, especially among Hispanic and African American students; attending annual ATD DREAM meetings; filing annual student success action plans and reports; and serving as an invited presenter at ATD national meetings and webinars.

“We’re proud to be named a Leader College of Distinction, and thank our Trustees, faculty, staff, and students for helping produce transformative results that empower our students and our community,” said HCCC President, Dr. Christopher Reber. “ATD’s mission aligns with our College’s mission of opening new pathways for our most vulnerable learners and helping ensure that students achieve their academic and professional goals. Seeing our students complete degree and certificate programs, become gainfully employed, and engage in civic participation is inspiring, and compels us to continue building upon our successes.”

Hudson County Community College utilizes evidence-based data and programs and ATD best practices to shape policy and practices that result in student success:

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 Pictured here, Danielle Lopez, who has been named Hudson County Community College’s first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Accessibility Services.
 

–  Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has appointed Danielle Lopez as the College’s first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Accessibility Services.
 
“The entire HCCC family is delighted to welcome Danielle Lopez to the College,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “She will lead and support our accessibility and accommodation programs for students and employees. In addition to serving as our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Coordinator, Danielle will be our primary compliance and content expert for all accessibility matters. She will play a key role in advancing our culture of care and our overarching priorities of student success and diversity, equity and inclusion.”
 
Ms. Lopez will manage and supervise the HCCC Office of Accessibility Services (OAS). A key component of her work is to reduce systemic barriers and promote disability awareness and a culture of accessibility. In her new position, Ms. Lopez will collaborate with multiple campus constituents, including faculty; the Offices of Academic Affairs; Student Affairs and Enrollment; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Human Resources; Counseling and Wellness; Registrar; Public Safety and Security; Facilities; Communications; Information Technology; Legal Counsel; and others.
 
A dedicated and enthusiastic higher education professional, Ms. Lopez is highly experienced in accessibility and disability services, advisement, and administration. For the past ten years, she served as Assistant Director and Academic Counselor at City University of New York (CUNY) Center for Student Accessibility. There, she developed and implemented best practices to help students with disabilities and diverse needs achieve academic success. In addition, Ms. Lopez served as an Adjunct Lecturer at CUNY, teaching psychology courses. As a Project REACH mentor, she assisted individuals with autism, coordinated curricula and service plans, and facilitated meetings related to academic, social, and professional development. Ms. Lopez also mentored students with disabilities to support their campus initiatives at the College of Staten Island.
 
Ms. Lopez received her Master of Science degree in Disability Services in Higher Education from the School of Professional Studies at CUNY, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the College of Staten Island, CUNY. Her professional affiliations include the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), New York State Disability Services Council (NYSDSC), and CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD). She holds certification in Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Behavioral Health.
 
“I am very happy to be a part of Hudson County Community College, where diversity, equity, and inclusion is valued and lived,” Ms. Lopez stated. “I look forward to working with our students and my new colleagues to further advance opportunities and accessibility for everyone at HCCC.”

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Grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, renowned author, activist, and advocate, will bring his inspirational message to HCCC on January 18  

It’s not every day that the grandson of a world leader and renowned champion for human rights visits a community college. But that’s precisely what will happen on January 18, 2024, when Ndaba Mandela, grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, will speak at Hudson County Community College (HCCC) as part of the College’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.   

While Mandela is the grandson of Nelson Mandela, he is also an accomplished advocate for human rights and social justice in his own right.  

Ndaba is the Founder of the Mandela Institute for Humanity, an organization continuing the legacy of Nelson Mandela by inspiring and uniting people to build a fair and just world. He is also the Co-founder and Chairman of the Africa Rising Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting a positive image of Africa worldwide. Furthermore, he is the longest-serving ambassador to UNAIDS, a United Nations organization focused on combatting the HIV/AIDS pandemic and ending discrimination towards people living with HIV and AIDS.  

Ndaba was recently recognized for his efforts in these areas when Black Entertainment Television (BET) named him one of its “28 Men of Change.” 

Ndaba is also the author of Going to the Mountain: Lessons from my Grandfather, Nelson Mandela, which tells the story of Mandela’s life through the eyes of his grandson. Part of Ndaba’s mission is to introduce the teachings of his grandfather to the younger generation, who didn’t grow up watching Mandela fight against the injustices of and ultimately overcoming South Africa’s apartheid government.  

HCCC President Dr. Christopher stated, “Nelson Mandela inspired a generation with his tireless fight for dignity and equality for all South Africans, ultimately overcoming the unjust apartheid regime and showing the world that true change can be achieved through peaceful measures. We are thrilled to welcome Ndaba Mandela to HCCC, where the next generation will have the opportunity to hear his inspiring message that one person can make a difference.”   

The event will take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and is open to all HCCC students, faculty, staff, and community members.  

Individuals interested in attending can register for the event online here. 

Caption:   Advocate, author and activist Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, will speak to members of the HCCC community at the College’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. annual memorial. 

About Hudson County Community College 

Hudson County Community College serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers over 90 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management; Nursing and Health Professions; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. The College’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers cutting-edge, industry recognized, stackable credentials in alignment with high-priority workforce needs. 

HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education. 

The College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been recognized with the 2021 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Northeast Regional Equity Award; the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2021, 2022 and 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, this year honoring HCCC as one of six community colleges nationally to be named “Top Colleges for Diversity;” and the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2022 and 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. HCCC was a recent finalist for the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) “Advancing Diversity Award of Excellence.”  

For the second consecutive year, HCCC was selected as one of 20 community colleges in the United States to be named among the “2023 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) in collaboration with “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.” HCCC was one of 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC and “The Chronicle of Higher Education” as a 2022 and 2023 “Great College to Work For®,” this year achieving Honor Roll status for top ratings in seven of ten categories.  

HCCC is one of two colleges in the United States to be named a Top Ten Finalist in all three program categories for the nationally recognized 2023 Bellwether Awards, and received the 2023 Bellwether Award for the College’s cutting-edge “Hudson Scholars” program. The College’s exemplary work in advancing student success has been recognized with 2023 “Leader College” designation by Achieving the Dream, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as catalysts for equity and mobility in their communities. HCCC was also recognized with the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention by Vector Solutions for demonstrating leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being, and inclusion.

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