Gateway Gallery is located in the main entrance lobby of ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ×, 320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, NH. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Tarbell is a United States Art Embassy Artist whose work has been exhibited nationally. Her recent accomplishments include a solo exhibition at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum in 2023 and a commission to create the awards for the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts Gala Awards Celebration in 2024.

In addition to her artistic career, Tarbell has been an active advocate for the arts in New Hampshire, serving on numerous boards and committees. In 2015, she received an Outstanding Woman in Business Award from New Hampshire Business Magazine in recognition of her leadership as director of the Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden, a position she held for 22 years.

Tarbell is drawn to bright, complex compositions that invite viewers to look closely and discover new details. Through her paintings, she encourages an ongoing visual exploration, allowing viewers to find something new with each encounter.

ā€œSpirit of the Danceā€ offers visitors an opportunity to experience Pamela R Tarbellā€™s vibrant paintings and explore the movement, energy, and visual complexity of her artistic practice.

The exhibition is free and open to the public during regular college hours.

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Course ideal for those looking to build project work skills, or as intro to career path

ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× is pleased to announce its new Beginning Welding course, starting Nov. 18. Designed for beginners with no prior experience, this hands-on, five-week course helps students build foundational skills for trade work, home projects, or personal hobbies.

Classes run weekly through Dec. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants will train in a state-of-the-art welding lab under expert instruction from industry professionals. The course covers four essential welding and cutting techniques: Oxy/Acetylene Cutting, Plasma Cutting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick), and Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG).

Whether you are looking to start a new career path in the trades or tackle hands-on projects with confidence, this course provides the comprehensive tools and training you need to succeed. Space is limited, so secure your spot today.

To register, visit . For questions, contact GreatBayBTC@ccsnh.edu.

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Like many young adults, Molly McNeill did not find her ideal educational path right out of high school. In 2019, she enrolled at a four-year university, but after two years, she realized she couldn’t see herself happy there long term.

McNeill withdrew from college and returned to teaching preschool for five years while continuing to volunteer with local charities.

Her turning point came while volunteering for Annieā€™s Angels, a New Hampshire nonprofit that supports families struggling with life-threatening disease, illness, or disability. McNeill had volunteered with the organization since age 17 and joined its Board of Directors at 21, eventually becoming the longest-serving member of its current board.

Recognizing her natural talent for organization and leadership, fellow board members encouraged her to pursue event planning professionally, prompting her to return to higher education at ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ×.

Enrolling in Great Bayā€™s Event and Meeting Planning Certification program, McNeill thrived in the collegeā€™s hands-on, community-centered environment. Balancing full-time work and classes for two years to pay her way debt-free, she gained comprehensive training in all aspects of event planning and presentation, including food safety, business professionalism, and event law.

Mentors like Laurie Mantegari, program coordinator and faculty advisor for the Hotel, Restaurant, and Event Management program, provided both real-world experience and ongoing professional support that continues long after graduation, McNeill said.

ā€œGreat Bay gave me the perfect jumping-off point,ā€ she said. ā€œI loved how in-person and collaborative the program is. The hands-on training prepared me directly for the field.ā€

Today, 25-year-old McNeill serves as director of events and sales at the historic Three Chimneys Inn in Durham, N.H. As the primary point of contact for clients, she manages functions ranging from weddings and corporate luncheons to university retreats and holiday parties.

She credits her Great Bay education with giving her the confidence to coordinate complex logistics and turn her professional dreams into reality. McNeillā€™s journey highlights how community colleges offer vital second chances, affordable career shifts, and practical pathways to long-term professional success.

ā€œI plan to stay here for the long term,ā€ McNeill said of her role at Three Chimneys Inn. ā€œItā€™s a great space, and thereā€™s a real family and community feel here.ā€

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Today, Felch serves as a Supply Chain Manager for Amazon on its External Fulfillment team, where he helped design and build a national network to outsource much of the companyā€™s North American freight, warehousing, and fulfillment operations to independent companies.

When he reflects on his trajectory, he cites Great Bay as the essential foundation of his success.

“Great Bay is probably the most important stepping stone in my career,” he said. “It gave me all the confidence that I needed. Before, I didn’t think that I would have an opportunity to get into any type of school, and Great Bay really opened that door for me.”

Felch didn’t go to college after he graduated from high school. He worked in commercial tuna fishing and later in his familyā€™s construction business. ā€œI applied to a few colleges, but I realized it was not for me. So I had a few gap years,ā€ he said.

When he enrolled at Great Bay in 2017, he felt better prepared for the challenge of college. ā€œI had always heard college was so much different than high school, so I wanted to see for myself. It was a test. Was this something I could do? Was it something I would enjoy doing?ā€

He aced the test.

He chose Great Bay because of its affordability, enrolling as a liberal arts major to explore his interests before settling on business administrationā€”and graduating without student debt. ā€œBecause it was affordable, it allowed me to figure out what I wanted to do in life,ā€ Felch said. ā€œYou have smaller classes, and you can build a very good rapport with your professors. All of them were very helpful in wanting to see me succeed.”

After Great Bay, Felch transferred to the University of New Hampshire, where he earned his bachelorā€™s in business administration with a focus on management and operations. As he approached his graduation from UNH, he was preparing to scale up a commercial painting business he had started when a message arrived on his LinkedIn account inviting him to interview with an Amazon recruiter.

ā€œSix days after graduating from UNH, I started my career at Amazon,ā€ he said.

He quickly rose from managing 150 hourly associates in his first position to leading inventory control and managing other salaried leaders. Today, as a Supply Chain Manager in the External Fulfillment space, he helped the company plan and build 30 third-party warehouses across the country, with a goal of reaching 50 within the next five years.

Itā€™s work of massive scale and impact. In his current role, Felch oversees the shipment of billions of packages.

His success stems from his entrepreneurial instincts, his education and training, and his ability to help others succeed.

Felch offered straightforward advice to current Great Bay students: Identify what you excel at and become the best in that specific area rather than spreading yourself too thin. He also emphasized the importance of networking and finding strong leaders who can guide professional growth.

ā€œI donā€™t know if it was luck that I got a message on LinkedIn from an Amazon recruiter, but the way I look at it is, you make your own luck. I never anticipated working for a corporation or working in New York. But thatā€™s the power of education. Without my education, I would not have had any of these opportunities. It all started at Great Bay.ā€

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Levesque chose Great Bayā€™s two-year program to earn her veterinary technician degree, drawn to the Collegeā€™s flexible format and dedicated faculty. Her winning scholarship essay focused on her two years of experience fostering cats and kittens for Midcoast Humane Society in Maine prior to enrolling at Great Bay.

As part of the award, Levesque has committed to working in shelter medicine for three years, a requirement that aligns with her career goals.

“The scholarship is just amazing,” said Levesque. “With the scholarship comes a moral obligation to work in shelter medicine for three years, which I wanted to do anyway. I still can’t believe I got it.ā€

Levesque, who already holds a bachelor’s degree, returned to higher education after spending time out of the workforce and realizing her passion for animal care while fostering rescue animals. Now in her fourth semester of the five-semester vet tech program, she attributes much of her success to Great Bay’s supportive academic environment and practical focus.

“The professors are outstanding and really know their stuff,” said Levesque. ā€œThere are multiple veterinarians and veterinary technicians teaching in the program, and they give you a concrete reason why you need to know something. It is not just for the big test. It is for doing your job and understanding the ‘why’ behind it all.ā€

During her studies, Levesque completed a clinical internship at Sugar River Veterinary Hospital in Grantham, where she was subsequently hired, and will complete a second surgical internship in the spring. After graduating in the spring, she will sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) to earn her credential.

After that, she plans to balance her work in private practice with shelter medicine.

“It has been a challenge, but it has been so much fun because I have a goal now and I am going to school for a real reason,” Levesque said. “Step one is passing the VTNE, and step two is working a few days a week at Sugar River Veterinary Hospital and a few days a week in shelter medicine.ā€

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Her path began in 2017 when she enrolled at ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× shortly after high school. Initially pursuing early childhood education before switching to business, Jelley struggled to find her footing academically and eventually found herself on academic probation. She decided to pause her studies to gain perspective and take responsibility for her future.

ā€œI didnā€™t do well. I wasnā€™t in the right mindset,ā€ she said, looking back at those early years. ā€œAfter my first year, I decided I needed to step away and figure out what I wanted to do. I needed to take some responsibility.ā€

During a three-year hiatus, Jelley entered the workforce full-time in an entry-level position. This period was transformative. Through her professional experiences, she developed a stronger sense of maturity, discipline, and work ethic, qualities that would ultimately redefine her approach to education. In 2021, she returned to Great Bay, focusing on accounting, a field she was drawn to by her natural aptitude for math and her motherā€™s influence.

ā€œI decided I wanted to go back, approach it differently, and prove to myself I could do it,ā€ she said. ā€œI went back as an adult, and I took it more seriously. It was something I was choosing to do, and not something I felt I had to do.ā€

Jelley embraced the challenge of balancing a full-time career with her college course load. Over the four years it took to complete her degree, she excelled academically, proving her capability and dedication. She graduated with her associate degree in accounting in 2024, marking the successful completion of a journey nearly a decade in the making.

She turned her early struggles into a story of resilience and professional triumph. ā€œI am extremely proud of what I accomplished,ā€ she said.

Her academic success quickly translated into professional opportunity. In fall 2024, Jelley began working as an accounts payable associate at Sprague Energy. Earlier this year, she applied for and received a promotion to staff accountant. Now seven months into her new role, Jelley feels a profound sense of confidenceā€”and accomplishment.

ā€œGreat Bay gave me the foundation to succeed and prove to myself that I am capable of finishing what I started,ā€ she said.

For Jelley, returning to college was about more than earning a degree. It was an opportunity to prove that past setbacks do not define future success. Through determination, accountability, and a willingness to begin again, she turned a difficult start into an accomplishment she is deeply proud of and built the foundation for a promising career in accounting.

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The program arrives as demand for law enforcement leadership grows: employment for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in New Hampshire is projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032 ā€” more than double the roughly 3% growth rate projected nationally for the same occupation over a comparable 10-year period ā€” according to New Hampshire Employment Security’s Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau.

Through a curriculum grounded in advanced leadership theory, research methods and a hands-on capstone experience, students critically assess and navigate the complexities of organizational behavior, ethical decision-making, policy analysis and evidence-based practices.

“Criminal justice leadership demands more than experience,ā€ said Eric Kulberg, department chair and professor of ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ×’s Criminal Justice Program. ā€œIt demands the ability to think critically, lead ethically and adapt to an ever-changing landscape. This certificate gives working professionals and aspiring leaders a structured pathway to develop those skills while applying them directly to the real-world challenges they face.ā€

After completing the program, students will be prepared to develop strategies for team building and personnel management while applying research methodologies to inform policy and evidence-based decision-making. The program culminates in a capstone project in which students integrate and apply their learning to address a current issue facing a criminal justice agency.

The certificate is built on three core courses ā€” Criminal Justice Leadership, Criminal Justice Research Methods and Criminal Justice Leadership Capstone ā€” all available this fall semester. To complete the 16 to 17 credit program, students choose two electives from areas including Organizational Behavior, Crisis Planning and Management, Victim Rights & Advocacy and Critical Thinking in the Humanities.

For more information or to register, visit GreatBay.edu/Program/Criminal-Justice-Leadership

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ā€œIā€™m proud that New Hampshireā€™s community colleges are once again the best in New England and top ten in the nation,ā€ said Governor Ayotte. ā€œOur CCSNH students, faculty, and staff are talented, hardworking, and dedicated to building a stronger future for our state. We will continue to ensure our community colleges are affordable, innovative, and responsive to the needs of growing businesses in New Hampshire.ā€

ā€œCCSNH is proud to be recognized as one of our nationā€™s best community college systems,ā€ said Dr. Chuck Lloyd, CCSNH chancellor-elect. ā€œThese rankings are based on quality, outcomes, and affordability. That is what we strive to provide for New Hampshire students and the stateā€™s skilled workforce and economy. Time after time we hear from graduates who praise the quality education they received at our colleges, the doors that were opened thanks to their experiences with us, and the positive impact it has made on their lives. New Hampshire is our mission, and we are committed to doing our best for the Granite State.ā€

About CCSNH:

The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees and dual-credit partnerships with NH high schools. Colleges include ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI ā€“ Concordā€™s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Lebanon and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin and Littleton. CCSNH serves more than 25,000 students statewide, providing affordable access to a high-quality education. For more information, visit .

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The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) has been selected for a $25,000 grant from the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) Ā to enhance the Culinary Arts & Sustainable Foodways program at ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× (ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ×). CCSNH has received $150,000 in support of career and technical education programs throughout the initiative’s existence, and for the third year in a row, CCSNH is recognized as the only institution in the Granite State to receive funding that will expand access to skilled trade programs.

Through the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges (The Foundation), the grant will award financial assistance to students to offset the cost of attendance and provide a local pathway to meet the demand of the well-established restaurant industry in the seacoast and beyond.

Tim Allison, executive director of The Foundation said, ā€œThe generosity of Metallica and their philanthropic organization will help fuel the ambition of ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× students who wish to cultivate their culinary careers, gaining the training and hands-on experience needed to truly thrive in a highly in-demand industry.ā€

The Culinary Arts and Sustainable Foodways program was co-created by James Beard Award-nominated chef instructors and ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ×. The 12-week certificate program includes 10 hours of classroom instruction and five hours of on-the-job training per week through externships at local establishments. The program incorporates a wide range of guest speakers and trips to local farms and purveyors to provide first-hand insights about preparing and serving food in a sustainable manner. According to the United States Department of Labor, employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 7% from 2025-2033.

Since securing its first round of funding from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, CCSNH has supported students in programs that include welding, aviation technology, massage therapy and culinary arts.

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, proudly announces the eighth year of its MSI with its largest grant to date: over $3.3 million. Eighteen new US schools will join the returning 75 colleges in the fall for a total of 93 in the program. In addition, later this year, the Metallica Scholars Initiative will also expand to the United Kingdom in partnership with Capital City College Group in London.

Since launching in 2019, AWMH has worked closely with its long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), helping to support approximately 13,000 community college students learn the skills needed for in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages.

Metallicaā€™s James Hetfield said, ā€œThis thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. Weā€™re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. Itā€™s humbling to know weā€™ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world.ā€

About CCSNH
The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees, and dual-credit partnerships with NH high schools. The Systemā€™s colleges are ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI ā€“ Concordā€™s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Lebanon and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin and Littleton. CCSNH serves more than 25,000 students across the state providing affordable access to a high-quality education and economic opportunity.Ā For more information, visit .

About All Within My Hands

Established in 2017, All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a nonprofit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. Metallica covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go directly to the organizations supported by the Foundation. To date, All Within My Hands has provided grants of $19 million to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8 million to combat food insecurity, and $6.2 million to disaster relief and other critical local services worldwide. Visit to learn more. And follow us on , , , and .

About American Association of Community Colleges

As the voice of the nationā€™s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACCā€™s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all.

Media Contacts:

CCSNH & The Foundation

Kristen Lestock

Vice President of Communications and Client Engagement

Kristen@cookson.agency

All Within My Hands Foundation

Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy

renee@allwithinmyhands.org

(415) 458-1532 x10

American Association of Community Colleges

Dr. Martha M. Parham, Sr. Vice President, Public Relations

mparham@aacc.nche.edu

(202) 728-0200

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ā€œThis event is for prospective students in any phase of the application process, including those who have not applied or those who have been accepted and are ready for advising and registration. The goal is for you to leave this event registered for fall Classesā€ said Steve Gorman, Director of ŗ£½ĒĀŅĀ× Admissions.

Fall courses, starting August 31^st, Ā September 28th, and October 26^th are available in a range of formats, including in-person on campus, online, and hybrid, as well as a hyflex approach that allows students to self-design their attendance preferences.

Express Admissions is also a great opportunity to get information and support on financing options for a debt-free college education. will hold a FAFSA Open House from 11 a.m. ā€“ 3 p.m. during the Collegeā€™s Express Admissions Day event. Ā In-person support will be available to help answer questions about the FAFSA form and assist in filling it out.

“Many students make their college decision in the weeks leading up to the start of the semesterā€, said Gorman. ā€œAt the same time, growing numbers of students are prioritizing affordable education, flexible schedules, and programs that lead directly to employment or seamless transfer to a four-year university. Express Admissions helps students quickly complete the process so they can secure the courses they want and begin the semester ready to succeed.”

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