Air Traffic Control Program to Launch at NCC this Fall

Instructors at Nashua Community College (NCC) have been busy setting up a new Air Traffic Control Tower Simulator on campus ahead of the Air Traffic Control associate degree debut this fall.

“The same training equipment used around the world is right here on campus,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs, Jill Loveless. Loveless and Aviation Department Chairperson and Professor Doug Mitchell discussed the program curriculum, equipment and career prospects for future graduates.

“We have nine students currently enrolled in the first cohort, and the cap is 12,” said Mitchell, adding that the Aviation Department hopes to welcome an additional cohort of students in January for the Spring 2026 semester.

NCC also utilizes space at the Nashua Airport, where Aviation Technology students prepare for careers in aircraft maintenance.

The college is awaiting final FAA approval of the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) certification for the program and is also in the process of acquiring an Enhanced Collegiate Training Initiative (ECTI) certification that will allow students to complete all required initial ATC training in Nashua. “Up until now, the CTI was the highest certification you could have as a college, but with the Air Traffic Control shortages last year the FAA has established a new way for schools to do the full curriculum versus having to send students to the Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma,” said Mitchell.

The ATC program will be the only one in New Hampshire, with the next closest program in New York, and another emerging ATC program under development in Augusta, Maine.

Years of data show US air traffic control system 'straining at the seams'

By Joce Sterman and Emily Featherston

Published: June 9, 2025 at 1:49 PM EDT

Investigate TV highlights NCC's new program amid national concerns about shortage of ATC professionals.

New President Selected for NCC

The Board of Trustees of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) unanimously confirmed Dr. James Keane as the next president of NCC during their meeting last week. A career educator with experience in two- and four-year colleges, Dr. Keane's leadership skills and talent for fostering partnerships with regional employers will help further the work and reach of NCC. 

Dr. Keane currently serves as Associate Provost at Curry College in Milton, Mass., a private college serving 2,000 students annually, where he leads internal efforts to build comprehensive support for student achievement and has strengthened pathways to employment. From 2020-2024, Keane served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), an institution serving more than 7,000 students in Worcester, Mass. At QCC, Dr. Keane expanded access to flexible course offerings, strengthened workforce development programs, and enhanced partnerships with high schools, local businesses and community organizations. He helped guide Quinsigamond through the COVID-19 pandemic to emerge as an agile institution positioned to meet a broad range of student and community needs. Recognizing the evolving needs of the community and local industry, Dr. Keane expanded QCC’s programming in healthcare and technology and developed a range of strategies to support student completion and pathways to careers across the region. 

Dr. Keane spent a decade as Executive Dean and Campus CEO of the Michael J. Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, N.Y., and held several positions including Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. He has served on the faculty of several institutions and continues to teach courses in education leadership, higher education administration, philosophy and ethics. 

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Nashua Community College,” said Dr. Keane. “Education changes lives, and community colleges are at the heart of that mission. NCC is a place where opportunity and community intersect, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated faculty, staff, and students to shape a future grounded in innovation, student success, and community partnerships. I look forward to strengthening NCC’s impact, not only within our classrooms, but across the greater Nashua region. In a time of rapid change, community colleges are more essential than ever. I’m eager to support NCC as it continues to grow as a hub for workforce development, innovation, and lifelong learning.”

Dr. Keane earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Student Development from the Steinhard School of Education at New York University in New York City, a Master of Arts in Theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.  

Dr. Keane will start at NCC on July 14, 2025. He succeeds Lucille Jordan, who served as president of NCC for 27 years. 

MCC Hosts Welding Career Discovery Event for NH High School Students

This article was originally published by Project MFG

Project MFG Maritime Welding Career Discovery Event at MCC - On May 12, Manchester Community College (MCC) hosted the Project MFG Maritime Welding Competition and Career Discovery Event, bringing together 24 talented students from seven local schools to compete head-to-head for top honors and a spot in this year’s Maritime Welding National Championship happening this upcoming June at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.

This event focused on skills relevant to the maritime industry, emphasizing the critical role welding plays in building and maintaining vessels, and was more than just a competition. Organized in collaboration with Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA), and General Dynamics Electric Boat, the all-day experience included a Career Discovery Event, which aimed to inspire and inform students about career pathways in the skilled trades, particularly maritime welding and defense manufacturing.

Dr. Chuck Lloyd, Vice Chancellor of the CCSNH, kicked off the day with an encouraging message about the atmosphere:

“The momentum here is real, and I think it’s safe to say that the trades are back. Our efforts have focused on revitalizing interest in the trades, and seeing how engaged and excited you all are to compete today, I just want to say, the trades are back.”

More than 50 high school students from across the New Hampshire area got an up-close look at careers in manufacturing and defense with 12 local industry experts and educators. This event provided an amazing opportunity for students to network and meet professionals within their area and learn about the possibilities of their future if they choose to pursue a career in the trades.

Governor Kelly Ayotte addressed participants, emphasizing the importance of the event: “What you’re doing today is not just important for the state but for the country.” Adding on that “learning to be a welder is not only going to be a great-paying job. We need welders, and our country needs people in the trades who can build things and do things. Without that, we can’t continue to grow our economy and, most importantly, be able to defend our country.” Governor Ayotte also highlighted the national significance of the skilled trades, saying, “Getting more people involved in the trades is more than just about making a great living, it’s literally about freedom.” “We need those submarines to keep our country safe, and you guys are the future of keeping this country safe.” 

GBCC and Gather Celebrate Three Years of Collaboration to Reduce Food Insecurity on Campus and in the Community

Great Bay Community College (GBCC) and Gather, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering a hunger-free community, celebrated the third anniversary of the Gather Café at Great Bay in an event in May. The three-year collaboration between GBCC and Gather to create and run Gather Café is a practical, hands-on approach to reduce food insecurity among students and to expand the impact within the broader community.

Located on the GBCC campus, Gather Café at Great Bay provides healthy, delicious meals for free or at a 50 percent discount to students. Members of the public, college staff and faculty purchase meals at full price to help offset some of the cost of the student subsidies. Gather staff also use the commercial kitchen at the college to prepare meals to mitigate food insecurity in the seacoast region.

In a 2024 report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that approximately 30 percent of college students experience food insecurity, with higher rates likely experienced by students at community colleges.

“With a shared commitment to improving the lives of the communities that we serve, our partnership with Gather has enabled us both to be innovative in our approach to reduce food insecurity. Gather helps us ensure that GBCC students are cared for and have opportunities to thrive without worrying about where they will get their next meal. We could not be more grateful for the services and support that Gather offers both our students and the community at large,” said Cheryl Lesser, GBCC president.

In three years of operation, Gather Café has served 31,345 discounted meals and 1,189 complimentary meals to GBCC students. The café’s after-hours refrigerator has provided more than 10,000 free meals for students attending evening classes or needing to bring food home. The Café managers also connect GBCC students experiencing food insecurity with a Student Support Counselor for additional assistance accessing resources.