2010 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE’S DAVID AWARD HONOREE.

SEAN A FANELLI, Ph.D.

President, Nassau Community College

In January 2010, Dr. Sean Fanelli steps down as the fourth president of Nassau Community College (NCC). During his 27-year tenure, which distinguishes him as the longest serving college president of a Long Island higher education institution, he transformed NCC from a college in turmoil, with low faculty morale and a campus designed for 8,000, into a bustling, diverse campus of 21,000 full- and part-time students offering more than 65 degree and certificate programs—the largest community college in the state.

Typical of his “we-oriented” management style, Fanelli immediately established communication between the faculty and college leaders and his policy of shared governance made the difference. “I don’t think the people at Nassau recognized their own strengths and value,” he says. “I reassured people inside and outside the college that this was a good institution, could right itself and prosper.”

While community colleges have been known as colleges of last choice, Fanelli notes, “With our honors program, Nassau is the college of first choice for many students, and our hallmark liberal arts program is a stepping stone to students’ future goals. We’re always promoting the idea of transferability. 70% of our students go on to four-year institutions, without any loss of credits, and earn baccalaureate or professional degrees. We can do that because we have great relationships with these institutions; we’re head and shoulders above other community colleges.”

With many grads continuing education on the Island, Fanelli says, “That’s a distinct economic benefit and reverses what we call the brain drain. They’re staying here and becoming productive residents. That’s what a community college should be doing, serving its residents and community by preparing enlightened persons, good citizens and skilled workers. Community colleges have an important role to play with regard to affordability and accessibility.”

In addition, NCC continues its strong developmental education program, giving students the basic skills for a successful college experience, and offers a “weekend college.” Fanelli initiated new programs in fashion, interior design, criminal justice, office technology, art and business. Nassau has an extraordinary allied science program, he adds, including radiologic technology and surgical technology (the only community college that offers these courses). “Many students are sought out by healthcare facilities.”

“We take ‘community’—our middle name—very seriously,” Fanelli remarks. “We reach out to businesses and industries and offer credit or non-credit programs…your place or ours.” Without profit to the college, Nassau has partnered with Geico, King Kullen, Verizon, unions, airlines and banks, bringing in workers to spend a day a week getting an associate’s degree.

His most poignant legacy, and an accomplishment of which he’s most proud, is his ability to withstand onslaughts to academic freedom and curtailment of curriculum. In recognition of his preservation of academic freedom at Nassau, Fanelli received the prestigious American Association of University Professors’ Alexander Meiklejohn Award for Academic Freedom; The Thomas Jefferson Center’s William J. Brennan, Jr. Award for great courage and clear and consistent commitment to the principles of free expression and academic freedom; and the New York Library Association/Social Issues Resources Series Intellectual Freedom Award.

Under his leadership, NCC completed the “G building,” containing classrooms for social sciences and art, and the College Center, housing a food court, meeting space, and student clubs and activities. A fully-funded, fully-designed third building for the nursing program and chemistry department is ready for bid—all without capital campaigns. Informed and articulate, Fanelli not only built bridges to lobby state and county governments for funding, but also has been a forceful advocate for the college in the private and nonprofit sector.

At commencements, Fanelli tells students: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Following this philosophy, Nassau has a thriving Service Learning program, using student talent to improve community. For example, when Fanelli received the 2009 Outstanding Leadership Award from the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, interior design students built and donated elaborate two-foot high, themed houses as centerpieces for auction. NCC participates in Toys for Tots, hosts Prom Boutique to help teens get ready for their “special day,” and designed and outfitted MOMMAS House in Glen Cove to make it more attractive to the mothers and children.

A St. Francis College graduate with a B.S. in chemistry, Fanelli received a National Defense Education Act Fellowship at Fordham University, permitting him to go straight through to his Ph.D. in biological sciences. His dissertation was in the field of physical and chemical limnology (fresh water environment). He started as a classroom science teacher at St. Francis Prep and Bishop Ford High Schools, before joining the staff at Westchester Community College, where he moved up from chair of the Biological Science Department to Dean of Academic Affairs/Deputy to the President.

Fanelli contributed five biographies of Italian American scientists for “Italian American History and Culture, An Encyclopedia,” has written book chapters and papers on higher education topics, and received numerous awards. His professional affiliations include service as member and chair on evaluation teams and commissioner for the Middle States Association of Schools; member of the executive committees of the American Council of Education and the National Junior College Athletic Association; and chair of the Institute of Community College Development, Presidents of Community Colleges, and Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education. He chairs a national group that promotes leadership development for women, following his interest in women’s advancement in business.

Fanelli’s nonprofit service includes The Dante Foundation and Order Sons of Italy scholarship programs; he’s a founding member of the Cradle of Aviation Board; and, in recognition of his longtime service as a judge, the Fair Media Council named a Folio Award in his honor.

Westbury residents, Fanelli and his wife Marion, a volunteer at St. Bridget’s Church, have three grown children: Elizabeth and Thomas, both adopted from Korea, and Jim, who Fanelli says “was a very pleasant surprise.” Elizabeth and her husband adopted Tiana (3½) from Korea, and have two sons, Thomas (1½) and Zachary (6 months). Son Thomas manages a clothing store, and Jim is a New York Post enterprise reporter on the Sunday desk. Fanelli collects German-made Marklin model trains, and enjoys building scenery, operating his 24-foot-square computerized train display and photographing the trains for his website. In retirement, he will continue teaching undergrad courses in oceanography and graduate courses in higher education administration, as he did while serving as NCC president.

NETWORKING® January 2010