Fagan Forhan
Assistant Dean, K-12 Partnerships and Civic Engagement
P: 978-630-9595
F: 978-630-9497
Room 332 (Gardner Campus)
As a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in Psychology, Fagan Forhan has consistently and passionately been involved in many facets of community service and has served on numerous boards and committees. Before coming to the Center in 2006, Fagan worked for six years with the Massachusetts State Legislature as Chief of Staff for former State Rep. Brian Knuuttila as a liaison for local nonprofits and constituents.
In her current role, Fagan provides strategic direction and oversight for the Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement, as well as the college’s Division of Access and Transition. She serves as a member of the Board of Higher Education’s Study Group on Civic Learning, a National Steering Committee Member for The Democracy Commitment, and a Steering Committee member for the national Economic Inequality Initiative through the American Democracy Project and The Democracy Commitment. Fagan is also certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI). She also advises the Phi Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and serves as an advisor for Otaku United.
Shelley Errington Nicholson
Director
P: 978-630-9219
F: 978-630-9497
Room 152 (Gardner Campus)
Shelley Errington Nicholson is a graduate of Roger Williams University with a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in Music. She also received her Masters of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island.
Shelley is currently a third-year doctoral student in Educational Policy and Leadership at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Shelley has worked at several institutions including WPI, MCPHS, Rice University, and the University of Edinburgh. Shelley is the co-editor of the text Empowering Women in Higher Education and Student Affairs: Theory, Research, Narratives and Practice from Feminist Perspectives. In her current role at MWCC as the Director of the Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement, Shelley coordinates service learning and community-based internships for MWCC students, in addition to supervising the Students Serving Our Students (SOS) program, AmeriCorps*VISTA, our new Student Leaders in Civic Engagement (SLiCE) program and working on Center programs such as the Economic Inequality Initiative. Shelley also serves as a Steering Committee member for the national Economic Inequality Initiative through the American Democracy Project and The Democracy Commitment.
Julie Cronin
Staff Assistant
P: 978-630-9435
F: 978-630-9497
Room 152 (Gardner Campus)
Julie is a graduate of Bridgewater State University, with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Civic Education and Community Leadership. She also received her Masters of Education from Merrimack College in Community Engagement, with a concentration in Higher Education. Prior to attending Merrimack, Julie served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA for Massachusetts Campus Compact at Mount Ida College, building an educational access partnership with a Boston Public High School. She is passionate about the public purposes of higher education, community voice, and providing transformative learning experiences for students through reciprocal partnerships. As the office’s Staff Assistant, Julie supports the day-to-day operations of the Center, including service learning, community-based internships, civic leadership programming, and service tracking and recognition.
Patricia Brewerton
Coordinator of Career Planning & Placement
P: 978-630-9254
F: 978-630-9497
Room 135 (Gardner Campus)
As Coordinator of Career Planning & Placement, Patricia Brewerton counsels students in all areas of the job search process, from resume writing to post-job interview follow-through. She is active in many First Year Experience courses, assisting students in setting their course of study, as well as planning activities that will provide them with an advantage throughout their individual job search processes. In addition, she provides a wide array of classroom seminars for capstone classes and career oriented majors including understanding the job search process, resume writing, interview techniques, portfolio development, and navigating a career fair. One-on-one counseling on each topic is also offered.
Patricia is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business from the University of Utah. Her diverse work experiences contribute to her unique ability to counsel students considering employment in a wide range of environments, including corporations, research and development firms, healthcare facilities, and state institutions. She has been employed by Mount Wachusett Community College for over 15 years and enjoys counseling college students to prepare them for careers while enrolled in college and beyond graduation.
Tami Morin
Administrative Assistant
P: 978-630-9187
F: 978-630-9497
Room 152 (Gardner Campus)
Since 2006, Tami has been providing administrative support to MWCC in the Biotechnology department, Academic Affairs Office and Civic Engagement. She currently provides support and assists with activities involving the Civic Engagement office, maintains the Career Pages Jobs website, assists with coordination of the Annual Job Fair, and works with the Phi Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
Tami graduated with High Honors with a Business degree from Fisher College, received her Para Legal certificate from MWCC and is working on completing a Bachelor’s degree. She is an Alumni of MWCC and is an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa. She received her Massachusetts licensed Real Estate Sales Person in 2006 and is currently a Property Manager. She has worked for various institutions such as the Internal Revenue Service, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Shriver Job Corps, LUK Crisis Center and Sterling Miller Financial Services.
She served nine years of experience as Chief Steward of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and two years as the Human Rights Advocate for the City of Fitchburg. Some volunteer activities include organizing fundraising events and food drives and assisting with projects for the Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts.
Interests include politics, human rights, community service, health & fitness, real estate, marketing, art and music.
Jana Christin Murphy
AmeriCorps*VISTA
P: 978-630-9255
F: 978-630-9497
Room 152 (Gardner Campus)
Jana is serving a second year of service to combat food insecurity in North Central Massachusetts while educating the college community about local and global hunger alleviation initiatives. She spearheaded the creation of the Food for Thought: Campus Pantry, which opened this year, and coordinates the Students SOS Office.
Before serving as a VISTA, Jana worked in the Brewer Center as a SLiCE member and planned the annual Alternative Spring Break project with Habitat for Humanity. Jana is a native of Germany who speaks three languages and is the mother of a three-year-old son. As a student, she served as president of the MWCC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter, the student representative of the MWCC Honors Program, and was the student representative at the 2016 Democracy Commitment National Meeting in Indianapolis. Finally, Jana was traveled with the Cultural Engagement and International Service Club to Costa Rica twice.