College President Donald Guy Generals, Ed.D., was selected by the School District of Philadelphia’s new superintendent, Dr. Tony B. Watlington, Sr., as co-chair for his Transition Team, where he will assist in setting priorities for the new administration. Dr. Generals was honored as a recipient of the 2021 Standout College President/Chancellor Award by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for the College’s outstanding work completed under his leadership, and was elected to serve on the American Association of Community College’s Board of Directors.

This year, Dr. Generals showcased his stance on improving the city as a power influencer and leader. His additional accolades include:

• Listed as one of the 76 Most Influential People in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Magazine
• Named in the Power 100 by the Philadelphia Business Journal
• Named an Education Power Player by Metro Philadelphia - Dr. Donald Generals, President, Community College of Philadelphia
• Listed in the Higher Education Power 100 by City and State PA
• Listed in the Power of Diversity: Black 100 by City and State PA
• Named to the 2021 Philly Power 100 by City and State PA

Dr. Faye Allard, department head of Social Sciences, associate professor of Sociology, was selected as the 2022 Lindback Award winner for excellence in teaching.

Dr. Shannon McLaughlin Rooney, vice president, Enrollment Management and Strategic Communications, was named to the Class of 2022 for the AGB Institute in Leadership and Governance for Higher Education.

Carol de Fries, vice president, Workforce and Economic Innovation, and Franne McNeal, executive director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, were named 2022 Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Dr. Alycia Marshall, vice president, Academic and Student Success, was selected for the Aspen Institute College’s Rising Presidents Fellowship for Community College Excellence Program.

Melissa Altman-Traub, associate professor, Allied Health, was awarded a diversity grant from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Megan Barbano Maxwell, director, K-16 Partnerships, was accepted into the 2022 National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Leadership Academy.

Melissa Fogg, director, Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center, was named one of City and State PA’s Philly 40 Under 40.

Dr. Laureen Tavolaro-Ryley, the Independence Foundation Chair for Nursing, received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University.

The Strategic Communications division was awarded four Medallion Awards at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 1 Conference:

• A Gold award for its CCP branded pizza box designs
• A Silver award for a Catto Scholars print advertisement
• A Bronze award for the electronic/web-based 2020–2021 President's Report
• A Bronze award for the Roarchella Festival poster

Enough Is Enough Educates Community

Our Enough Is Enough series continues to feature expert speakers from the College and community to inform and educate faculty, staff, and student attendees on important topics, such as:

• Reproductive Freedom: Whose Choice Is It?
• Understanding Redistricting and Gerrymandering
• Taking a Stand Against Anti-Asian Hate
• Hunger and Racial Equity

Getting Involved to Get Out the Vote

#CCPVotes celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 20, 2022, with local leaders, including Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir. Launched in 2018, #CCPVotes educates students about their rights as citizens and how to make their voices heard through the electoral process.

Offering Housing for Students in Need

The College hosted a ribbon cutting for its Shared Housing Program in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) on April 13, 2022. This initiative provides low-cost apartments for housing insecure students at the College, with a focus on students who have experience in the foster care system.

Student Projects Interpret the Present by Contextualizing the Past

Seven installations constructed by CCP students are on display at the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) as part of the Building Knowledge and Breaking Barriers (BKBB) exhibit. The research project involved CCP faculty and PHS staff.

Explore the Student Research projects.

Developing the Next Generation of Civic Leaders

The first cohort of the City Council Fellowship program, facilitated by Malika Rahman and Elizabeth Canapary, assistant professors of Criminal Justice, was held in summer 2022. The program is open to Honors students and College students studying Criminal Justice, Black Studies, and Liberal Arts.

As City Council Fellows, students work directly with Philadelphia city councilmembers’ offices attending and planning events, completing projects, and learning about career paths in government. Upon completion, students also earn three college credits.

Ending Student Hunger on Campus

Since its official creation in 2017, the College’s Food Collaborative has been addressing student hunger through our Snack Rack and Grady’s Garden. Through the combined efforts of our support services, faculty, and staff, we have been able to support more than 2,800 students by providing more than 8,735 meals.

Learn more about the College’s Food Collaborative and how you can get involved.

Empowering Women at the College

The College’s Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center (WOAC) is tasked with addressing the academic, social, emotional and personal needs of female students on campus. In March 2022, the Center welcomed its new director, Melissa Fogg, who will use her experience as a social worker, educator, and community organizer to engage and assist students.

Meet Pulitzer Prize Winner Luis “Suave” Gonzalez

Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, the first support coach for the College’s I Am More Reentry Engagement program, is tasked with supporting students who are navigating life after being involved in the criminal justice system. Luis sees this work as his life’s calling, but he’s also an artist, storyteller, Tedx speaker and host of the “Death By Incarceration” podcast.

“Suave,” a podcast detailing Luis’ life during and after serving more than 30 years in prison, won a Pulitzer Prize for audio recording in May 2022. Luis discussed this major win, what brought him to the College and how he uses his experiences to support others with backgrounds like his own.

Ushering in a New Era of Career Readiness

The College officially opened its highly anticipated Career and Advanced Technology Center in August 2022. Located in West Philadelphia, the state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility offers associate degrees and certificate programs designed to introduce Philadelphians to the transportation, manufacturing, and health care industries.

With a focus on career readiness, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning, the CATC is bringing community building and career training to the forefront of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Measuring the Impact of a CCP Degree

Since its founding, the College has been a major driver of economic value for the City of Philadelphia. The education and training provided by the College leads alumni to earn higher wages, as well as increase productivity of the businesses that employ them. Our graduates are not the only ones who benefit from an investment in a CCP education. Every resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania benefits.

Power Up Your Business Lifts Up Entrepreneurs

Since 2017, the College’s Power Up Your Business program has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia region. This free, 12-week peer-based learning program provides small business owners with training, coaching, and targeted technical assistance to grow their business, boost revenue, and make an impact in their communities.

In May 2022, the program welcomed Tiffany Spraggins as its new executive director. Tiffany joined the College from The Enterprise Center, where she was the project director of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mid-Atlantic Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (MA-SBTRC).

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program Guides Growth

The College announced Frances “Franne” McNeal as the first Black executive director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program (10KSB) in March 2022. Launched in 2009 by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the 10KSB program is designed to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to education, financial capital, and business support services for free.

Paving the Way to an In-demand Career

Our Commercial Truck Driving program in partnership with Ancora Education launched in July 2022, in response to the significant shortage of truck drivers and severe impact on the nation’s supply chains. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $50,340. Participants in this 160-hour program can earn their CDL license in as little as four weeks.

Athletics: Roaring with Lion Pride

The men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoyed the thrills of a stellar athletic year. The men’s basketball team advanced to the NJCAA DIII National Championship, ending with a 20-7 record. The women’s team finished second in the Conference and sixth in the Region, with an overall record of 8-16. Additionally, each team celebrated Azori Edwards and Ryan Holmes being selected as Player of the Year, as well as those who secured positions on the EPAC DIII First Team All-Conference basketball teams.

See how the College and students celebrated and cheered on its CCP Lions Basketball team.

Center for Male Engagement (CME): Helping Students Achieve Their Academic Goals

Our talented support coaches work with male students of color to make them aware of the resources available to them at the College, help them adjust to a college environment, and help them balance their academic and personal responsibilities. The annual Summer Enrichment Program offers workshops and a stay at a regional college campus to build a foundation for success.

The CME also co-hosted an expungement and pardon clinic and block party in summer 2022 for the community and their families.

Read about CME participant Leroy Brown

Fun in the Sun: Outdoor Student Engagement Activities

The College returned to in-person learning and welcomed students back to campus with exciting events that brought the noise and the CCP Lion Pride!

Students enjoyed Roarchella, a springtime mesh of colors, great vibes and music, complete with live lip-syncing battles, games and food.

Students were welcomed to the fall 2022 semester with the Black and Gold Bash, which featured fun activities, snacks, giveaways and music. CCP representatives from various student support offices lined the Courtyard to raise awareness of available helpful resources.

Catto Scholars were invited to the summer Catto Family Reunion to hang out with Catto staff on campus, and meet new and returning scholars while celebrating their accomplishments.

The College was an official sponsor for the annual Made in America music festival, which occurred just blocks away from Main Campus. To encourage early course registration, 10 students were awarded tickets to attend the two-day festival in September 2022.

A Family Fun Day was hosted by the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center, who invited students, CCP faculty and staff, and their families to Main Campus in fall 2022 for an afternoon of outside activities, children’s entertainment, and family-related resources.

And an engaging virtual offering, too: Quiara Alegría Hughes, West Philadelphia native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, joined the CCP community for a virtual reading and discussion of her critically acclaimed memoir, My Broken Language. The event kicked off the College’s 37th annual International Festival.

Student Government Association Advocates for All

SGA officers represent our student body and serve on committees around the College to effect change and create awareness about student needs.

Fall 2021–Spring 2022 Officers

Ahmad Mitchell, President
Jawaad Benson, First Vice President
Justice Passe, Second Vice President (*Fall 2021 – March 2022)
Yolanda Brutley-Dugger, Senator-at-Large/Main Campus
Christopher Brinkley-Pridgen, Senator-at-Large/Main Campus)
Tyree Roney-Brown – Treasurer and All PA Academic Team Transfer Scholarship winner
Barnabas Morris – Senator-at-Large (Main)
Tyree Roney-Brown – Treasurer and All-PA Academic Team Transfer Scholarship winner
Rob McLaughlin – Marketing/Events and Collegiate Keystone PA News Media Awards, Second Place – Editorial
Prince Lounpea Zenneh – Senator-at-Large (NERC)
Abigail Thomas – Recording Secretary
Issa Kabeer – Senator-at-Large (Main)

Student Government Association co-advisors: Dr. Jeff Markovitz and Jenavia Weaver

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Recognizes Academic Achievement

Recognizing students for their academic excellence, PTK offers scholarships and transfer assistance. More than 170 students were inducted to the honor society for the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters.

Executive Officers 2021–2022

Yusra Ali
Kevin Ethridge
Ramon Gonzalez Charlestream
Leen Elamin

PTK co-advisors: Diane Brisbon, Dr. Sarah Iepson and Jenavia Weaver

The Vanguard Student Newspaper Keeps the Community Informed

Our dedicated student reporters and editors produced new issues of The Vanguard remotely throughout the pandemic, tackling timely and relevant topics. See what our students have been covering, and get more details about these recent awards:

2022 Collegiate Keystone PA News Media Awards

Angelique Bacha – First Place – Feature Story
First Place – Diversity
First Place – Public Service/Enterprise Package
Second Place – News Photo
Breana Bree Brown – First Place – Diversity
Leila Franklin – First Place – Ongoing News Coverage
Melissa Lushington – First Place – Ongoing News Coverage
Robert McLaughlin – Second Place – Editorial
Angela Reyes – First Place – Diversity
Najah Thompson – First Place – Public Service/Enterprise Package
Korey Williams – First Place – Feature Photo and First Place – Photo Story

2022 Editorial Board Members

Angelique Bacha, Managing Editor
Korey Williams, Managing Editor
Najah Thompson, Associate Editor
Leila Franklin, Business Manager

Vanguard advisor: Eva Blackwell

See all of the students honored for their contributions to CCP clubs and organizations.

Ajeenah Amir
Ronald Bradley, Jr.
Morgan Cephas
Hugh Patrick Clancy
Rob Dubow
Harold T. Epps, chair
Chekemma J. Fulmore-Townsend
V. Steve Herzog
Sheila D. Ireland, secretary
Tyrell McCoy
Rosalyn J. McPherson, vice chair
Mindy M. Posoff
Michael Soileau, vice chair
Dominique B. E. Ward, Esq.
Jeremiah J. White, Jr.