Profile:Alice Picardo

"The beauty of a community college is that we provide all kinds of educational opportunities from non credit courses to courses that work towards the attainment of an associate degree," Alice Picardo, director of Middlesex County College's (MCC's) First Year Experience program, said. Picardo's First Year Experience is charged to look at how they bring first year students into MCC and work with the entire college. Along with being the director, Picardo's other commitment outside of MCC has her in Rowan University's Doctoral program in Education Leadership. Besides the doctoral program and the MCC first year experience, she is also available to alumni students she once aided in first year experience. Alice Picardo is from Middletown, N.J. in Monmouth County and attended Seton Hall for both her Bachelor's in American Studies and Master's in Counseling and Student Personal Services. She says she's fortunate because she gets to work with students, faculty, and student leaders at orientation. "We know that the college's first contact with the students is important. We want to help them set up and plan and connect to other students, faculty, and staff. We want to help them establish a plan from the time that their here so they could achieve their goal," Picardo said. Picardo primarily works with students through the college through programs such as the Summer Bridge and Summer Scholars programs. The program helps students to developed reading and writing skills to accumulate graduate credit in the fall. Picardo's dedication and countless reaching out to students in First Year Experience leave her with many times to be cherished "There have been so many [memories] but graduations," she said. Every year is the celebration of all the hard work students have done. Coming together with who you do know or who you don't know to celebrate an achievement."