The successes and accomplishments of our NHCC faculty and staff help us to be more vibrant as a community and more engaged as a college.
In this issue we highlight the accomplishments of Josie Tablas, Gary Ruschman, Amy Harms Hoad, Brady Prenzlow, Dr. Sidow Mohammed and more!
Another NHCC Success in More Ways than One!
Congratulation to Josie Tablas on earning her Psychology Transfer Pathway degree from NHCC. Josie started at NHCC has a student, Hope2 intern, moved into the Information Center as a professional staff person and has now been working in Records & Registration as an Integrated Services Student Specialist for over 5 years. We are NHCC proud of this student and employee! Next stop bachelor's degree and future career ambitions at NHCC.
Treading the Boards: Gary Ruschman Joins Local Music and Ballet Productions.
Director of Choirs/Music Faculty Gary Ruschman has been hard at work in a number of productions this autumn and winter, including a return as soloist for the famous Loyce Houlton production of Orff's Carmina Burana with Twin Cities Ballet (also featuring soprano Linh Kauffman, baritone Anthony Potts, and the Minnesota Chorale) and special film-themed concerts at the Orpheum Theater. Gary also appears intermittently in the weekend cast of the beautiful and immersive Luminiscence event at St. Mary's Basilica through February. Visit this to find more information about the Luminiscence events. Other upcoming projects include a new adaptation of Bizet's Carmen that Gary is co-writing with writer/performer Elena Stabile for a workshop at Park Square Theater in St. Paul. The show will eventually find a home in the repertory of Mixed Precipitation Theater Company. And also exciting to share, Gary was one of the four finalists for Outstanding Educator at NHCC this year! Bravo, Gary!
Human Services Faculty Volunteers at Training Series to Share Skills and Insights
Over MEA Break, NHCC Human Services faculty, Amy Harms Hoad was the October speaker for a training session at PRISM on Understanding Human Services and Systems. PRISM is an organization in Golden Valley that NHCC's human services and pre-social work programs partner with for internships. 15 people attended the training, they were very engaged in the material and several people came up afterward to tell Amy that of all the offered volunteer/staff trainings, her session was the best! When asked what she talked about in her session Amy commented, 鈥淚 gave a general introduction of what Human Services is and the work done and then we talked about treating the client as a whole person in relation to their systems. We also did an activity on paying the bills, where they had to choose which bills to pay and which to not pay due to not having enough income. It went really well!鈥
NHCC's Business Club Advisor Connects Classroom Learning with Real-World Opportunities
A huge thank you to marketing instructor, Brady Prenzlow for sharing his photography expertise this semester with NHCC鈥檚 Kappa Beta Delta Business Club, as they hosted a professional headshot session for students on-campus. Your time, talent and mentorship make a real difference! Visit LinkedIn to see the short Business Club Headshots video Brady created
at the link below!
NHCC Arabic Faculty, Dr. Sidow Mohammed, featured on ACTFL Annual Conference Program
Long-time NHCC Arabic faculty member, Dr. Sidow Mohammed, was recently featured on the program cover of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACFTL) annual conference in New Orleans. Dr. Mohammed is the founding member of our Arabic department at North Hennepin and an active, respected member of our local Somali community. Congratulations, Dr. Mohammed! Learn more about ACFTL by visiting
Welcome to NHCC, Kayla and DeWayne!
We are excited to welcome Kayla Hoye as NHCC鈥檚 new interim Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, who joined us on Monday, November 17. Kayla brings extensive experience in strategic planning, student development, community engagement, and organizational leadership. She previously served in key roles at the University of Northwestern鈥揝t. Paul, including Dean of Students and Associate Dean of Residence Life, where she helped lead campus-wide initiatives, strengthen student belonging, and support student care efforts. Kayla is completing her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership at Bethel University, with research focused on racial disparities in student conduct outcomes鈥攚ork that aligns closely with NHCC鈥檚 mission and commitment to equity. She enjoys reading and music and lives in New Brighton with her husband and two children. Over the coming weeks, Kayla will meet with campus partners to learn more about our work and explore opportunities for collaboration. Please join us in warmly welcoming her to NHCC!
The NHCC Foundation office is excited to welcome DeWayne Cook as our new Director of Constituent Engagement and Leadership Gifts.
With nearly two decades of experience in fundraising, donor relations, and mission-driven philanthropy, DeWayne brings both expertise and heart to this important role. His background spans higher education, healthcare, and global nonprofit organizations, including leadership roles with Western Michigan University鈥檚 Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Corus International, Pulse Movement, and the Reformed Church in America.
In his new role, DeWayne will provide strategic leadership in three key areas鈥攆undraising, constituent engagement, and scholarship management. He will work closely with alumni, donors, community partners, and campus departments to strengthen relationships and create new pathways of support for NHCC students. By connecting generosity to opportunity, DeWayne will help advance the college鈥檚 mission and expand the resources that make education accessible and transformative.
DeWayne is eager to partner with colleagues across campus and the broader community to build programs and relationships that open doors for students. So don鈥檛 be surprised if he reaches out to learn more about your area. His commitment to meeting people where they are, listening deeply, and aligning donor passions with student needs will help strengthen the college鈥檚 preferred future.
Please join us in welcoming DeWayne to our NHCC community!
That's a wrap on faculty and staff accomplishments for the fall 2025 semester! Thank you to the faculty and staff who shared their recent accomplishments with us! We can't wait to see what else you'll accomplish in the spring!