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Sharing the successes and accomplishments of our NHCC faculty and staff allows us to cultivate a more vibrant community.

Traci Hildebrandt-Smith is Featured in College Store Magazine

NHCC Bookstore Director, Traci Hildebrandt-Smith, was recently interviewed and featured along with our bookstore in the newest addition of (on pages 33-35), which is a trade publication for the college bookstore industry. 

Our New NHCC Commercial is Now Streaming 

The NHCC Marketing Department recently launched their new advertising campaign to support recruitment efforts for Fall 2025, including outdoor billboards, radio (Spotify), social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), digital (search, YouTube, streaming) and direct mail.

We are excited to share the new commercial that will stream via a variety of networks (see examples below) now- July. It became clear after the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter we needed to validate feelings of uncertainty and reinforce the value of a college degree from an inclusive and supportive community at NHCC. We carefully crafted the script with input from key stakeholders, including students who participated in a classroom discussion with us.

A BIG thank you for the campus-wide collaboration to create this spot, whether you’re featured in the video, stepped in unexpectedly at the last moment, or helped us to recruit students. This commercial wouldn’t have been possible without your help!

Please enjoy viewing our new commercial!

The NHCC Marketing Department 
(Liz Hogenson, Becki Schwartz, Brittany Kiser, Matt Klinkhammer and Sara Barrera)

EAP Faculty Member Presents at TESOL25

Steven Ahola, an EAP faculty member, recently presented at the TESOL 2025 International Convention & Expo in Long Beach, California. His presentation, titled “Should We Trust AI Detectors: Let’s Discuss,” was well-received by attendees.

NHCC’s Shelly Siegel Keynotes Phi Theta Kappa Regional Conference

Even in retirement, Shelly Siegel remains deeply engaged in education, mentorship, and storytelling. While continuing to assist with the transition of NHCC’s new TRIO Director, Mary Jo Dahl, Shelly was recently honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the Minn-Kota Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Regional Conference. She was invited by Renee Cortez Rackley, PTK Advisor at Normandale Community College, and David Mantini, PTK Regional Coordinator, to share her expertise in personal storytelling.

Her presentation, Living Your Story – The Value of Personal Storytelling, highlighted storytelling as a powerful tool for self-advocacy, leadership, and personal growth. Shelly developed the curriculum and teaches storytelling courses at NHCC, where she helps students find their voices, shape their narratives, and use storytelling to boost confidence and create positive connections. Beyond NHCC, she has collaborated with the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College, in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing storytelling workshops to higher education professionals nationwide.

In addition to her recent keynote, Shelly has been invited to present Using Storytelling for Creating Connections as part of the Minnesota TRIO Association's professional development training in Washington, D.C. This event brings together the TRIO community to advocate for first-generation and low-income Americans. Her participation underscores her ongoing commitment to using storytelling as a means of empowerment and advocacy.  With over 25 years of experience helping students craft compelling personal statements for scholarships, Shelly has long championed the power of storytelling to transform lives. Her influence continues to resonate, proving that while her formal role at NHCC has changed, her dedication to student success and storytelling remains stronger than ever.

Nursing Instructor Presents at International and National Conferences

Chris Kleckner, nursing faculty, presented her DNP research project at the Virtual International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium (INNRS) in January and the Neuroscience Nursing Annual Conference in March. Chris' research project focused on addressing health care disparities in stroke, with a focus on rural Minnesota, through the use of a casual education setting. This quality improvement project was done for the Minnesota Department of Health Stroke Program. The project was supported through a grant by the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Centers for Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under cooperative agreement Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program.

Building Student Belonging in Online Asynchronous Classes

Thanks to NHCC History faculty, Deanna Forsman for submitting the content in this section, "We all know that building community in online asynchronous classes is a challenge. For the past four years, I’ve been collecting data on whether students feel they belong in my online async history courses, and share why or why not. Students consistently tell me they feel they belong because of the weekly collaborative group work. Each week, students are asked to crowd-source a data set from the readings of the week. Then, they are asked to use the data set to collaboratively construct historical arguments. Students report that they appreciate seeing how other students are struggling with the same things they are struggling with, that they love it when other students use their ideas, and that they have the opportunity to see so many different ways the data set can be used to understand the past. It’s worth thinking about different ways to improve student asynchronous interaction that go beyond the threaded discussion."

Kelly Lundquist's debut memoir coming in October 2025

English Department member Kelly Lundquist's debut nonfiction book Beard: A Memoir of a Marriage (which will be published on October 30) is now available for pre-order everywhere you purchase books. If you'd like to check out that book and support your local indie bookstore at the same time, it's now 20% off at .

NHCC's Director of K12 Partnerships & Perkins Grant attends ACTE National Policy Seminar with Other Minnesota Education Leaders to Advocate for Career & Technical Education on Capitol Hill.

Lindsey Gunnerson Gutsch, Director of K-12 Partnerships & Perkins Grant at NHCC recently participated in a three-day advocacy event as part of nearly 500 career and technical education (CTE) professionals and learners who gathered at the (ACTE) 2025 National Policy Seminar from March 16-19 in Arlington, VA. During this collaborative and insightful event, Lindsey attended sessions on the latest news in education policy, including a special focus content day centered on apprenticeships. They also met with policymakers on Capitol Hill to educate them about the value of CTE for learners in Minnesota. 

While attending the National Policy Seminar, Lindsey visited with Senator Klobuchar, Senator Smith, and Representative Morrisson’s teams to encourage strong and informed federal support for CTE and other education and workforce development programs. 

On March 18, eight career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) participated in a reception hosted by the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and zSpace to celebrate the work of the CTE students across the country and demonstrate how CTSOs provide students opportunities to develop leadership and career skills and engage in community service through CTE. Students from each of these organizations shared more information about their work and their personal and academic journeys.  

Earlier in the day, attendees also heard from key congressional staff who provided their unique perspectives on pressing education and workforce issues.  

To ensure a skilled workforce for the modern economy, robust federal support and investment in CTE is critical. Lindsey, and other colleagues in our local Perkins Consortium, worked hard to advocate for and support CTE at the federal level to ensure that students, families and communities can continue to thrive through the benefits and experiences forged in CTE. 

First Cohort of our Safe Zone LGBTQIA+ training Completed

The Diversity Department rolled out its Safe Zone Training LGBTQIA+ this spring. It had two 60 minute sessions with content based on introductory knowledge about the LGBTQIA+ community. We had 20 employees at NHCC complete the training and receive their sticker to display in their office. The President's Cabinet is also completing the training this semester.

Graphic Design Students Participate in NHCC's 10th Annual Xperience Project Interview Fair

On April 16, 12 Advanced Graphic Design students participated in ��������'s 10th annual Xperience Project Interview Fair. Meeting with up to four internship employers and six portfolio reviewers in six 25-minute sessions, the students practiced sharing their creative work. Employers and reviewers, 2/3 of whom are NHCC alumni, reported: “ALL students were so prepared” with a business card, resume, and ability to talk about their portfolio. And, they had great questions! We’re hopeful the event results in summer internships for four upcoming graduates. Potential employers include Brown & Brown Insurance, Brooklyn Park Small Business Center, CCX Media, and City of Brooklyn Park. Reviewing companies included Blue Horizon Energy, City of Brooklyn Center, Split Rock Studios, STAR, and The Bernard Group. Thank you to alumni who spent the morning guiding emerging professionals: Risikat Adesaogun, Sagar Barad, Zac Hoppe, Elisha Johnson, Teri Iverson, Michael Nelson, Ryan Nielson, and Steffany Schmit. Happy XP anniversary to organizers Graphic Design Professor Jason Schoch, Director of Career Services & Internships Gina Schmidt, and Experience Producer Heather Olson!

NHCC Faculty and Students Attend Next Generation of Parks Event Series on April 17

Through the Parks Foundation’s always-free Next Generation of Parks™ events, global design innovators and thought-leaders showcase the most exciting new parks destinations, opportunities, and research and delve into important issues of place affecting the Twin Cities community today.

In 2010, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation helped jump start a conversation about parks design and city-building with our first Next Generation of Parks™ Event Series, hosting landscape designers and park advocates whose work includes The High Line in New York and London’s Green Grid. We have produced a lecture series nearly every year since, always with the goal of demystifying the impact of great design – inspiring thousands to be champions for dynamic, vibrant public space in Minneapolis and throughout the region.

NHCC “faculty, Ana Munro added, It was a fantastic opportunity for students from NHCC's Outdoor and Environment Leadership program to be centered in a public setting. Students shared their experiences building community, learning about outdoor experiences and green careers with a large audience at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. NHCC students also shared climate justice stories they wrote last semester.” 

"We were proud to feature Ana Munro and her students from ��������’s Outdoor and Environmental Leadership Program in our latest Next Generation of Parks™ event. The evening sparked reflections on climate change, leadership, and our shared connection to nature. Hearing directly from students and mentors made the evening especially powerful—their stories brought the program’s impact to life and reminded us why equity and belonging matter in outdoor spaces. Events like this help us imagine more vibrant, inclusive communities through parks and public space.” - Anne Hoyt Taff, Executive Director, Minneapolis Parks Foundation.

The event was organized by the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and facilitated by MPR's director of news and programming Stephanie Curtis. 

English Faculty, Brian Baumgart Chosen as NHCC’s MSCF Educator of the Year

Nominations are made by members of the NHCC chapter of Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF), and the requirements/categories are: service to students, service to the college, and service to the union. Nominations are written out and provided to membership during annual elections and during the election, then the electorate votes on the faculty member they wish to nominate for Educator of the Year.

It hasn’t been announced publicly yet, although the election results have been sent to MSCF membership, so they are official. We’ll have a Zoom meeting on May 2 that will confirm the election results, including the Educator of the Year (as well as incoming MSCF president and other leadership positions).

Congratulations to Brian for being named North Hennepin’s MSCF Educator of the Year! 

That's a wrap on faculty and staff accomplishments for spring semester. We hope you have a great summer and we can't wait to see what’s in store for fall!