Community College of Baltimore County history

1960: The Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges (MBRCC) decided to establish a Community College in Haverhill, the name Northern Essex Community College was agreed upon and became the second of what would become fifteen community colleges in the state.

Established in 1961, NECC is an accredited, public two-year college that offers associate degrees and certificates of program completion.

1963: The first official class of 186 students graduates from NECC.

1967: Land was purchased on Kenoza lake, and ground breaking on new campus in Haverhill began.

1971: The new Haverhill campus officially opened in September.

1975: Founding President Harold Bentley retired and John R. Dimitry became the college's second president.

1984: NECC expands to into Lawrence, Massachusetts with the Lawrence Educational Employment Project (LEEP), classes were held at various locations in the city including: Central Catholic High School, Lawrence High School, the Grace Episcopal Church, and the Lawrence Public Library.

Mike Hearn, the college’s director of libraries, can be credited with providing the leadership to get the history published, along with an update covering 1986 to the present written by Mary Wilson, dean emeritus of the college, with contributions from Wendy Shaffer, dean of development.

1988: The All College Council was established.

1991: What is now referred to as the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence Campus was donated by the Prudential Insurance Company of America.

In 1996, Santiago was hired by Northern Essex President David Hartleb to help “convince people at the college that change was needed.”

2005: Technology Center opens on the Haverhill campus.

The college is currently building the Ibrahim El Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center which is scheduled to open in fall of 2013.