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Two Acclaimed Philadelphia Area Poets Kick Off BCCC's Spring Wordsmiths Series
The Bucks County Community College Wordsmiths Reading Series continues this spring by welcoming acclaimed poets Thomas Devaney and Lisa Sewell who will read their new works on Friday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in room 142 of the historic Tyler Hall on the Newtown Campus. The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a book signing and dessert reception.
Thomas Devaney is a Pew Fellow in the Arts and author of five books, including Getting to Philadelphia (Hanging Loose Press), Calamity Jane (Furniture Press), and The Picture that Remains, a collaboration with photographer Will Brown (The Philadelphia Print Center). He wrote and co-directed the film “Bicentennial City,” exploring the legacy of Philadelphia’s 1976 bicentennial celebration. Devaney’s work has been published in Best American Poetry, The American Poetry Review, and The Brooklyn Rail. The literary hub “Blue Stoop: A Home for Philly Writers” was named after his poem “The Blue Stoop.”
For twelve years, Devaney taught creative writing at Haverford College. He now works at the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University, where he recently completed a master’s degree in urban design. His thesis, “Reimagining Urban Parks: Philadelphia’s FDR Park as a Space for People and Nature” (2024), reflects his ongoing engagement with urban spaces and explores the intersection of people and place through civic storytelling.
Lisa Sewell is the author of The Way Out (Alice James Books), Name Withheld (Four Way Books), Long Corridor, which received the 2009 Keystone Chapbook award from Seven Kitchens Press, Impossible Object, which won the 2014 Tenth Gate prize from The Word Works Press, and Birds of North America (Drawing Room), a collaboration with artist Susan Hagen and poet Nathalie Anderson. A new book of poems, Flood Plain, was just published by Grid Books. She is co-editor, with Claudia Rankine, of American Poets in the 21st Century: The New Poetics (Wesleyan 2007), Eleven More American Women Poets in the 21st Century: Poetics Across North America (Wesleyan 2012), and North American Women Poets in the 21st Century: Beyond Lyric and Language (Wesleyan 2021) with Kazim Ali.
Sewell has received grants and awards from the Leeway Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Fine Arts Work Center at Provincetown, and held residencies at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Fundacion Valparaiso, The Tyrone Guthrie Center and the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. She lives in Philadelphia and teaches contemporary literature and creative writing at Villanova University.
The final reading of the spring series will feature Carolyn Kuebler on Thursday, April 3 at 12:30 p.m. in 142 Tyler Hall.
About the Wordsmiths Reading Series
The first Wordsmiths reading was in the 1960s, and featured Allen Ginsburg strumming on his guitar, and chanting verses to the audience as they swayed sitting on top of cushions on the floor. Since then, the series has featured dozens of outstanding and respected poets over the years. In recent years, the series has also featured renowned fiction writers. Poets featured in the series have won a host of awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book award, and the PEN Literary Award.
As the founder and leader of the renowned Wordsmiths series, Bucks County Community College has distinguished itself among Philadelphia-area colleges and universities and has become the home of a vibrant community of writers, poetry lovers, and supporters of the arts.
Ethel Rackin, PhD, a Language and Literature professor at the College, is the director of the Wordsmiths Reading Series and Poet Laureate Program. Dr. Rackin has been organizing these public collaborations since 2010, shortly after she began her teaching career at Bucks.
For more information on the Wordsmiths Reading Series, visit the website or contact Dr. Rackin at Ethel.Rackin@bucks.edu.
BCCC Expands Workforce Development Through Micro-Internship Opportunities
The School of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies at Bucks County Community College is excited to announce a new initiative designed to enhance workforce development by connecting students with local businesses through short-term, professional, paid work experiences. In partnership with Parker Dewey, a leading provider of micro-internships, Bucks County Community College (BCCC) is expanding opportunities for its students to gain real-world experience while contributing to the success of the County’s small business community.
Micro-internships allow students to work on specific, meaningful projects for companies in need of additional support. This program particularly benefits Bucks County’s robust base of small businesses, providing them with access to skilled, motivated students who can address immediate business challenges. In turn, students gain valuable, hands-on experience that will boost their employability and career readiness.
"This partnership strengthens the connection between our students and the local economy, leveraging their talent to support the needs of the area’s small businesses,” said BCCC President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. "It’s another way Bucks County Community College contributes to meeting regional workforce needs and supporting the economic growth of our community."
By embracing micro-internships, small businesses can tap into a flexible, cost-effective solution for project-based work, while students apply their education in practical settings. This not only prepares students for future career opportunities but also ensures that Bucks County remains competitive by nurturing a skilled workforce.
The micro-internship program is open to students and recent graduates from all majors, providing an accessible way for them to build their resumes, expand their professional networks, and apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. For more information on how to participate as a student or business, please visit our Micro-Internships page.
The launch of the program was made possible by a generous donation by Sean and Melanie Cohen. Mr. Cohen serves on the Bucks County Community College Foundation Board.
BCCC Announces Fall 2024 President's and Dean's Honors Lists
Bucks County Community College congratulates the 1,271 full- and part-time students who were named to the President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List for the fall 2024 semester.
The President’s Honor List includes 482 students. The College recognizes students who earned 12 or more credits, earned a grade point average of 4.0, and were in good academic standing for the semester.
The Dean's Honor List includes 789 students who completed 12 or more credits, earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher with no grade below C, and were in good academic standing for the semester.
“All of us at Bucks take great pride in our students’ academic success,” said President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “We are here to support their journey whether their goal is to pursue a more affordable bachelor’s degree, an occupational degree in a high-demand field, or a certificate to gain an edge in the workplace.”
The full President’s and Dean’s List honorees, along with each student’s hometown, is available online at Academic Honors.
BCCC Announces Opening Reception for Annual "Show Some HeART" Exhibition
Bucks County Community College is excited to announce the opening reception for its annual Show Some HeART exhibition, a celebration of local talent and creativity. This highly anticipated event will feature over 200 works of art created by regional artists, with all pieces priced at $150 each. A portion of the proceeds will go towards funding scholarships for Bucks County Community College students.
The exhibition will be on display from January 27 through March 13, 2025, at the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks, with the Opening Reception taking place on Friday, January 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
In addition to enjoying the vibrant array of artwork, guests at the opening reception will have the opportunity to mingle with artists, purchase works of art, and enjoy light refreshments. All pieces in the exhibition are available for purchase, and each sale contributes to scholarships that support the community college’s students.
The Gallery at Lower Bucks Campus plays a vital role in providing accessible and affordable cultural opportunities to the Lower Bucks County community. Through exhibitions like Show Some HeART, the gallery increases visibility and awareness of the arts and local artists while raising important resources for Bucks County Community College and its students. The gallery’s exhibitions are open to individual artists and artist groups, further fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for creativity.
Exhibition DetailsOpening Reception Date: Friday, January 31, 2025Time: 6-8 p.m.Location: Epstein Campus at Lower BucksExhibition Dates: January 27 – March 13, 2025Cost: FREE and open to the public
For more information about the exhibition, including details on purchasing artwork, visit the Gallery at Lower Bucks or call 215-968-8425.
BCCC to Host A Woman’s Place Young Adult Advisory Board’s Art Showcase
The Bucks County Community College School of Arts and Communication is pleased to announce that the Hicks Art Center will be the host venue for this year’s A Woman’s Place (AWP) Young Adult Advisory Board’s 2nd Annual Art Showcase on February 6 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. All are invited to purchase tickets ($5, ages 17 and under, $10, ages 18+) to attend this one night only pop-up exhibition. Tickets can be purchased by emailing Rachel Wortham at rwortham@awomansplace.org or calling (267) 780-7481.
AWP’s Young Adult Advisory Board (YAAB) is made up of teens from across Bucks County dedicated to raising awareness and preventing youth dating violence and unhealthy relationships. In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, YAAB is thrilled to host their 2nd Annual Art Showcase event at Bucks County Community College in the Hicks Art Center on the Newtown Campus located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Join us for an inspiring event featuring local art from artists of all ages, artist spotlights with talented creatives, interactive activities, and light refreshments. All funds raised will directly support AWP’s important work in the community.
Founded in 1976, A Woman’s Place is the only domestic violence community benefit organization in Bucks County. AWP provides a comprehensive range of programs and services to individuals experiencing domestic violence, their children, and the community, including a 24/7 hotline, shelter, legal, educational, and counseling services.
Image courtesy of A Woman’s Place Young Adult Advisory Board
Dr. Charles Beem Receives BCCC’s 2024 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award
Bucks County Community College is pleased to announce that Charles Beem, Ed.D. has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and student impact. The award, which includes a cash stipend, was presented earlier today.
“As a proud graduate of Bucks County Community College, it is truly a joy to work with our students along the pathway of their educational journey,” Beem said. "It is also with a debt of gratitude that I recognize, and wish to thank, everyone at the college who has inspired me to improve my skills in teaching, so that our students can make the world a better place.”
The Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award is presented to faculty members at colleges and universities throughout the Greater Delaware Valley through the generous support of the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation.
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones said, “We are blessed to have extraordinary faculty such as Dr. Beem at Bucks. Professor Beem is such an ardent supporter of our students—both inside and outside of the classroom. His passion for student success is infectious and his tireless efforts are remarkable.”
Beem’s teaching career began in 1981 at Bucks County Community College as a part-time instructor and eventually as professor. He began teaching at Delaware Valley University in 2000 and still does so on a part-time basis. He has also taught at the University of St. Francis, Rider University, and La Salle University.
Beem teaches business courses, primarily marketing and management. He has served 37 years as the faculty chapter advisor of Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two-year college students, for which he was recognized with the prestigious Outstanding Advisor Award at both the regional and national levels. He was instrumental in founding BCCC’s Kappa Beta Delta Nu Chapter, an international honor society for business majors, and the College’s Lions International Chapter — the first of its kind among community colleges in the region. He also was the club advisor for the Bucks Business Association and co-advisor for the National Society of Leadership and Success, embodying a commitment to cultivating leadership, scholarship, and community engagement in students.
Beem served as the Management/Marketing Area Coordinator at Bucks from 2000 to 2015 and has enthusiastically served on countless committees throughout his career. In addition, he has planned more than 30 regional and international student trips. According to one letter of recommendation, Dr. Beem always puts students first with a commitment to student engagement and passion for creating learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
A 1974 graduate of Bucks County Community College, Dr. Beem went on to earn his bachelor's and master’s degrees in business administration as well as another master’s degree and his doctorate from Delaware Valley University.
Beem is a resident of Northampton Township where he also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Northampton Township.
About the Lindback AwardThe Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award was established by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation. The late Mr. Lindback was the president and principal owner of Abbotts Dairies, Inc., and a trustee of Bucknell University. He, along with his wife, Mary F. Lindback, generously created a foundation that bears their names and the award to honor excellence in education. Since 1961, the foundation has been recognizing outstanding faculty members at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Lindback is awarded every other year at Bucks.
