Skip to content
Professor Mary Dura Earns Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award
Longtime Bucks Nursing Educator Honored for Excellence, Student Support, and Real-World Instruction Mary Dura, Ed.D., who has taught nursing at Bucks County Community College for more than 20 years and worked in the profession for many years before that, has received the prestigious 2026 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
The honor reflects her long-term commitment to high-quality instruction and student success and celebrates teaching that is challenging, clear, and lasting in its effect on a student's worldview.
Dura, who earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing and Master of Science in nursing at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and her doctor of education at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, said she was shocked and deeply humbled by the news.
“My immediate feeling was gratitude—to my students, colleagues, mentors, family, and the nursing profession itself,” said Dura. “Teaching nursing has never felt like simply a job to me. It is a privilege and a responsibility, so to be recognized for something that means so much to me personally was incredibly moving.”
Arguably her biggest fan, her young daughter, was by her side when she received the award.
“One of the most meaningful parts of the celebration was sharing it with my 10-year-old daughter, Julia,” Dura recalled. “She can be a little shy, so I was especially touched when she unexpectedly decided to walk up to the stage with me. Seeing the pride in her eyes made an unforgettable day even more special.”
Dura’s transition into higher education began unexpectedly during graduate school when a professor encouraged her to teach a health assessment course. For years, she balanced clinical nursing practice with teaching, bringing real-world patient scenarios directly into her lectures. She eventually transitioned to full-time education to make a broader impact by preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
In the classroom, Dura uses dynamic methods such as case studies, high-fidelity simulations, guided discussions, and clinical practice to help students build strong critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. Emphasizing adaptable learning styles, she meets students where they are while ensuring they master modern healthcare demands, including patient safety, evidence-based care, and emerging technology.
“Without question, the feedback that means the most is hearing from former students who tell me they felt prepared when caring for patients during difficult moments or that something they learned in class helped them make a safe clinical decision,” said Dura. “Nursing is such a human profession, and knowing that students feel more capable, compassionate, and confident in caring for others is deeply rewarding.”
Bucks County Community College offers an associate degree in nursing that prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become licensed registered nurses. To learn more, visit our associate degree nursing website, email ADNursingDirector@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8353.
Welcome to College This Fall with Destination Bucks
Advising and registration help is available August 10-24 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Bristol, Perkasie, and Online Bucks County Community College is making it easier to enroll in college this fall with Destination Bucks, a streamlined way for students to meet one-on-one with an advisor and get registration help this August.
“After a similar successful event for the spring semester, we’re bringing it back for the fall,” said Joe Giuffre, interim director of advising. “Students can meet with an advisor, take placement tests, learn about financial aid, register for classes, and much more, while getting ready to advance their academic career.”
College staff will be available to help students fill out the free application to the college, choose courses, and navigate the registration and payment processes, added Giuffre. There will be timeslots and staff available for 20 students an hour, and in-person attendees will receive refreshments and special gifts. Most students can complete advising requirements and register for classes with just one visit.
Bucks County Community College is an open-admission, public college that offers transfer and job-ready pathways. For students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a top-ranked university, the value is clear — they can save 28%-68% on their bachelor’s degree by completing their first two years at Bucks thanks to 2+2 dual admission agreements. Bucks has been ranked among best value community colleges in Pennsylvania. Learn more at bucks.edu/save.
Destination Bucks takes place Monday – Friday, August 10–24 on the Newtown Campus, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie, and live online. Fall semester classes begin August 26, September 14, and October 19. For more information, visit our advising website. For questions, email info@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8001.
The Search Is On for the 50th Bucks County Poet Laureate
Bucks County Community College is searching for a scribe who will be named the 50th Bucks County Poet Laureate. County residents over the age of 18, who have not previously earned the title, are invited to submit 10 original poems in any style by Friday, September 25.
The winner of the competition will receive a $500 honorarium, and a plaque from the county commissioners, and will be honored with a November reading and reception at Bucks County Community College with 2025 Poet Laureate Madeline Marriott and contest runners-up.
The Bucks County Poet Laureate program, which began in 1977, is the longest-running poet laureate contest in Pennsylvania. Administered by Bucks County Community College, the program also holds the Bucks County High School Poet of the Year contest every spring.
The poems entered will be read by a preliminary judge who will narrow the entries down, and a final judge, who will determine the winner and runners-up.
The preliminary judge will be Michelle Messina Reale, a poet, writer and professor at Arcadia University. She is the 2026 Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, the director of Arcadia University's low-residency MFA program, and the author of several poetry collections including her latest, “Let it be Extravagant” (Bordighera Press, 2025). She is the founding and managing editor of both “OVUNQUE SIAMO: New Italian-American Writing” and “The Red Fern Review.”
The final judge will be Jeanne Marie Beaumont, the author of five books of poetry, including “Placebo Effects,” a winner of the National Poetry Series, and most recently “Lessons with Scissors.” She is coeditor of “The Poets’ Grimm” anthology and author of the verse play “Asylum Song.” She formerly served as director of the Frost Place Seminar and has taught at Rutgers University, the Stonecoast MFA program, and the 92nd St. Y. Born and raised in Delaware County, Pa., she has lived in New York City for over 40 years.
There is no fee to enter the Bucks County Poet Laureate contest. The entry requires 10 poems, in any style, form, or length. All work must be original, published or unpublished, typewritten or word-processed, with one poem per page, in black ink. Poems and entry form must be submitted online.
For more information, contact Dr. Ethel Rackin at ethel.rackin@bucks.edu.
BCCC and Warrington Township Partner on Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
Bucks County Community College and Warrington Township have partnered to present a unique outdoor sculpture exhibition at Lions Pride Park through August 15.
The exhibition, installed along the park’s walking trails, showcases three collaborative sculptures created by current Bucks students and two works by alumni. Visitors are invited to vote for their favorite sculpture, and the piece with the most votes will be purchased by the township for permanent installation in the park, located at 3129 Bradley Road in Chalfont.
For a closer look at the artwork and the creative process behind them, Professor Jon Burns will lead a guided Sculpture Walk from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 26. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required through Warrington Township Parks & Recreation under "Community Events."
During the walk, Burns will discuss the inspiration behind each sculpture, the materials and techniques used, and how the College's 3D Arts curriculum prepared students and alumni to bring the large-scale pieces to life. Burns has taught in Bucks' 3D Arts program for many years, including a course on large-scale, site-specific sculpture.
The exhibition reflects the College's commitment to experiential learning and community engagement while enhancing the local cultural landscape, noted Carolina Blatt, Ph.D., dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
"Once we were approached by Warrington Township with this idea, we started thinking about how to get our students involved with this opportunity, and at the same time, highlight our programs and the fact that we have some really unique facilities," said Blatt. "We have a foundry, a wood shop, and all these amazing studios that people might not know about, so it seemed like a natural fit to show what we're doing while also helping Warrington add engaging public art to its trails."
Artist-Led Hand Sewing Workshop Marks Closing Day of 'Visions of America'
As the acclaimed exhibition "Visions of America" comes to a close, Bucks County Community College's Hicks Art Center Gallery will host "In Plain Sight," a hands-on textile workshop led by exhibiting artist Duwenavue Santé Johnson on Saturday, July 25, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The three-hour workshop coincides with the exhibition's final day, offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn directly from one of the artists whose work is featured in the invitational multimedia exhibition celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
Johnson, joined by artist Rae Burns, will guide participants in creating an original stitched artwork inspired by the botanical studies of historic Newtown Quaker artist Mary Ivins Cunningham and the area's rich local history. Johnson recently discovered that Cunningham is a distant relative.
Using marbled fabric paper, silk, tulle, beads and other traditional materials, participants will explore 19th-century hand-stitching techniques while reflecting on stories, images and natural elements that often remain "in plain sight" but are easily overlooked. Johnson will discuss how her own textile installation in "Visions of America" was inspired by Cunningham's work and demonstrate how historical research can be translated into contemporary fiber art.
The workshop costs $20 for adults and $10 for youth ages 12–16 and students, with payment collected on the day of the event. All materials are included. Advance registration is requested by emailing gallery@bucks.edu.
Curated by Clifford Eberly, Senior Manager of Galleries and Exhibitions, "Visions of America" brings together contemporary artists and historical artifacts to examine the nation's past, present and future through diverse perspectives. In the exhibition, Johnson's textile work symbolically evokes the ethereal spirituality found in Cunningham's observational artwork, making the closing-day workshop a fitting culmination to the show.
The Hicks Art Center Gallery is located on the east end of Bucks County Community College's Newtown Campus, 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940, where there is ample free parking. Admission to the gallery is free. "Visions of America" is on view through July 25.
Bucks County Community College Announces Spring 2026 Honors Lists
Bucks County Community College congratulates the 2,143 students who were named to the President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List for the Spring 2026 semester.
The President’s Honor List includes 1,198 students. For this honor, the College recognizes students who have accumulated 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 945 students who have completed 12 or more credits, earned a GPA 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, Ph.D. “We are here to support their journey, whether their goal is to pursue a more affordable bachelor’s degree, launch a career with a job-ready degree, or to gain an edge in the workplace with a certificate.”
View the full list of President's and Dean's List honorees, organized by each student's hometown, on the Academic Honors page.
