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BCCC Announces Spring 2025 Semester President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List
Bucks County Community College congratulates the 1,354 students who were named to the President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List for the Spring 2025 semester.
The President’s Honor List includes 530 students. For this honor, 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 824 students who 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. “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, grouped by each student’s hometown, is available on the Bucks website under Academic Honors.
Bucks County Community College Honors Distinguished Alumni
Razin Karu, ’17, Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, and John Sheridan, ’85, were celebrated for their achievements at the annual commencement ceremony Bucks County Community College honored four distinguished alumni at its 59th Annual Commencement ceremony on May 22. The awards, presented by the BCCC Alumni Association, acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contributions each has made to their profession, their community, and their alma mater.
The 2025 honorees are:
President’s Distinguished Award – Razin Karu, ’17, executive director for the governor's advisory commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs.
Professional Service Award – Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, law enforcement professional with decades of experience at the federal, state, and local levels.
Community Service Award – Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, associate director with No Longer Bound and community organizer with the Bristol Cares Coalition.
Centurion Award – John Sheridan, ’85, professor of music and multimedia at Bucks County Community College.
President’s Distinguished Award: Razin Karu, ‘17
Razin Karu, ’17, is passionate about civic engagement, social justice, interfaith relations, and volunteering. He earned an associate degree in history from Bucks County Community College in 2017, where he established the first-ever Muslim
Students Association and served as student government president. After graduating from Bucks, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Temple University with a double-major in history and political science, a minor in global studies, and a certificate in political economy.
Karu went on to work as a constituent services advisor for State Representative Perry Warren (D-31) and as executive director of the Muslim Society of the Delaware Valley, where he directed all programs and activities for the Muslim Youth Center of Philadelphia and the Islamic Cultural Center of Willow Grove.
In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as the executive director for the commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs. Karu helps the commission gather information regarding AAPI Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs, and provides the Governor with information and recommendations on how best to meet those needs.
Professional Achievement Award: Kenneth Kuzma, ‘81
Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, is a distinguished law enforcement professional with over 36 years of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. After graduating from Bucks, he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University. He then dedicated his career to investigating and combating international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, public corruption, and financial crimes such as money laundering and asset forfeiture.
Kuzma began his career in 1986 with the City of Philadelphia juvenile Probation Department, where he supervised high-risk youth and developed court-mandated probation plans. In 1996, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a special agent. Over a 20-year career with the DEA, Kuzma led major domestic and international investigations, aided in the historic 9-11 response and recovery in New York City, and received many honors and awards.
From 2018 to March 2025, Kuzma was a narcotics agent with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, applying his expertise to investigations such as domestic and international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, and gang-related crimes. An accomplished investigator, instructor, and mentor, Kuzma has trained countless federal, state, and local agents, provided drug identification seminars to universities and high schools, and delivered expert testimony in federal and local courts.
Community Service Award: Damita Harvey Harris, ’04
Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, has worked for nearly 20 years with No Longer Bound, a nonprofit prevention services organization whose mission is to empower the community by providing educational programming and training to address drug and alcohol abuse, increase positive social development, and improve overall well-being. She also established the Bristol Cares Coalition to support positive youth development in Bristol Township.
Harvey Harris is also a facilitator of NAMI Bucks County’s "Black Minds Matter" support group, which is a shared strength group dedicated to the mental and overall wellness of the Black community. She also volunteers as a board member for Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center and treasurer for Struble Elementary School PTO, all while working full-time and raising a family.
In 2025, she was honored by BCCC with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Leadership award.
Harvey Harris graduated from Bucks County Community College in 2004, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Peirce College and a master's degree in education from Holy Family University. She has worked full-time for NJM Insurance Group for 21 years, where she is currently a senior talent development specialist.
Centurion Award: John Sheridan, ‘85
John Sheridan, ’85, is a music and multimedia professor at Bucks County Community College for more than 30 years whose influence resonates throughout the academic and artistic communities. His academic credentials include a Master of Arts from New York University, a Bachelor of Music from Temple University, and an Associate of Arts from Bucks County Community College. Beyond his academic achievements, Sheridan has built a remarkable career as a professional musician, performing jazz, funk, fusion, and blues for over 40 years.
Sheridan’s dedication to excellence in education has been recognized many times. In 2013, he was honored with the prestigious Lindback Award for teaching excellence. He’s also been named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2000), Who’s Who in America (2002), and Who’s Who in the World (2004).
Outside the classroom, Sheridan is deeply invested in fostering opportunities for students. He adjudicates high school competitions and conducts jazz improvisation workshops. His leadership extends to advocacy, as he has spent the past decade lobbying state lawmakers for increased community college funding — an effort in which he actively involves his students, providing them with invaluable real-world experience in civic engagement.
In addition, Sheridan currently serves as president of the Bucks County Community College American Federation of Teachers.
New Apprenticeship Aims to Address Shortage of Special Education Teachers
BCCC students can transfer to Gwynedd Mercy University while working at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and earn special-ed certification In a three-way collaboration to address a critical teaching shortage, Bucks County Community College has joined Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) to launch an apprenticeship program to train and certify pre-K-12 special education teachers.
The program, the first of its kind in the state, enables paraprofessionals employed by the Bucks IU to earn their Pennsylvania special education teaching certification and bachelor’s degree while working full-time. Participants will earn their first 60 credits at the community college and the remaining credits toward a bachelor's degree at the university. Their on-the-job experience will satisfy field experience requirements, and student teaching will take place within the Bucks IU system.
The program, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is the only registered baccalaureate apprenticeship in the state focused on special education.
Samantha Gross, Ed.D., dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Bucks County Community College, noted that the program helps students both academically and professionally.
“Our students will be able to seamlessly transfer to Gwynedd Mercy while working for the IU,” said Gross. “Fieldwork and observation have always been a part of our education major, and now it will be tied directly to a career path through this apprenticeship program.”
Gross has been invited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to take part in a panel discussion about the new program at the state’s Advancing Education Together summit in Harrisburg July 10. She will be joined by colleagues from GMercyU and the Bucks IU in a session about creating a certified teacher registered apprenticeship program.
“This apprenticeship creates a sustainable pipeline for special education teachers by making certification more attainable for individuals already working in our schools,” said Deborah Schadler, Ph.D., coordinator of undergraduate education at GMercyU. “It’s a direct response to the urgent need for qualified special educators and a continuation of our mission to transform lives through education.”
Participants will receive a salary as paraprofessionals, with structured pay increases tied to academic milestones. Eligible students will receive a 10% tuition grant to attend GMercyU as Bucks IU employees and may qualify for additional federal or state financial aid. The GMercyU courses are offered fully online to accommodate the needs of working professionals.
To learn more, email sb@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8270.
PA Community Colleges Launch ADVANCEPA Tech and Trades Consortium
Berwick, PA – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on June 9 that Amazon is planning to invest at least $20 billion to establish multiple high-tech cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Amazon’s investment will create at least 1,250 high-paying, high-tech jobs. The first communities identified as sites for these future campuses are Salem Township, Luzerne County, and Falls Township, Bucks County. Several additional Pennsylvania communities are under consideration for data center development.
Represented by Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick Jones at the June 9 announcement, President Jones also stressed a vision as more hyperscale data centers are planned.
"Through a unique, consortium approach, we will be able to better focus on the needs of data centers and help ensure students are prepared with the knowledge and skills required for this unique sector," Dr. Jones said. "We will collaborate to determine industry needs and share expertise and resources so that no matter where someone lives, one of our colleges will be able to help them attain the skills they need for success in this growing industry."
Under the lead of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC), Luzerne County Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Bucks County Community College are joining forces to partner on a Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium in an expanded Northeast Region of Pennsylvania.
The PACCC collaboration will bring together these four community colleges to address workforce needs during the construction of hyperscale data centers and the jobs needed once they are built. As more hyperscale data centers are constructed, other community colleges across the Commonwealth will join to expand the ADVANCEPA Technology & Trade Workforce Consortium.
"There is no sector of higher educator better equipped to adeptly respond to the changing workforce development demands of the technological revolution that is driving historic economic growth than Pennsylvania's community colleges," said John Yudichak, President of Luzerne County Community College.
Three pillars planned by the Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium are:
A Career & Technology Academy
An innovative regional partnership formed by community colleges and career and technical center high schools to create new pathways for career and technical center students to earn post-secondary credentials in technology and the skilled construction trades. The goal of a Career & Technology Academy is to serve underserved student populations in career and technical center high schools to build a consistent workforce pipeline of entry level technicians and skilled trade workers.
A MicroCredential Academy
The MicroCredential Academy will rapidly develop post-secondary credential programing that makes upskilling career credentials for Pennsylvania workers efficient, cost-effective, and accessible. The goal of the MicroCredential Academy is to serve Pennsylvania workers where they live and work by identifying high demand industry clusters and providing online, mobile, and campus based microcrendential programing that empowers workers to advance to a high wage, high demand career.
A Construction & Trade Pre-Apprenticeship Academy
The Construction & Trade Pre-Apprenticeship Academy will forge a strategic partnership the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trade Unions is to build a pre-apprenticeship pipeline of students who will learn from a foundational curriculum that will prepare them to enter union registered apprenticeship programs and secure employment in the skilled building and construction trade industry. The goal of the Construction & Trade PreApprenticeship Academy is to promote, educate, and drive interest in students pursuing union apprenticeship programs to meet the growing demand for skilled trade workers in the Pennsylvania economy.
"This approach, under the direction of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, speaks to how our sector is lockstep with the Governor and General Assembly in moving the Commonwealth forward," PACCC President Dr. Tuesday Stanley said. "This effort speaks for our larger strategy of Advancing PA though its community colleges."
Pennsylvania's 15 community colleges collectively serve nearly 240,000 students annually through academic programing and workforce development training programs that focus on high demand and high wage jobs. Pennsylvania community colleges fuel regional economic growth and serve as the central workforce development pipeline in the Commonwealth with 90% of community college graduates going on to live and work in Pennsylvania after graduation.
Pennsylvania's community colleges partner with over 2,000 industries in the Commonwealth to align their academic and workforce development programing with a rapidly changing economy driven by technological innovation.
"We are so honored to advance Pennsylvania in economic development, workforce development, and even quality of life," said Lehigh Carbon Community College President Dr. Ann Bieber. "The community college sector is pleased to serve in this capacity."
The Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium will strategically coordinate resources, avoid duplicative investments in equipment, and foster innovative college and industry collaborations that will streamline a fragmented workforce development system to deliver the highest quality workforce in Pennsylvania history. The Consortium will work with the State Board of Higher Education, federal and state agencies, Career and Technical Centers, high schools, Pennsylvania Construction & Trade Unions, and employers to ensure that curricula remain current and aligned with workforce needs to establish clear educational and career pathways for students.
"Our long history as a sector of partnering and collaborating is key to this Consortium," said Northampton Community College President Dr. David Ruth. "Pennsylvania’s community college sector has a long history of collaboration and educating our citizenry in various ways."
Media Contact:Dr. Nick Neupauernneupauer@pacommunitycolleges.org
Bucks County Community College Professor Pens Poetry Book
Dr. Ethel Rackin will sign copies of “In Time,” her fourth collection of poems, at the Doylestown Bookshop Friday, June 13 For Bucks County Community College Professor Ethel Rackin, it all began with a seventh-grade writing prompt.
“When I told my teacher I didn’t know how to write poems, he said, ‘just try to compare yourself to something else using like or as,’" Rackin recalled about her class at Germantown Friends School. “So, I think I compared myself to a tree, and then he encouraged us to develop our comparison. And from then on, I was hooked on writing poetry.”
Now, Rackin has published her fourth poetry collection, “In Time” (Word Works Books, 2025). She describes the collection as poems of grief and discovery, of connection, and the strange time travel that is the life we each lead.
“I took to poetry because it offered me a space to say things that would otherwise have been difficult or impossible to say," said Rackin. “I also think that the associations that you can make between one thing and another in a poem was something that really spoke to me. The ability to use dream-like logic, associative meaning, visual clues—all of that was the right language for me.”
Rackin, who grew up in Philadelphia, earned her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, her MFA from Bard College, and her Ph.D. from Princeton University. She has taught at Bucks County Community College for 14 years, where she is also the director of the Bucks County Poet Laureate Program and the Wordsmiths Reading Series.
She says her work as a published author helps her students by making their studies feel more relevant.
“I think it makes me more empathetic towards their struggles, because writing for all of us, even for published writers, is really challenging,” said Rackin. “I think it also puts me in touch with what's happening right now in the culture in terms of writing, and I hope to bring that to my students through the Wordsmiths Reading Series and through the selections that I teach in class, so that they can get a better understanding of writing as a living art, and writers as real people just like them with the same kinds of struggles and situations that we all deal with.”
Rackin launched “In Time” this spring when she appeared at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference and Book Fair in Los Angeles with other authors from her publishing house. The local launch takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 13, at the Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St., Doylestown, PA, 18901. Free registration for the event is available on the Doylestown Bookshop website.
In addition to her books of poems, Rackin is the author of the text “Crafting Poems and Stories: A Guide to Creative Writing” (Broadview Press, 2022). To learn more, visit Ethel Rackin's website.
Professor Rackin returns to the classroom this fall to teach English Composition, Creative Writing, and other courses in the School of Language and Literature.
