Atlantic Cape Professor Donna Marie McElroy Receives New Jersey Council of Community Colleges Distinguished Faculty Award

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College Professor of Social Science Donna Marie McElroy was recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Faculty Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) on June 11 during the New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit in Atlantic City, N.J.

The Distinguished Faculty Award is presented each year to a New Jersey community college faculty member who has had a profound influence on his/her students academically and professionally, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Professor McElroy was truly honored to be recognized for doing a “job” that she absolutely loves: teaching and helping the students of Atlantic Cape.

"I am deeply humbled to receive the 2024 Distinguished Faculty Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. This recognition acknowledges my commitment to the mission of education, which is shared by many of my colleagues at Atlantic Cape,” said McElroy. “I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Social Science Department, and to be supported and encouraged by our academic administration, especially Dr. Denise Coulter and Dr. Josette Katz. It is truly a blessing to teach and be of service to our students in the pursuit of their academic and professional goals."

In addition to the excellent academic instruction she provides in the classroom, Professor McElroy’s student-centric attitude is demonstrated through her service to the college, marked by efforts to improve the academic experience; she serves on Advisory Boards, serves as advisor to the Circle K Club, presents at Adjunct Academies and Faculty Development Days, has served as Coordinator of the college’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and has served as her department’s Area Coordinator.

“Professor McElroy is known at Atlantic Cape for her caring and supportive approach. She has fostered an inclusive and nurturing learning environment while ensuring that her students feel valued and empowered to achieve their academic goals,” said Dr. Katz. “Her commitment to education has made her a deserving recipient for this prestigious award.”

This year’s annual NJCCC event brought faculty, staff and leaders from New Jersey’s 18 community colleges together for a three-day summit that highlighted the organization’s new Opportunity Agenda, which focused primarily on being grounded in equity, collaboration, opportunity and innovation. Partners from local high schools, colleges and universities, unions, employers, community-based groups, public workforce, state and local governments were welcomed to the Summit as well.

Visit https://www.njcommunitycolleges.org/ for more information on New Jersey’s community colleges.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.