April 29
Dr. Nicki Buscemi, a professor of English at North Shore Community College (NSCC), has been selected
as one of only 36 faculty chosen nationwide, and the only honoree from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, for the 2024 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition. The AACC Faculty Distinction recognition, named in honor of former AACC President
and CEO Dale P. Parnell, was established to recognize individuals making a difference
in the classroom.
Dr. Buscemi was honored, along with the other awardees, at the recent American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) annual convention, held in Louisville, KY.
In an excerpt from Dr. Buscemi’s nomination letter, submitted by Dr. Christian Bednar, Interim Assistant Provost at NSCC, Buscemi was lauded “as the consummate champion of access, equity and the liberal arts. Her teaching is exemplary; her college service, exceptional; and her dedication to students, unparalleled.”
Now a Lynn resident, originally from the Midwest, Buscemi and her husband moved to Lynn in 2006, fell in love with the city and decided to stay to raise their children, who have gone through Lynn public schools. She joined NSCC in 2012 as an assistant professor in the English department, rising to become a full professor.
“I taught at various 4-year schools during and after earning my Ph.D. in English, but once I began teaching at NSCC, my students soon became my favorites! The vibrancy and wealth of experiences they brought to the classroom were unmatched, and the privilege of teaching them and being part of their journeys in and outside of the classroom pushed me to become a better instructor and to consider a host of factors that contribute to student success,” said Buscemi. “Over the years, I’ve come to see teaching at a community college as my calling. Being named a Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty honoree by the AACC has validated that belief. I feel deeply honored to have received this recognition for work that I’m both proud of and love to do.”
Buscemi earned a B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University where she majored in English and minored in dance and philosophy; an M.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa. As part of her college service, she has served as a volunteer academic advisor in NSCC’s Student Support and Advising Center in addition to serving on the Arts in April Committee, the Forum Steering Committee, the Governance Restructure Committee and as the chair on NSCC’s Student Development Committee. For fun and having minored in dance, Buscemi has helped to choreograph several NSCC productions, including most recently the Spring 2023 play, a sci-fi parody called Fight Girl Battle World!