RCC Professor Honored at 53rd Annual American Community College Trustees Leadership Congress

Rockland Community College’s Distinguished Professor and Program Director for Visual and Performing Arts, Patty Maloney-Titland, received both the regional and national William H. Meardy Faculty Member Awards at the 53rd Annual American Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress in October.

ACCT's Regional Awards recognize the tremendous contributions made by community colleges and their leaders to their communities. "Community colleges are unique institutions dedicated to making high-quality higher education accessible for all Americans," said ACCT President and CEO, Jee Hang Lee. "This year's regional ACCT awardees represent the most outstanding people and programs from throughout the country, and we are excited to be able to bring attention to them."

Dr. Katie Lynch, RCC Officer in Charge of Academic Affairs, says, "For decades, Professor Maloney-Titland has been a bright star in the RCC constellation. She is an award-winning teacher, an accomplished director, an experienced mentor, and a dedicated colleague. She has nurtured generations of students while serving the College and her community in a variety of ways. She epitomizes the servant-leader ethos, and her creativity, generosity, and commitment deserve every possible honor!”

“As a creative, it’s a blessing to have such an amazing mentor in my corner,” says Feliz Vazquez Ayala, one of her students. “Becoming an actor has been a life-long dream of mine, one that began to take shape under Patty Maloney-Titland's guidance. While I was ready for how much work was involved in the world of performance, I wasn't prepared for how much fun it would be. Because of this, I can safely and confidently say that Patty has only solidified what was already a chosen career path. Patty deserves this award and then some."

"Patty Maloney-Titland is an upstanding and caring individual who nurtures any and all creative talent and I'm so glad to be able to call her one of my professors,” says Shafiya A. Dure, an RCC student and U.S. Veteran. “Without her encouragement, I'm not sure I'd be pursuing a career in the arts. A beacon in times of uncertainty, ‘Professor Patty’ is always there for us, and I hope in the many years to come she sees her students and all the lessons she taught us, in our many different roles and guises. We take her wisdom with us, and I am thankful for it.”

Maloney-Titland also received the “Champions of Education” Award, an honor presented annually by NY State Senator Reichlin-Melnick of the 38th District, during a ceremony at BOCES in Nyack on October 23. “I am honored to have the opportunity to name 10 educators in the 38th District, as Champions of Education,” says Senator Reichlin-Melnick. “As a former teacher, I know the hard work, dedication, and the long nights that go into teaching. Maloney-Titland continuously goes above and beyond for her students.”

Maloney-Titland is also the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Rockland Shakespeare Company (currently celebrating the 25th anniversary), and has organized the Unity in Community: Rising As One celebratory event for the past two years. Throughout her tenure at RCC, she has been frequently recognized for her excellence in teaching and her generous service.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York

Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCCs institutional collaborations.

RCC fosters an environment that attracts, recruits, supports and retains faculty, staff, and students who value diversity. The College promotes a collegial and inclusive environment by recognizing, promoting, embracing, respecting and celebrating the expansive range and dimensions of cultures, attitudes, ideas and viewpoints contained within our campus community.

RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and microcredentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.