Donation Supports Gateway Center for Equity & Social Justice

New Haven– Gateway Community College and GCC Foundation announced a $300,000 gift from Ruby Melton and Gail McAvay for expansion of the college’s Equity and Social Justice Center.

The funding will help the center provide ongoing curated programs and special events to promote anti-racism and gender, LGBTQ+, immigrant and refugee equity. It will also create student scholarships for Gateway students who demonstrate a commitment to social justice. Located on Gateway’s New Haven campus on College Street, the center will serve as a hub for Gateway students, faculty and staff, as well as for other higher education institutions, community organizations, and those engaged in work to build equitable campuses and communities.

“Equity in education is critical for equity in our communities and in our nation, and Gateway has a long history of education and service for our entire community,” said Gateway CEO, William “Terry” Brown, Ph.D. “We see the center becoming a focal point for our work of promoting equitable access, opportunity and empowerment for historically underrepresented and marginalized students. We appreciate this generous support, and look forward to expanding the scope of our work to realize our shared vision for greater equity.”

“We are thrilled to support the Center for Equity and Social Justice at Gateway and look forward to seeing the development of programs and services which will empower Gateway’s diverse population of students to affirm and celebrate their identities, allowing them to define success themselves,” said Melton and McAvay. “We are also excited about the center’s commitment to invite and engage community leaders and activists, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs, to participate in and curate programs for the center.”

Melton is a member of the GCC Foundation board and is co-chair of the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. She also serves on the boards of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Long Wharf Theatre, and the Shubert Theatre-New Haven, where she is chair. McAvay is an epidemiologist by training and a senior research scientist on the faculty of Yale Medical School’s Program on Aging.

For more information, and to learn more about how to support Gateway’s Center for Equity and Social Justice, contact Heidi Green, associate dean of Institutional Advancement at Gateway Community College 203.285.2296 or email .

Contacts: Heidi Green, Associate Dean of Institutional Advancement, , Office: 203-285-2296

Melissa Lamar, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, , Office: 860-773-1407

Gateway Community College CEO Named to Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors During 228th Annual Meeting 

New Haven, Conn.– Gateway Community College (GCC) CEO William “Terry” Brown, Ph.D., was among nine new Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC) board members elected and installed during the organization’s 228^th Annual Meeting & Business Leadership Awards this fall. 

“The Chamber is a wonderful resource for the 15 towns and cities it serves, and I am pleased to join this remarkable group of leaders” said Brown, who noted through the college’s partnership with GNHCC, Gateway is able to connect students with vitally important partners, scholarship funders, and support opportunities. “This organization understands and supports the key role higher education plays in building our current and future workforce, and provides advocacy for the educational and health care sectors, area social service organizations and regional businesses.” 

Brown was appointed as Gateway's CEO in 2020. Prior to that, he held positions as special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives, and vice president for academic and student affairs at Nashville State Community College (NCCC) Tennessee. Previously he also served as an associate dean and dean of academic affairs at Housatonic Community College and as an administrator and faculty member at Naugatuck Valley and Norwalk Community Colleges. 

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in secondary education from the University of Florida, and master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Delaware. He finished his professional training at Yale School of Medicine, completing predoctoral fellowships at Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale Psychiatric Institute (now Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital), and a post-doctoral fellowship at Yale Child Study Center.  

Brown is married to Yulonda Brown (née Candelario), a New Haven native and Gateway graduate. They live in North Branford with their son Zion, currently a student at GCC.  

 About Gateway Community College

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2022, Gateway is Connecticut’s largest community college, serving residents and businesses throughout the greater New Haven area with a staff of more than 600 full- and part-time employees. 

GCC offers over 90 accredited degree and certificate programs to more than 5,000 credit students each semester, preparing them for transfer to four-year degrees and workforce training in areas with industry need that help support the changing economy, including health care, technology, engineering, and business.

Gateway is among 12 community colleges in Connecticut merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. In addition to Gateway, other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury & Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson & Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington) Community Colleges. Visit www.ctstate.edu/becoming for more information. 

Gateway Community College Receives Program Excellence Award for Student Success Outcomes

Gateway Community College was presented a Program Excellence Award from Achieving the Dream this summer for exceeding graduation benchmarks in its Gateway to College (GtC) program, which aims to help at-risk students complete their high school degree and continue on to college.    

The award recognizes positive outcomes for students participating in the early college program, and is presented to participating institutions that have exceeded the graduation benchmark established by the Gateway to College network. Of the 30 colleges, Gateway CC is one of 11 to have exceeded all four benchmarks.   

“This is exciting news, and affirms our commitment to creating opportunities, equity and economic growth for thousands of students in the greater New Haven area,“ said Gateway Campus CEO William “Terry” Brown, Ph.D. “This partnership with New Haven Public Schools makes it possible for students who may not have graduated from high school to become college graduates. We are proud to be part of this work of helping these young people be successful.”  

Supported by Achieving the Dream (ATD), the GtC program facilitates sustainable, revenue-sharing partnerships between local colleges and school districts.   

The early college program was launched at Gateway four years ago under the leadership of Gateway’s GtC director Erik Murrell, LMSW, and is the result of collaboration with New Haven Public Schools, the City of New Haven, Gateway Community College Foundation and other organizations.   

“I have witnessed first-hand how hard these GtC students have worked, and observed as many of them have become more empowered with each accomplishment,” said Murrell. “As a team we are honored and privileged to have played a small role in propelling them toward their academic and professional goals."   

The program at Gateway has served 188 disconnected students since its inception, 112 of whom earned their high school diplomas while completing 10 to 17 college credits. About half the students who graduated went on to register for classes as traditional college students, and several graduated from Gateway Community College.   

With campuses in New Haven and North Haven, Gateway serves over 5,000 credit students each semester, offering more than 75 associate degrees, seamless transfer pathways to four-year colleges, and preparation for in-demand careers.   

There is still time to enroll for fall courses at Connecticut’s community colleges, including Gateway. For more information on free community college and how to apply for September late start courses, visit ct.edu/apply. 

The 12 Connecticut community colleges are merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. In addition to Gateway, other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury & Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson & Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington) Community Colleges.    

All 12 Connecticut community colleges are part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) national network, which consists of more than 300 colleges nationally dedicated to advancing student success and growing as catalysts for equitable, antiracist, and economically vibrant communities. 

Gateway Course Helps Student Entrepreneur Launch Hot Sauce Business;

A heart attack forced Marthina Manick to adopt a bland diet, but her love of spicy food never left.   

Tired after years of abandoning the robust flavors that she loved, Manick became interested in making her own hot sauce and enrolled in an online course in fermentation while she was home during the pandemic. “I thought it would be fun,” she said.    

With an idea to create hot sauce with less salt and heaps of flavor, she began crafting batches and was happy with the results. Before long, Manick was producing small batches and bottling her spicy creations for friends and family. The reaction to her spicy sauce was overwhelmingly positive and she started to consider that a business might be in her future, but she did not know how to start. Manick attended culinary school in Colorado years ago but left before graduating. A friend suggested she contact Gateway Community College’s (GCC) culinary program.   

Over the summer, Manick completed a “Hospitality & Tourism Training” course at GCC to help launch her sauce business, Dirty Fingers Artisanal Hot Sauce Company, in West Haven. "The knowledge and confidence the class gave me in starting this new business has been invaluable," said Manick, who resides in New Haven.  

She partnered with her cousin, Jason Holmes, and works in a commercial kitchen to make approximately 100 bottles of sauce per month. As someone who was homeless once, Manick aspires to grow the company so that she can hire employees who need a second chance. The six-month-old company produces sauces with names like Bourbon & Blues, UnThai Me, and Black Pearl. Sometimes she includes smoked salts that she makes herself and has made seasonal varieties, including peach, mango, pumpkin, and cranberry, in additional to traditional styles. Through word-of-mouth Manick has managed to gain loyal fans of the sauce throughout Connecticut as well as Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina—all areas she has lived over the years and has a network of friends.    

“There has been a great deal of interest in culinary classes by entrepreneurial students, including several in Marthina’s class with some great ideas for starting their own businesses,” said Chris Gentile, Gateway associate professor and program coordinator for the culinary arts & hospitality program. “The hospitality training provided a good starting point for these students seeking direction for their business ideas.”   

 “Hospitality & Tourism Training,” offered through the office of Workforce Development & Continuing Education and free to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, provides a foundation in the basic concepts and methods of cooking, along with exposure to food service operations. Students earn Connecticut Hospitality Awareness Training (CHAT) program certification, as well as ServSafe Food Handler and TIPS Training Intervention Procedures. The next class will run January 3-13, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The cost is $1,950 for those who are not eligible for assistance. To learn more, email , or call 203-285-2300.   

About Gateway Community College  

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Gateway serves more than 5,000 credit students each semester, offering over 90 accredited degree and certificate programs that prepare students for transfer to four-year degrees and workforce training in areas with industry need.    

Gateway is among 12 community colleges in Connecticut merging in July 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. In addition to Gateway, other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury & Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson & Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington) Community Colleges. Visit www.ctstate.edu/becoming for more information. 

GCC Garage Rooftop Solar Panels Provide Renewable Energy, Cost Savings

(November 28, 2022) This past summer, the top level of the Gateway Community College garage became the college’s latest innovative effort to increase energy efficiency and independence.

Working with Distributed Solar Development (DSD), Gateway completed a photovoltaic (PV) project that will bring more renewable energy – and significant cost savings – to the downtown campus.

A canopy of 732 solar panels will produce between 368,550 and 410,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, according to Sharon Aceto, Associate Dean of Campus Operations. “The estimated base savings will be in excess of $600,000 over 25 years,” she added.

“Our 17 public colleges and universities, including Gateway, are working to adopt new technologies to improve energy independence and efficiency via solar PV installations,” noted Stephen Burke, Director of Facilities, Planning, and Engineering for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. These include ground-mounted solar installations, parking lot canopies, roof mounted installations, and garage rooftop canopies, like the one at GCC.”

“This is a real ‘win-win-win’ for the Gateway community,” said Gateway Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. William “Terry” Brown. “Not only does increasing energy efficiency show we take responsibility for our environment, the cost savings we will realize also will support our students and our educational mission. And, because the installation shields the roof from rain, snow, ice, and the sun’s heat, it cuts down on wear and tear on our facility, and makes our students, faculty, and staff more comfortable.”

The solar panel project is just the latest in a long line of Gateway’s investments in environmental sustainability. In early 2013, less than a year after the downtown campus opened, the college achieved official Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, an internationally recognized third-party verification. Gateway’s campus was the state’s first LEED Gold public building. More upgrades and retrofits are planned to keep up with changing technology.

For an aerial drone panorama of the solar panels, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XS32x03LMo

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About Gateway Community College

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2022, Gateway is Connecticut’s largest community college, serving residents and businesses throughout the greater New Haven area with a staff of more than 600 full- and part-time employees. 

GCC offers over 90 accredited degree and certificate programs to more than 5,000 credit students each semester, preparing them for transfer to four-year degrees and workforce training in areas with industry need that help support the changing economy, including health care, technology, engineering, and business.

Gateway is among 12 community colleges in Connecticut merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. In addition to Gateway, other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury & Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson & Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington) Community Colleges. Visit www.ctstate.edu/becoming for more information. 

Registration Open for Spring Semester at CT'S Community Colleges  

Credit registration for the Spring 2023 semester is in progress at Connecticut’s 12 community colleges.  

Credit classes start on January 20 with a mix of on-campus, online, and hybrid course options.  

Students intending to attend a Connecticut community college for the first time should start by applying online. Applications for the upcoming Spring 2023 semester can be found at www.ct.edu/admission. 

Connecticut’s community colleges offer hundreds of associate degrees and certificates as well as career training certifications that prepare students for transfer to four-year degrees and transition into the workforce with such programs as advanced manufacturing technology, business, cybersecurity, data science, early childhood education, information technology, health care, pathway to teaching careers, and technology. Students can complete a certificate in as little as six months, and a degree in two years. 

Student support services, job placement assistance and financial aid are available. Prospective credit students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  

Registration for career training certifications is ongoing, with programs and classes in health care, information technology, manufacturing, real estate, culinary, veterinary assistant, and more. Scholarships for information technology, health care and manufacturing classes are available through CareerConneCT. Certified dislocated workers and those receiving SNAP assistance may also be eligible for scholarships and tuition waivers for many continuing education programs. Some programs are approved for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding through the CT Department of Labor. For more information, visit www.ctstate.edu/ce. 

About CT State  

The 12 community colleges in Connecticut are merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. Locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington). Find out more at www.ctstate.edu/becoming.