Dr. Josh Becker has been teaching courses in psychology, education, and human services at GCC since 2002, alongside other work in both educational and clinical settings. He is especially passionate about helping students clarify their academic, professional, and personal goals, making each class relevant to their life-long learning. His academic interests lie in that space where the fields of psychology, education, and cultural studies/social justice intertwine. Josh holds a Masters degree in school counseling, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in child development, and a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology with sub-specialization in addiction studies. His clinical work spans school- and community-based treatment with children, psychiatric crisis evaluation and intervention, psychological testing and assessment, as well as therapeutic issues affecting LGBTQ people.

Brian Kapitulik received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a first-generation college graduate and former community college student. His teaching and research interests focus on education and social inequalities, the role and purpose of community college, and “positive sociology.” His work has appeared in Teaching Sociology, The American Sociologist, Teachers College Record, and Sage Publication’s Sociology of Education: An A-to-Z Guide. Dr. Kapitulik lives in Florence, MA with his family.

Yezenia Lopez joined GCC in 2023. She has a BA in Psychology and Spanish from Westfield State University and an MA in School Counseling from the University of Connecticut. Although she is fascinated by all areas of the discipline, she is most excited about development and social psychology. She is passionate about helping students understand their world and who they are through a psychology lens.

Dr. McCarthy joined GCC in 2004, and since then has actively expanded the Sociology curriculum to include many of the courses offered today. Along with teaching Principles of Sociology every semester (and online), she also teaches Social Inequality (face-to-face and online), Sociology of Gender, Sociology of Human Sexuality, and Sociology of the Family. Dr. McCarthy earned her Doctorate in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2003, and teaches Sociology at GCC from a social justice perspective. Dr. McCarthy has published several articles and book chapters and is a former associate editor of the University of Massachusetts School of Education’s journal, Equity & Excellence in Education. Dr. McCarthy’s classes each emphasize the connections between current social issues and sociological concepts.