At the June 18, 2024, Greenfield Community College Board of Trustees meeting, four faculty and staff members were granted emeritus status: Norman Beebe, Charlotte Gifford, Teresa Jones and Paul Lindale.

Norman Beebe

When nominating Norman Beebe for emeritus status, his colleagues in the math department wrote, “It is impossible to list all of the contributions Norman has made to students, colleagues and GCC as an institution.” Beebe taught mathematics at GCC for over 30 years, first as an adjunct and then as part of his role as co-coordinator of the Peer Tutoring Program. He is known for his love of mathematics, his dedication to students and his service to the college.

Beebe was instrumental in many new initiatives during his tenure, including the developmental math sequence, a newer model of teaching basic math and study skills via Human Development (HUD) courses and the Math Studio learning space. As co-coordinator of Peer Tutoring for 25 years, Beebe hired, trained and supervised nearly 300 math tutors, and the training materials he developed have become critical to maintaining the Peer Tutoring Program’s ongoing CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) certification status.

Beebe was equally dedicated to the college. He served on multiple search committees, the Graduate Review Board and the Green Campus Committee for its full duration (2004-2019). He also served as an active member of the Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC) leadership, where he became known for his ability to see the many sides of complex issues.

“Norman’s perspective on teaching and his way of being with students is humbling,” observed one of his colleagues. “He has a gift for getting to the heart of the matter—both with the content of mathematics and especially with how to connect with and reach students.”

Charlotte Gifford

Charlotte Gifford began teaching French and Spanish at GCC in 1987, and she became indispensable to the college and the field as a gifted educator and administrator and a generous mentor. “It is her passion and mission to teach languages, to promote the importance of learning foreign languages and to create and support the institutional structures that further this learning,” said GCC Spanish professor, Norma Quesada.

During her tenure at GCC, Gifford built the world language department to include French, Spanish, Latin and American sign language, as well as Spanish for specific professions (including health, law enforcement and education). To support and encourage GCC’s language students, Gifford also created the Credit for Prior Language Experience option, established annual travel scholarships for language students and developed credentialing programs allowing French and Spanish students to demonstrate and document their proficiency. This latter program has brought GCC’s World Language Department national recognition, with the Modern Languages Association (MLA) sharing Gifford’s work as a model for the profession.

Throughout the region, Gifford has worked to promote and strengthen the teaching of foreign languages. She founded and facilitated the Upper Valley Foreign Language Collaborative, which created alliances with area public and private schools, regularly presented at conferences and took leadership roles in her field’s professional organizations, such as joining the MLA’s executive committee. Within the college, Gifford sat on numerous committees, served as interim dean of humanities and chaired the college’s accreditation process. Most recently, as secretary of the Assembly, she led the restructuring of the college’s system of shared governance. “She leads and teaches with great intellect, dignity and integrity,” said April Parsons, GCC’s vice president of academic affairs. “We are very fortunate to have had her in our midst at GCC during her career.”

Teresa Jones

Teresa Jones began her career at GCC in 1999 as an adjunct instructor teaching botany, ecology, horticulture, sustainable energy, natural history and environmental science, and she became a full-time faculty member in 2007. Her collaborations with colleagues at GCC, in the greater community and in her field exploring sustainable energy education fueled the development of GCC’s renewable energy/ energy efficient (RE/EE) program and the college’s sustainable agriculture initiative and helped make GCC the epicenter of green education.

Jones is passionate about educating students in the natural world. “Teresa continuously looked for ways of providing her students with the tools to make their own discoveries, explore the greater implications on the natural world and be independent and critical thinkers as they moved forward with their lives,” said Parsons.

Jones’ dedication to research brought multiple large grants to the college. These included two from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and one from the Massachusetts Workforce Commonwealth Trust Fund (WCTF).

In the wider community, Jones engaged extensively with community groups, organizations, government agencies, community colleges and high schools, including the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the MA Dept. of Labor/Workforce Development, the MA Community College Green Energy Training Collaboration, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Holyoke Community College and Mount Wachusett Community College.

In her administrative roles—including chair of the science department, STEM Starter Academy program director and coordinator of RE/EE and sustainable agriculture & green energy—Jones demonstrated an inspiring style of leadership. She collaborated with faculty throughout the college, supported her colleagues’ professional development and showed a keen ability to identify and promote qualities among her peers. “She was assertive, yet kind, innovative and inclusive. She set an example by working tirelessly for the good of the department and the college. She was demanding, most so of herself, and, when needed, she was incredibly nurturing,” said Trish Basford, GCC science department chair.

Paul Lindale

Art professor Paul Lindale taught at GCC for 24 years and served as the art department chair for half of that time. Deeply respected, he went far above and beyond in his roles of instructor and leader. “Paul always centered the work that he did around GCC students,” said Jen Simms, current chair of the art department. “He did this through his dedication, his grace and his great sense of humor.”

Lindale arrived at GCC when digital media was becoming increasingly integrated into the visual arts. He embraced these tools and introduced a sequence of video and computer arts courses that contemporized the art department and impacted the paths of many students.

As an artist, Lindale’s studio practice ranges from video to coded work that deeply explores the changing environment, and his work has been exhibited around the world. He brought his knowledge and concern regarding climate change and human existence into his classroom and he encouraged his students to address their own political, social and personal concerns through their art.

Lindale is passionate about helping others share their work publicly. He played a major role in launching Art on Campus, which exhibits student and faculty artwork in public spaces on the GCC campus, and the annual art student exhibit each spring. He also collaborated with Westfield State University to coordinate GCC student and faculty exhibitions and participated in GCC faculty exhibits at UMass Amherst.

“Paul Lindale leaves a legacy of creativity and dedication to service in the art department,” said Parsons. “His leadership set the tone for the art department for many years and helped to cultivate the sense of identity and value of the humanities as central to the mission of GCC.”

Greenfield Community College is deeply proud of the dedication and passion demonstrated by its faculty and staff. The emeritus status granted to Norman Beebe, Charlotte Gifford, Teresa Jones and Paul Lindale is a testament to their unwavering commitment to students and the GCC community. Their contributions have not only enriched the academic environment but also fostered a spirit of excellence and innovation that will continue to inspire future generations. Heartfelt gratitude is extended to them for their exceptional service and enduring impact on the institution.