Pictured from left: Daniel Phelan, Ph.D., President/CEO, Jackson College (Mich.), Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and keynote speaker; Glen Gabert, Ph.D., President, Hudson County Community College; and William Austin, Ed.D., President, Warren County Community College (N.J.)

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) recently held its College Service Day on the theme, “The Future of Community Colleges.” The keynote speaker was Daniel Phelan, Ph.D., President/CEO, Jackson College (Mich.), and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Dr. Phelan’s discussion was titled, “Unrelenting Change, Innovation, and Risk: Forging the Next Generation of Community Colleges.”

At the close of the morning agenda, HCCC presented the annual Johnston Communications Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The recipients were Craig McLaughlin, Instructor, Psychology, and Abdallah Matari, Professor of Life Science.

New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association Presents Gold Plate Award to HCCC Associate Dean Paul Dillon

The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association (NJRHA) recently presented the Gold Plate Award to Paul Dillon, Associate Dean of the Business, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Division at Hudson County Community College, at its 36th Annual Gala. The award was given for Dillon’s longtime excellence in the career and his service over the years to the NJRHA.

Paul Dillon, Associate Dean of the Business, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Division at Hudson County Community College

Dean Paul Dillon has more than 40 years of experience in the food service industry. Prior to being named Associate Dean of Business, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management in 2012, he was the Executive Director of HCCC’s Culinary Arts Institute, where he taught for 23 years before transitioning into an administrative role in 2008.

For his work on “Let’s Cook,” Dillon received three Emmy Award nominations in the best host category on The Comcast Network, on which he also served as executive producer from 1995 to 2007. He won an Emmy Award in 2005 and a total of eight Telly Awards.

Dillon’s vast experience encompasses serving as executive or consulting chef on state, national and international levels, and for public and corporate clients. Dillon earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science Hospitality Management from Florida International University.