Two Brunswick Community College Educators Recognized for Teaching Excellence

Congratulations to Paula Rosenbloom and Rita Sellers on being recognized by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) as Brunswick Community College’s Teaching Excellence Award winners.

Paula is a Spanish Instructor and Advisor for Associate in Arts and Associate in Science students. Established in 1991, the NISOD Excellence Awards provide NISOD member colleges with an opportunity to recognize individuals doing extraordinary work on their campuses and demonstrating an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. Recipients of the BCC Dinah Gore Excellence in Teaching Awards are submitted to NISOD for this award.

Through this award, Paula is recognized for her approachable manner and her motivation to improve students’ educational journey, which shows when she lectures. Her students are attentive and engaged, as she involves them in the lecture by prompting discussion. She even has the ability to “make Spanish easy to learn,” according to her students. Paula has taught every course that the Spanish department offers, from online, traditional, and hybrid courses. She teaches traditional, non-traditional, Early College High School, and Career and College Promise students effectively.

Paula is comfortable working with all faculty and staff. She was actively involved in the re-design of the course syllabus that BCC currently uses. She often encourages other faculty to attend professional development opportunities. Paula makes sure that all students and other academic advisors know about the Foreign Language requirements at UNCW and other transfer institutions in NC. She shares her techniques and expertise with other faculty members and was instrumental in developing and carrying out the very first Quality Matters review of BCC online courses.

Paula has several rescue animals and works hard to find homes for animals in danger of being euthanized. Not only is Paula a proud animal rights advocate, but she is also a student advocate who has an open ear for student concerns and works closely with students who express a desire for warranted change on campus and in the community. She holds open dialogue with students in the hallway, in her office, or wherever she sees them.

Rita Sellers is the Lead Instructor for the Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP) on the campus of Brunswick Community College. The BIP Program provides academic programming and other supports for adults with developmental disabilities in Brunswick County and has done so for 35 years. BIP is the only program of its type remaining in the state of North Carolina making it unique and a necessary option for the adult students that we serve within our community.

Rita has worked for the BIP Program in some capacity for decades and recently was promoted to a supervisory role supporting her peers and other staff members with daily instruction.  She also works as the Technology Instructor for the program, as well, as filling the role of mentor to new instructors. In addition, she has the responsibility of managing staff to ensure that all state-required documentation maintains in compliance with the regulatory systems involved.

Rita has been involved with numerous committees and projects throughout her years with the Brunswick Interagency Program and continues to be a strong advocate for adults with developmental disabilities at the community college level.  She demonstrates a strong work ethic while maintaining a willingness to find time to support her peers whether it be through her leadership with processes and protocols within our school or finding ways to make our school environment a more beautiful place to come with the artistic and creative touches she provides to our atmosphere.  These details make the difference between a good program and an exceptional one! She embodies the statement, “See the Able, Not the Label”.

Rita has dedicated 28 years of her life to helping make the BIP Program on the campus of Brunswick Community College a place for our students with exceptionalities to succeed. She has seen staff and students come and go but to this day continues to place an important role in the continued growth and development of the program.  which is why I respectfully submit this application for consideration in her honor.

Brunswick Community College is pleased to have such outstanding educators as part of our BCC faculty and is proud of the recognition by NISOD.