Join us on March 26th at 1:00 pm for our next Sunday Speaker Series featuring Dr. Mary Fernand, Dr. Missy Alexander, and PD Villarreal as moderator. Free for JCCS Members / $5 Donation for Non-Members

Dr. Mary Fernand

With over twenty years experience as a high school English teacher and eight in various leadership roles, including Department Chairperson, NEASC Leader, and Assistant Principal, Dr. Fernand joined The Sherman School administrative team in July 2022.

Dr. Fernand is a “Teacher of the Year” and “Hennessey Distinguished Teacher” recipient, and actively mentors teachers new to the field through her partnership with Western Connecticut State University’s Education program. Dr. Fernand has also provided numerous

professional development workshops on a variety of topics and has led curriculum development in grades 6-12.

Dr. Missy Alexander

Dr. Missy Alexander is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Western Connecticut State University. In that role she oversees all academic programs from early college to doctoral degrees. She has worked closely with faculty to increase graduate programs that address regional needs and most recently helped to launch the Doctor of Nursing Practice, MS in Homeland Security, MS in Human Nutrition, and MS in Addiction Studies. At the same time, Dr. Alexander has worked to enhance the learning experiences in WCSU’s undergraduate degree programs through focused attention on academic success, growing faculty-led study abroad courses, supporting undergraduate and graduate research experiences, and piloting a career education curriculum. Being intentional about having all students access these high impact learning opportunities is one of the important ways that higher education can meet the needs of the emerging student population. As she ponders the ways in which higher education will and must transform, she takes a holistic approach that reaches back to the K-12 community and forward to the returning adult learner.

Dr. Alexander has a BA in Anthropology and MA in Communications from Hunter College. She earned her PhD in Media Ecology from New York University. As a former resident of Sherman, she served on the

Library Board and on the Board of Education and continues to participate in many activities at the JCC.

She writes a weekly blog called The Provost’s Office.