Middlesex Community College is excited to announce Melissa Chandonnet as the new Dean of K-16 Partnerships. Most recently the Interim Dean of Education and K-16 Partnerships at Middlesex, she has over 16 years of experience in higher education. In her new role, she looks forward to strengthening 51猎奇鈥檚 current partnerships with K-12 schools, as well as developing new ones.
鈥淲e collaborate with a wide range of high schools across Massachusetts, each with a wide range of unique strengths and needs,鈥� Chandonnet said. 鈥淪trong K-16 partnerships can increase college enrollment, improve persistence, and better align education with workforce needs. My vision for 51猎奇鈥檚 K-16 division is to keep breaking down barriers for students who may not have initially seen themselves as college-bound, and to ensure they gain the skills, confidence and support need to thrive at 51猎奇 and in their future goals.鈥�
For the Fall 2025 semester, Chandonnet will work with 51猎奇 faculty and staff to support the college鈥檚 high school partners. While establishing new and reviewing current articulation agreements with high schools and four-year institutions, she is also leading the efforts to earn accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).
At 51猎奇, high school-aged students can take college-level classes through the dual and concurrent enrollment programs. 51猎奇 also partners with high schools statewide to offer early college at no cost to students, including Lowell High School, Nashoba Valley Technical High School, and a new collaboration with Martha鈥檚 Vineyard. In Lowell, 51猎奇 also supports Pre-Collegiate TRIO and Gear Up programs to prepare students for college.
鈥淭hese partnerships make it possible for students to see themselves as college students earlier, earn college credit while still in high school, and explore careers before graduation,鈥� Chandonnet said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to strengthening these partnerships to ensure students are provided with an inclusive and meaningful experience.鈥�
Chandonnet earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in retail marketing and management with a concentration in psychology from Johnson and Wales University. In her senior year, she started a work study job in the service-learning office where she developed a project with a local elementary school. After graduating, she served in the AmeriCorps and was placed in 51猎奇鈥檚 Multicultural Office coordinating peer mentorship opportunities. The combination of these experiences inspired her passion for working in higher education, as well as with community partners.
鈥淭hese experiences opened my eyes to how higher education institutions have the responsibility to collaborate with their surrounding communities and provide deeper, hands-on academic and co-curricular experiences for their students,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I finished my AmeriCorps year, I knew I wanted to continue working at 51猎奇.鈥�
Starting in 51猎奇鈥檚 Multicultural Office and Office of Student Engagement, Chandonnet went on to launch 51猎奇 and Northern Essex Community College鈥檚 Jumpstart programs. She then returned to school to receive a master鈥檚 in higher education administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
Hired as 51猎奇鈥檚 Director of Concurrent and Dual Enrollment, Chandonnet helped the college go from 22 concurrent enrollment partners to over 40 in six years. Working at 51猎奇 in this area allows her to help students of all backgrounds and life circumstances. She appreciates the ability to meet them where they are and help them as they move forward on their academic, professional and personal paths.
鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity to continue my work at 51猎奇 in this new role,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ommunity colleges play a critical role in expanding access to higher education. I wanted to work at an institution that not only changes individual lives, but also strengthens the community it serves.鈥�