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Nelson J. Garifi, a long-time member of Jamestown Community College’s administrative staff, became the executive director of academic innovation in 2014. This new position has allowed JCC to expand on its tradition of innovation, building on emerging opportunities for new programs and services while preserving its commitment to academic excellence.
He discussed the programs recently during a presentation to the Jamestown Noon Rotary Club.
Garifi will continue to oversee the college’s honors program, international outreach efforts, and experiential learning offerings. In addition, he has taken on administrative leadership of the College Connections program, JCC’s concurrent enrollment program offering college-level courses in regional high schools, as well as technology-enhanced instruction for the college’s online offerings, courses delivered among multiple locations using interactive television, and innovative instruction within the classroom using diverse technologies. This new position will allow Garifi to have an impact with students both on and off campus, although he will also focus on a comprehensive globalization blueprint.
Garifi explained his goal of strengthening the global partnership of JCC through comprehensive globalization. JCC has students traveling throughout the world to complete internships with the addition just this year of Tokyo. He also spoke of the Intercultural Study Program and highlighted a talk given by a representative from Botswana who shared information on food development in their country.
In 2014, JCC had 38 international students enrolled, with the majority of students from Australia and Canada. The first cohort of students from the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program arrived at the Jamestown Campus to begin English language studies. This program provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students from Brazil for study at colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are awarded to students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. After completion of an academic year, students return to Brazil to complete their degrees. Garifi talked about the great partnership that has come out of this program. He stated that for every seven international students that come to our area, three local jobs are created. Garifi explained that in-state students pay $4,000 per year and out-of-state students pay $8,000, which applies to international students as well.
Garifi encouraged everyone to share our global connections with him and JCC. This will help spread the word about the great programs offered at JCC and the opportunities for both international and local students to learn from each other.
Garifi has held a number of collegewide roles at JCC since 1981, providing leadership for community relations, alumni affairs, recruitment, marketing and academic initiatives. A graduate of JCC and St. Bonaventure University, he was previously a high school and middle school English teacher, freelance writer, and technical writer.
He is a recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and JCC’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and has been recognized by the League for Innovation in the Community College.