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Raritan Valley Community College Adjunct Faculty member Dr. Anita Petersen and Manville Public Schools have been honored by the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) for their efforts to prepare future educators.

Manville Public Schools has received the NACCTEP 2026 Partner Award, and Dr. Petersen, an Adjunct Associate Professor in the College’s Humanities, Social Sciences, Social Work & Education department, is a recipient of the NACCTEP 2026 Adjunct Faculty Award.

The honors were given at the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs’ annual pre-conference event, “Community College Teacher Education Research, Policy, and Practice,” held February 19 in New Orleans. The event is held ahead of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s annual meeting.

Dr. Petersen, who is being celebrated as an exemplary adjunct faculty member in RVCC’s Education programs, is being recognized for her dedication to her students and her commitment to faculty support of future teachers. An instructor at RVCC for 20 years, Dr. Petersen has taught Early Childhood and Education courses in various certificate and degree programs. She also has served as temporary leave replacements for the program’s fulltime faculty members.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Anita. She is creative and supportive of her students and is responsive and innovative with her colleagues at RVCC,” said Dr. Kathryn Suk, RVCC Professor of Education and Education Program Coordinator.

Manville Public Schools was recognized as an exemplary community partner with the College’s Education Programs and for the P-12 district’s longstanding commitment to hosting RVCC student observers.

“Students interested in becoming preschool through high school teachers have been welcomed into classrooms throughout the district for nearly 10 years. In addition, Manville Public Schools hosts an orientation for the students and provides district ID badges to allow the preservice candidates to feel fully welcomed as professionals,” Dr. Suk continued.  

The district’s leadership also shares its expertise with RVCC and its students. Dr. Jamil Maroun, Manville Public Schools’ Superintendent of Schools, and Ms. Kelli Eppley, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, serve on the College’s Education programs’ Advisory Board and frequent as guest speakers for various courses.  

For additional information about RVCC’s Education offerings, including the Alternate Route to Teaching program, contact Dr. Kathryn Suk at kathryn.suk@raritanval.edu or 908-526-1200, ext. 8983.

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2026

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #72