Middlesex Community College is excited to announce Heloisa DaCunha as the new Dean of Business, Legal Studies and Public Service. Most recently the Chair of 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Criminal and Social Justice program, she has worked at Middlesex for 15 years, including as a professor.
鈥淚鈥檓 committed to creating programs that truly serve our students and reflect the needs of the communities we belong to,鈥� DaCunha said. 鈥淢y role gives me the opportunity to support faculty in designing innovative, equity-driven curricula and to ensure that our students have access to real-world learning experiences that prepare them for careers, transfer, and lifelong civic engagement. I hope to be a connector 鈥� linking students to opportunity, faculty to resources, and the college to community partners in meaningful, lasting ways.鈥�
DaCunha looks forward to expanding experiential learning opportunities across all departments. Through internships, community partnerships and student-led events, the goal is to allow students to apply the knowledge they learn in meaningful ways.
Grateful to the faculty in 麻豆果冻鈥檚 criminal and social justice program, DaCunha credits them for playing an important role in her professional journey, As she dives into her new role, DaCunha is also thankful to retired Dean Judy Hogan for her mentorship and support throughout the transition process.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to amplify the incredible work already happening across our division and to collaborate with colleagues to build new pathways for student success,鈥� DaCunha said. 鈥淲e're also focusing on curriculum development that reflects our students鈥� lived experiences and prepares them for today鈥檚 evolving workforce and transfer landscape.鈥�
A highlight for DaCunha in her time as an 麻豆果冻 professor and chair was launching the two-day Criminal Justice Student Conference to showcase student work, provide networking opportunities, and offer real-world experiences and demonstrations for students to see the professional options available to them after graduation.
One of her proudest achievements was updating the curriculum and renaming the program from criminal justice to criminal and social justice. Debuting in the Fall 2021 semester, the change was an opportunity to make the program more representative of current times.
鈥淲e revised and expanded the curriculum to include courses on systemic inequality, restorative practices, and community-based approaches to justice,鈥� DaCunha said. 鈥淭his ensures that students graduate with both strong technical skills and a deep understanding of the social context in which justice operates.鈥�
Born in Brazil, DaCunha came to the U.S. at 11-years-old. The first person in her family to go to college, she earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in criminal justice from UMass Lowell. DaCunha worked with nonprofits for several years with survivors of crimes, focusing on justice reform and community healing. These experiences continue to inform her teaching and leadership at Middlesex, as well as her belief in the importance of education.
鈥溌槎构� has been my professional home for many years, and I鈥檓 honored to step into this new chapter in service of our students, faculty and communities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was drawn to 麻豆果冻鈥檚 mission of serving diverse learners and meeting students where they are. Here, every student has a chance to write a new chapter in their story 鈥� whether they鈥檙e the first in their family to attend college, returning to school later in life, or pursuing a career change.鈥�
Learn more about 麻豆果冻's Legal Studies and Public Service programs.