'My Second Home'
"HCC has become my second home. Really. Truly. I could have retired many years ago, and I choose to stay. I don't want to leave." – Patricia Sullivan '76
Longtime Holyoke Community College English Professor Patricia Sullivan, a Holyoke resident and HCC alum, is the recipient of the 2026 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence Award, the college’s highest faculty honor.
As this year’s awardee, she will lead the procession of graduates and give the keynote address at the college’s 79th Commencement ceremony on May 30 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
The award was one of six presented during HCC’s annual, end-of-the-year staff and faculty awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 20.
Sullivan graduated from Holyoke High School in 1974 and HCC in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree from American International College and a master’s degree in English from Westfield State.
She began her professional career at HCC in 1981 as a member of the Business Department, teaching shorthand and business writing. In the early ‘90s, she joined the English faculty, where she has taught ever since.
“HCC has become my second home. Really. Truly,” she said. “I could have retired many years ago, and I choose to stay. I don't want to leave. When I think about leaving, I just know that I can't – yet.”
She is married to former Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan, with whom she has three children and six grandchildren.
The Marieb Award, endowed by the late HCC professor emeritus Elaine Marieb '80, recognizes a full-time faculty member for outstanding classroom teaching. Award recipients serve for one year, receive a small stipend for professional development, lead the procession at Commencement, and give the keynote graduation speech.
The college also presented the Christina Royal Equity in Action Award to Julissa Colón, dean of student experience; the Idelia Smith Adjunct Faculty Award to accounting instructor Lois Koltz; the Outstanding Professional Staff Award to Mari Cintron, staff assistant in the Division of Institutional Advancement; the Outstanding Classified Staff Award to Yarida Cruz, administrative assistant in the Center for Academic Program Support; and the Outstanding Part-Time Staff Award to Monica Archibald, clerical assistant in the Center for Academic Program Support.
