Bristol Community College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially opening the newly reimagined Joseph A. Marshall Veterans Center at the BCC Fall River campus. The larger, strategically designed space will allow the center to expand its role as the central location for all student-service and grant-related veterans activities, while providing a sense of community among the college’s student veterans.

The new location consists of a variety of spaces designed specifically for assisting student veterans including student study space, private counseling and group activities. The college’s student veterans will have access to the center’s set of laptops to complete documentation, VA certification and for completing academic assignments. Student veterans can also utilize an open social space to relax and study.

The center has been named in honor of former chair of the board of trustees Joseph A. Marshall.

Marshall joined the Air Force in 1965 and spent a year and a half in Italy, before serving in Vietnam for 10 months and stateside for the rest of his tour. Upon his return to civilian life, Marshall graduated from Bristol Community College in 1978, prior to transferring to Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth), where he received his bachelor’s degree.

Marshall has strong roots in the community serving as founder and president of J. Marshall Associates for the past 30 years. He is a life-long resident of Fall River with his wife, Joanne. They have four daughters and five grandchildren.

He has served in leadership roles on several city boards and community groups, including the Fall River Office of Economic Development, the Board of Assessors, SER-Jobs for Progress, the Prince Henry Society of Fall River and currently serves as the chair of the Vietnam Veterans Committee. He has served in many various roles over the years at the college. Most recently as chair of the board of trustees after serving on the board since 2007 and he is the former president of the Bristol Community College Foundation. He is the recipient of Bristol Community College’s 2007 Cornerstone Entrepreneur award and a winner of the 2016 Paragon Award, an alumni award that recognizes those who demonstrate excellence in their life work, service to the college and substantial community involvement.

A ribbon cutting and reception took place immediately following the speaking portion, in the new Joseph A. Marshall Veterans Center, room E103, in the Thomas A. Rodgers, Jr. Science Building (E building) on Bristol Community College’s Fall River campus.