Baker Reappoints Cox, Names Acosta as Northern Essex Trustees

Haverhill attorney William D. Cox Jr. was reappointed last week by Gov. Charlie Baker to a second, five-year term, as trustee of Northern Essex Community College. Baker also named Rosalin Acosta of Amesbury to her first term as a trustee.

Cox, who was first appointed in 2011 by then-Gov.Deval Patrick, has served as Haverhill’s city solicitor since 2004 and previously served as assistant city solicitor since 1993.

“Lt. Gov. Polito and I congratulate the trustees on their new roles and are deeply grateful for their service to the Commonwealth,” said Baker. “Board oversight is a crucial component of our public institutions, and we are confident their expertise and leadership experience in diverse fields will benefit our colleges and universities.”

Gov. Charlie Baker appointed Rosalin Acosta of Amesbury to her first term as a trustee of Northern Essex Community College.

As senior vice president and managing director for Enterprise Investment Advisors, Acosta oversees operations for the wealth management and brokerage divisions of the bank. Over the past 30 years, she has worked in wealth management, government banking, cash management and commercial lending for banks throughout the Greater Boston region including TD Bank, Fleet/Sovereign Bank and Eastern Bank. Acosta is currently a board member of The Boston Foundation, co-founder and committee member of the Latino Legacy Fund (at The Boston Foundation), co-founder of the Latino Executive Council for Boston Children’s Hospital, member of the Board of Overseers of Boston Children’s Hospital and a board member of the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board.

Acosta has received many awards and honors including Boston’s Most Influential Women from the Women of the Harvard Club (2014), YWCA’s Boston Academy of Women Achievers (2013), American Red Cross of Northeast’s Community Hero (2013), Association of Latino Professionals Lifetime Achievement Award (2012) and the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Abigail Adams Award (2012).  El Planeta Newspaper also named her one of the top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Massachusetts in 2011 and, in April of 2015, she was featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine. Acosta was born in Cuba and earned her bachelor’s from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

“I am honored to be named to the Northern Essex Board of Trustees, said Acosta. “I look forward to working with President (Lane) Glenn and the entire board to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our student body and in the communities we serve.”

Glenn said he is pleased with Acosta’s appointment. “Her financial background will be very helpful since our trustees oversee the college budget,” he said.  “Also, Rosalin is a role model for women and for Latinos, and she frequently speaks publicly about diversity and motivating young people, both topics of great interest to our student population.”

Cox, who also operates a private law practice, previously, served as Essex County assistant district attorney, city of Haverhill personnel director/affirmative action officer and director of employment and training programs at Haverhill’s Community Action. He is a former board president of Career Resources Corporation, director of Public Media of New England (WHAV’s parent) and member of the Haverhill, American and Massachusetts Bar Associations. Cox received his Juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law, Boston, and bachelor’s degree from Bradford College.

“I look forward to collaborating with all trustees to collectively take our public higher education system to the next level, and ensure we are preparing our students for the jobs of the future,” said state Education Secretary Jim Peyser. “I am thankful to all of the outgoing trustees for their service to the Commonwealth.”

The college’s board of trustees includes nine members who are appointed by the governor to a maximum of two five-year terms; an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of 10 years; and a student trustee who serves for two semesters.