NEW LONDON, CT – Mitchell College recently welcomed George Potts as director of campus safety. In this role, he will oversee the campus safety team, which provides security on campus, responds to campus emergencies, and protects college property. He will also serve as a key member of the institutional Title IX Team and manage the Crisis Response Team.

Potts brings more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including six years at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Police Department, most recently as interim chief of police. Prior to that, he served for 25 years in numerous positions in the City of New London Police Department – including lieutenant/shift commander, street sergeant, detective sergeant, vice and narcotics, anti-violence team member, and K-9 handler – before retiring in 2015.

Over the course of his career, he has earned dozens of awards and certifications and completed many leadership courses, including the FBI National Academy, an invitation-only professional development course for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders in Quantico, Va. Potts is also a graduate of Roger Williams University Command Training School and served as commander of two Presidential visits to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London.

A lifelong resident of New London, he is a graduate of Three Rivers Community College and Saint Bernard High School and a current elected member of the Safe Futures board of directors. Before his current position at Mitchell College, Potts worked at the college as a presenter, teaching students and staff about illicit drug recognition and alcohol abuse.

Dr. Alicia Martinez, Mitchell College dean of student experience and belonging, said, “Mitchell College is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for our diverse campus community to live, learn and work. George Potts will expertly lead our campus safety team and guide other areas of the college with his deep experience and vast knowledge. His strong ties to New London, both as a resident and longtime city police officer, will ensure that Mitchell continues to be a good neighbor to all. We are thrilled that he is here.”

Potts said, “I couldn’t be happier to be back working in New London, on behalf of the students, faculty and staff at Mitchell College. Mitchell is one of the city’s great institutions, and I look forward to making sure it continues to be a safe and welcoming place for our campus community and visitors alike.”

NEW LONDON, Conn. – October 12, 2021 – The Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College (CLC), located in New London, Connecticut, has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments.

“Under the expert leadership of director Claudia Murphy, the CLC has earned the mark of quality from the NAEYC. We are proud that our little gem in the woods is recognized by the accrediting body for its commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Dr. Elizabeth Beaulieu, vice president for academic affairs.

The CLC, which offers both a preschool and kindergarten program, uses the Reggio Emilia Approach focused on nature-based learning. It also serves as a Laboratory School for Mitchell College students in the Teaching & Learning and Human Services cores. Students are actively engaged as researchers, interns, and student workers. This partnership ensures an innovative approach to best practices in the fields of human development and early childhood education.

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, the CLC went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program met each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years.

In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 6,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition. 

“NAEYC-Accredited programs have committed to a process that takes time, energy and dedication to complete” said Alissa Mwenelupembe, senior director of early learning program accreditation. “The Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College has demonstrated their commitment to young children and their families.”

To learn more about the CLC, visit mitchell.edu/childrens-learning-center