Distinguished Alumni

Rose Marie Battisti-Bruce

Class of 1985 Humanitarian

Rose Marie Battisti-Bruce has forged a career that embodies the community college spirit of excellence in service. Since earning a degree in Human Services from HCCC, she has played an integral role in providing American assistance to Vietnamese orphans and refugees. Her efforts have resulted in the placement of over 150 children with adoptive families, and the relocation of hundreds of refugee families to America. Battisti-Bruce founded Asian Children Services, which represents four U.S. adoption agencies, supporting orphanages in five provinces of Vietnam. She is also responsible for placing handicapped Vietnamese children with American families, as well as assisting with hospital fees to enable poor children on the Vietnam-China border to receive necessary surgery.

Battisti-Bruce is the 1996 New York State Community College Alumna of the Year and 1999 American Association of Community Colleges Alumna of the Year.