No question it’s a big election year.

So Janel D’Agata-Lynch wants to ensure that students on the campuses of Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill and Lawrence are participating.

“We want them to be informed and engaged,’’ said D’Agata–Lynch. “We want to make sure they are registered to vote and know when to vote.’’

That is just part of D’Agata-Lynch’s new job as coordinator of civic engagement and service learning at the college.

D’Agata-Lynch, 38, of Haverhill, is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where she was involved in community service, and has a master’s degree in social work from Boston College.

A native of southern New Hampshire, she worked in Massachusetts for a time before moving to Kansas City, Mo., with her husband, Joe Lynch. She worked for Catholic Charities, overseeing 15 programs ranging from teen services, to homelessness prevention, to health services, and more.

“I loved the work, but missed home and we came back,’’ D’Agata-Lynch said.

She worked part time while her children, now 5½ and 3½, were babies. When she decided to return to work full time, she saw the Northern Essex position advertised.

“I had never worked in higher education before, but I have always been a big advocate for community colleges,’’ D’Agata-Lynch said. “It’s a great way for people to access education and the things they need to find jobs or move up the ladder, without a financial burden.’’

She said one skill she brings is “bringing people together.’’

Her job is to connect faculty who have incorporated a civic or service learning component into their courses with community partners, everything from local schools, to food pantries, to environmental and animal welfare groups.

For the students, the service is more than volunteering; it’s part of the course work and discussed in the classroom.

For example, D’Agata-Lynch said, English as a second language students interviewed residents at an assisted living facility about their lives and helped them tell their stories.

“This was mutually beneficial,’’ she said. “The students worked on improving their English speaking, interviewing, and note-taking skills. The residents benefited from sharing their personal histories.’’

WENDY KILLEEN

Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.