My journey to Middlesex Community College started many years ago. I grew up as the son of working-class parents who were part of the great migration from the legal segregated south. After my father retired as a career soldier in the United States Army, they chose Boston as their home to raise their four children. As a first-generation college student, the Massachusetts community college system provided a pathway to earn my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. My career journey has included human services, student services, banking and human resources.
No one is truly successful alone. I have been fortunate to have worked with past and present MCC employees who have provided great guidance along my professional career journey.
Starting at MCC in 2005 was like returning home. While working in Admissions and Academic Advising during my first 11 years, my goal was to have a positive impact on students and to assist them on their pathways to success. No one is truly successful alone. I have been fortunate to have worked with past and present MCC employees who have provided great guidance along my professional career journey. As a Star Wars fan, I like to say these individuals made up my “Jedi” Council and I always welcomed their feedback, critique, observations and advice.
My current role as Assistant Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action Officer brought new opportunities and challenges. Working with various populations on campus – administrators, faculty, staff and students – allows me to provide education, training and consultation, while helping to enforce the college’s policies, procedures and agreements.
One of MCC’s key events around our commitment to diversity and inclusion has been the annual community event celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, I was fortunate enough to represent MCC at the event as one of the masters of ceremonies. Now in its 20th year, the mission of this Moving the Dream Forward event is to bring together a diverse group of community members from the Greater Lowell area that educates and inspires participates in ways consistent with Dr. King’s ideology and vision.
It was truly an honor to be able to recognize the outstanding work of community-based individuals and organizations. The event strives to inspire the next generation of leaders to continue Dr. King’s legacy.
As we celebrated the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I was reminded of his famous quote, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character. That is the goal of true education.” I can’t help but think back to 14 years ago when I started at MCC. I know that despite how much my role has shifted, my dedication to helping students succeed has remained unchanged.
Pathways 