September is always a busy month. From the start of the semester with All College Day and its timely theme, “Moving Forward During Challenging Times in Higher Education,” to our spirited Wyvern Wednesdays, the college community is in full swing. Add to that the Alumni WooSox game on September 5, coupled with the Cabinet retreat, and the first few days of the month were truly jam-packed!
I’ve always loved September—it’s the perfect time to connect with our community and share the incredible story of our college. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to speak about QCC on Talk of the Commonwealth, La Mega, and Unity Radio, as well as be interviewed with Excelencia in Education, and appear on Spectrum News to highlight our remarkable enrollment growth. This is also a time when I’m engaging with leaders at the local, state, and national levels to discuss the college’s goals and challenges for the year ahead.
This month, I had the pleasure of attending a plethora of events and meetings that included:
- the Worcester Economic Club’s event with Governor Maura Healey,
- the LEI Community Advisory Board meeting,
- a kick-off meeting for the Lumina Foundation Grant project,
- the WRCC Board of Directors Meeting,
- the NECHE Commission Meeting,
- the Early College Leadership Meeting with Commissioners Martinez and Ortega,
- the MACC Presidents' Council Meeting,
- and a meeting on Early Education and Child Care on Campuses with Secretary Tutwiler (EOE) and Commissioner Kershaw (EEC).
I wrapped up the month with a trip to Washington, D.C., joining John Holloway and Teresa Gonzalez for the Excelencia in Education Fall Convening.
One of the highlights of the month was the launch event for the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship at QCC, held at Auxilium Worcester’s newly renovated office space in downtown Worcester. This innovative collaboration is designed to provide students with mentorship, resources and tools needed for launching successful startups.
Finally, starting the semester with visits to students at the SOAR Fair on the Quad and sharing pizza with them in the Fuller Student Center reinvigorated my pride in our college and the incredible individuals who make it so special.
Purpose Driven Communication
As the president of a large urban community college, my primary focus is on the mission and vision of our college. However, we are bombarded daily with national and international crises that may or may not have a direct impact on our college community. So many critical events that I could easily spend most of my time responding to them.
To be most effective in my role, I need to concentrate my efforts on where I can have the greatest impact, and where the college can truly serve as a catalyst for transformation in our community.
While I deeply empathize with the gravity of national and international crises, commenting on each one would shift my focus away from our students and my commitment to supporting their academic success. This does not mean I will never comment on national or global issues. It means that I am inclined to speak on events that closely align with QCC’s mission and resonate with our students, employees, and the communities we serve.
A community college president’s role isn’t to take political sides, but to foster critical thinking and learning, and at times, to help the campus community come together in moments of shared reflection and support.
Communication is the foundation of critical thinking and learning. Whenever I consider making a public comment, I ask myself whether it will help illuminate a difficult issue, or if it’s simply a way to ease my own discomfort. Sometimes not making a statement is the most powerful thing I can do.
While there are times when I have commented independently about something that has resonated deeply with me, I rarely comment in a vacuum. I rely on those who are deeply informed about the issue at hand and can guide me toward a response that is thoughtful, compassionate, and aligned with our values.
I welcome the community to offer feedback when I do make comments. Learning does not stop at the presidential level. We must all continue to learn and grow, as only then can we truly serve our students, support one another, and strengthen the communities we help shape. At a time marked by divisive discourse, respectful open dialogue where all voices can be heard and valued is critical.
Here’s to a semester filled with inspiration, collaboration, and continued growth!