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President Pedraja Named to WBJ Power 50 List
May 2019
From left: Governor Charlie Baker, QCC Preisdent Dr. Luis Pedraja and Massachusetts Secretary of Education James Peyser.
QCC President Dr. Luis G. Pedraja began his presidency at Quinsigamond Community College with one distinct goal, to make education accessible for all. To that end he has become embedded in the Worcester community and the region at large, making himself and the college an influential presence within the Commonwealth. Due to the important role that both he and the college play in the local economy and community, Dr. Pedraja has been named one of the 50 most influential people in the Central Massachusetts economy by the Worcester Business Journal (WBJ). This annual distinction is given to members of the community who hold a significant amount of power and wield it in a way to have an outsized role in the community, according to WBJ Editor Brad Kane.
“Making a positive impact for our students, our community and our state is something that we should all strive to do,” Dr. Pedraja said. “Today’s workforce is a global marketplace and we must remain competitive and relevant in order to succeed.”
Dr. Pedraja has been a shining example for the diverse population that make up QCC’s 13,000 student body. As a first generation college student who emigrated from Cuba as a young boy, he shows the student body by example that a better future is attainable through higher education. Recently he was chosen to be a part of the state’s Economic Development Planning Council. The Council is charged with making recommendations to Governor Charlie Baker on ways to improve the economy. Dr. Pedraja serves on boards for United Way of Central Mass., Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University and MassHire Central Region Workforce Board.
He has held many “Pizza with the President” listening sessions with QCC students, and through these meetings has gleaned insightful information that has aided in the development of new programs this fall in criminal justice, media communications and accounting.
Other members of the QCC family have also been named to the WBJ 2019 Power list include QCC Chair of the Board of Trustees Susan Mailman, former trustee and 2019 QCC Commencement keynote speaker Attorney AiVi Nguyen and QCC alumna Amy Lynn Chase, owner of Crompton Collective in Worcester.
“I congratulate my fellow QCC honorees. It is an honor to be part of this prestigious group of community leaders,” Dr. Pedraja added.
