Local Resident to Lead QCC at Southbridge

Quinsigamond Community College at Southbridge has named local resident Geraldo Maldonado as its new Site Leader. Mr. Maldonado is a longtime QCC adjunct faculty member, alumnus, and is one of 50 QCC Guardians. Guardians are alumni of the college who have made significant strides in their personal life and in their community.

"Geraldo's background, coupled with the fact that he is a resident of Southbridge, will bring a unique perspective to QCC at Southbridge. His acute knowledge of the region and the college will be extremely beneficial to the students, faculty and staff," said President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D. 

“I’m excited to welcome students to our Southbridge location this fall. It’s truly incredible to have QCC in Southbridge. It’s a needed element for the community,” Mr. Maldonado said. “While people sometimes still think of QCC as the campus in Worcester, we have full services right in Southbridge at QCC’s new location in the Southbridge High School.”

For the past 15 years, QCC has had a presence in the Southbridge community. In the summer of 2020, QCC’s Southbridge location moved from 5 Optical Drive as a way to offer greater access to higher education not only to Southbridge, but also to all communities in the South County area. Additionally, Southbridge High School students now have easy access to QCC’s Early College Program and their family members can also take advantage of the college’s academic and workforce development offerings.

Mr. Maldonado and his family have a long and storied history with QCC and Southbridge. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he and his family moved to Lowell when he was six before moving to Worcester three years later. In the 70’s, his mother began attending QCC, where she took English classes and earned her GED. This began a family legacy with the college, and when Mr. Maldonado was in his late 20’s and a parent, he too began taking classes at QCC.

“It was a little scary coming back to school as an adult with children. I was working a full-time job, a part-time job, and taking two to three classes per semester,” he said. “I needed the flexibility QCC offered.”

In 1995, he graduated with an Associate Degree in Business Administration Transfer, going on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Worcester State University and a Master of Business Administration from Anna Maria College.

His daughters also are QCC alumnae. His older daughter Kristina decided to do the paramedic program at QCC, while his younger daughter Aimee took a longer journey to QCC. She began at UMass Lowell as an Engineering major; however, it was not a good fit and she struggled.

“She took a couple of business classes at Lowell and seemed to do OK,” Mr. Maldonado said. “She came home, still not sure what she was going to do and I suggested she take classes at QCC in Southbridge due to its very convenient location.” 

His daughter Aimee took classes for a year at QCC’s Southbridge location where she excelled. She graduated with her Associate Degree in Business and went on to Nichols College where she received scholarships based on her high grades. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and her Master's in Accounting, before attending Penn State Dickenson Law. In 2020, she graduated with her law degree, passed the Bar Exam on her first attempt by scoring in the 99th percentile, and today works in the District Attorney’s Office in Hampden County.

“Definitely a very good Quinsigamond success story,” he said.

Having the Southbridge location at Southbridge High School opens many doors for students and the community, according to Mr. Maldonado.

“This benefits high school students who can see firsthand how accessible college can be and they can take advantage of the Early College Program. Instead of taking college equivalent classes students can actually take college classes for college credit,” he said. ”I hope that people will see QCC at Southbridge as the college of choice for the Southwest corner of Worcester County.”

To learn more visit www.QCC.edu/Southbridge.