Welcome and Re(Introductions)!

Hello and Welcome to the Minority Serving Community Colleges and Affiliates (MSCCA) LINCS CoP!

In an effort to foster intergroup connections and get a sense of who our wonderful MSCCA CoP colleagues are, I'm hoping that you all would take a few minutes to introduce or in some cases reintroduce yourself to the group. 

I will kick it off...

I am Edmund Graham, a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the moderator for the MSCCA LINCS CoP. I work for the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) where I work with a project called Pathways to Results focused on improving student pathways with a focus on equitable outcomes and another project related to STEM Pathways in Illinois Minority Serving Community Colleges. I am particularly interested in improving student pathways for traditionally marginalized student populations in community colleges (including MSCCs) -- Among many other interests related to equity, community colleges/MSCCs, career pathways, college readiness, etc. It is my hope that this group will foster meaningful connections around topics that we have an interest in -- and in some cases are very passionate about!

 

Now that I've kicked it off, I would love to know more about you! Tell us all a little more about you including, but not limited to...

Where you're from (institution/organization)

What sparked your interest in the MSCCA CoP

What you hope to gain from being a part of the MSCCA

Anything else you would like for us to know about you.

 

Edmund Graham 

MSCCA Moderator

Comments

First, thank you for the invitation Edmund.

My name is Tiffany Tuma and I am the Coordinator of Student Integrity (Conduct) at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville and I have been in this position since Jan. Prior to Conduct, I was in Financial Aid at Georgia State University for 3 1/2 years. 

I am currently researching and gathering materials to apply to Doctoral programs for Fall of 2017, one of which is the Community College Leadership Program at Morgan State University. 

I am interested in eventually working at a CC, because students there are a special population that might have overcame financial obligations and social challenges to get to college and are sometimes left out, and need a little more nurturing. 

I would like to network, form relationships, and hopefully in the near future find new employment. 

Thanks for joining the community, Tiffany!  I know that you will add value to this CoP based on your experience. The CCL program at Morgan state is a very good, one and you'll do well. I hope that as this community grows, so will your networks and relationships! Thanks again for joining and I look forward to engaging with you and others!

Hi, I am Erica, a Biology Professor from Prairie State College (a majority-minority institution in the south chicago suburbs).  I was also the project director for a federal PBI grant that had the goal of increasing the numbers of students graduating in biology and transferring to 4-year institutions, as well as giving them an opportunity to participate in undergraduate research, etc. Unfortunately this grant just ended last year BUT I would like to continue at least some of our activities.  I hope to gain ideas of new things we can try with our students to make them as successful as possible as well as share information on things that worked or didn't work for us. 

Thanks for joining the MSCCA group! I am very familiar with Prairie State as my office has worked with folks from there and I don't live to far away. I would certainly love to hear about things that you all are doing on your campus, how they're working, and what you all are learning. I also hope that you find the resources and discussions to be of value to you. If you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate. In the meantime feel free to start a discussion or comment on any of the things you see posted. I look forward to connecting and engaging with you further. Welcome!

Our MSCCA group has grown quite a bit since November, If you haven't done so already please provide us with a quick elevator pitch about yourself. I've provided  a few prompts, but feel free to share more!

 

Where you're from (institution/organization)

What sparked your interest in the MSCCA CoP

What you hope to gain from being a part of the MSCCA

Anything else you would like for us to know about you.

Hello, everyone.  My name is LaQueta Wright.  I am the Dean for the School of Social Sciences at Richland College of the Dallas County Community College District in Dallas, Texas.  I joined this group to collaborate with like institutions on how to improve minority student success through data driven program and college initiatives.  Richland College will host a Minority Serving Institution Convening, October 20-21, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.  We hope this community of educators will collaborate with us and submit a proposal for our upcoming convening. 

https://richlandcollege.edu/msi-convening/

LaQueta, I'd like to welcome you to our growing Minority Serving Community Colleges and Affiliates group. 

I had the opportunity to attend and present at the MSI convening last fall and it was a really great time! I'll look forward to your continued engagement!

I work at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. I serve as a coordinator for the adult education department within the college. My department is deceptively titled "Workforce Services." Although with the push to career oriented instruction in WIOA, this names seems to fit better now than in past years.

I have served in this role for almost 10 years. Prior to my current position, I worked in K-12 at Dallas Independent School District as a translator/interpreter, elementary teacher, and central staff administrator.

We have one campuses was recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution, but I do not see that this is the case currently.

Welcome, Cesar! I look forward to your engagement with this MSCCA group!

Just a quick follow up on a point, what do you mean by the department is deceptive in its name? and how has WIOA started to shift it specifically?