What made SCC the right fit for you?
As an adult learner in my forties who recently moved to Scottsdale from the Midwest, I wanted a supportive learning environment close to home. I also wanted to be able to coordinate with my family’s schedule, which included my preschool and preteen daughters.
Tell us about your experience at SCC.
I received a quality education in a supportive environment with accessible faculty and advisors. I served on the Adult Re-Entry Advisory Board and as one of the coordinators of AWARE (The Association for Women's Active Return to Education). As a student, I created and directed the monthly Well-AWARE-ness Lecture Series attended by faculty, staff, students, and community members. Additionally, I coordinated a holiday gift program of toys and gift cards for the children of students in need. The first year, we entitled the program "A Merry Christ-Moose," and the second year, "The Wishing Star." I dressed up in a moose costume and took candy canes to the campus childcare center. One year, after filling all the requests, we had two carloads of toys left to donate to the Chrysalis Center.
Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.
My favorite memory occurred during the graduation ceremony when I received a standing ovation from some of the faculty and custodial staff. I also received the first award of "Outstanding Communication Student" from the Communication Department.
What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?
SCC provided me with the confidence and self-awareness to continue my education, the opportunity to be creative, and the resilience to meet new challenges personally and professionally.
Please describe your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?
I was on the Dean's List and later selected for the Dean's List of America.
Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.
I earned an Associate of Arts degree. Some of my classes included communication, psychology, and humanities.
Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start, and where are you now?
I graduated "summa cum laude" with a BA in Communication from ASU and an M.Ed from NAU. My career path included Director of Western Maricopa Tech Prep Consortium, which includes fifty-eight high schools and six Maricopa Community Colleges. We won a "Best of the West" award for the implementation of my idea of a career expo at the stadium in Glendale. The event was attended by over 10,000 students, teachers, parents, and business professionals. In my capacity as director, I met annually with members of the House and Senate in AZ and D.C. on matters of education. I also presented at local, regional, and national conferences.
Additionally, as an adjunct instructor for Maricopa Community Colleges, I taught communication courses. This included: SCC, EMCC, GateWay, GCC, and Rio. At Grand Canyon University, I taught public relations, upper-division public speaking, and the history of visual arts.
What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?
Start your college journey by including an elective that interests you. Avail yourself of the resources offered by the college by meeting with teachers, advisors, counselors, and tutors. Create and implement manageable goals for the semester and plan ahead to ensure the courses further your academic aspirations and your career goals.
