The day had finally arrived. It was Tuesday, Feb.25, 2025 at 3:45 p.m., just 20 minutes before the initial rounds of interviews. I sat on a hard black stone, resembling a chair or bench in front of the Science Center West Room 301 at the Rockville campus.
Margaret Horton, dressed in red lipstick, glasses and a warm smile, greeted me as I sat to do my homework while I waited for the doors to be opened for the reviewing of potential candidates to become Senior Vice President of Student Affairs at Montgomery College.
I approached Horton with a handshake and inquired about the candidates. To take up space, I genuinely engaged in small talk. “Do you know of Dr. Hercules Pinkney? He was the former President of Montgomery College?”
“I had heard of him…no. I am an Executive Associate support for Dr. Stephen Cain, chief of staff [in the Office of the President]” said Margaret.
“I interviewed Dr. Pinkney several years ago. He led the biotech hub center and built the Germantown science buildings on campus,” I said.
The conversation ended. Margaret opened the door. I paused. Back on the bench. I watched as others slowly trickled into the forum. I took my packed book bag and joined them. I attended all the candidates’ forums for our Senior Vice President (SVP) of Student Affairs. They were available in person and online via Zoom.
The first forum on February 25th had 42 participants. I did a head count out of curiosity. There, we were introduced to Dr. Justin Owens and Dr.Jason Rivera live at MC. Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson was introduced online. via Zoom. On Zoom, 151 participated. Dr. Owens, except for his impressive purple tie demonstrating MC school esprit de corps, aims to increase our first-year retention rate by enhancing our experience. At Delaware Community College, Dr. Owens increased students’ first-year retention rate by 10 percent over five years.
Academic advising challenges were a major interview question on the minds of most in attendance. “How do we better communicate with students?” Dr. Owens was asked. MC community, staff, students and leaders all wanted to know the candidates “advising model.” Some felt overwhelmed and needed direction from a Senior Vice President for Student Affairs who would provide solutions to the dichotomous first-year students success rate and dropout rate.
Dr. Owens recommended another program: “First-year experience courses.” Sounds familiar? Yes. MC already has a program like that. A particular strength of Dr. Owens is his plethora of examples of how to communicate better with students and reduce miscommunication, enhancing first- year students’ retention. He recommends text and robot calls.
Dr. Jason Rivera pitched himself as a prodigal son. He left Montgomery County 10 years ago for opportunities elsewhere. Now he is back home and wants to serve in this role as our new SVP of Student Affairs. He promised that if selected, “he will reposit [MC institutional promise]by honoring that promise that “all can succeed here at MC”.
At his prior role in student affairs, he was gifted with “one million dollars to build student success-reimagine academic advising process,” he said. Dr. Cain was most concerned with the “burnout of his staff” due to high demand workload. Dr. Rivera recommends “creating parameters and guardrails in guidance counseling. For example, he recommends 10 appointments per day for 30 minutes versus 15 per day for 45 minutes…”
In addition to making sure all first-year students succeed, “Dr. Rivera wants to just ask you,’ how are you doing?’ When was the last time you had a check in like that? I asked random students if they knew that MC was interviewing for a new SVP of Student Affairs and the responses were, “not really?”
Finally, Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson from Virginia next door is proud of her success as a student with a .69 GPA. She raised it, graduated college and attained a PhD with support services in college. Her experiences included heading 23 colleges independently. Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson felt she was the best fit for this role because“ college campus is a place to find refuge [when you are marginalized]and feel psychologically safe and can thrive.” She wants to lead MC“with her heart.” I have a heart for the work I do, lead… [I’m] servant leader, change agent,” she said.
Change is definitely coming to MC. Dr.Ray-Patterson will assume the role of Senior Vice President of Student Affairs at Montgomery College on June 2nd, according to an announcement from the office of MC President Dr. Jermaine F. Williams.
