(FLINT, Mich., May 23, 2024) — The following message was released this morning to employees and students at Mott Community College by retiring President Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea:
Good Morning:
As I prepare to leave my service as the President of Mott Community College, I wanted to share my eternal gratefulness for an unforgettable tenure. My retirement after 10 years of leadership has been a tough decision and I leave with mixed emotions. I have tremendously enjoyed serving this community, our community, as the President of Mott Community College.
Together we worked to increase declining enrollments by implementing new ways to attract and retain students. When faced with declining revenue, we sought additional methods to ensure financial stability that bolstered our A+ Bond Rating. When crises occurred, we led and served as an anchor for resiliency. Through all challenges that faced us, we led “Mott Strong” and that has been recognized beyond Flint and Genesee County and featured on state and national stages. Together, our culture has transformed due to the intentional efforts that allowed us to create a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for all.
During my presidency, we developed an intentional focus for internal and external stakeholders to feel a part of the visioning process and be thought leaders and drivers for the Mott Community College of tomorrow. All stakeholders including students were given the opportunity to participate as we decided the culture we desired, how we would work together, and developed a strategic plan to move forward successfully. Through research and inquiry and theme review focus groups, the College body came together to create and approve MCC’s Commitments to Student Success, MCC’s Commitments to Employee Success, Civility Values and our north star, the MCC Strategic Plan. These foundational beliefs undergirded the daily work, human relations, compliance measures, and infrastructure decisions while supporting our dedication to the collective mission.
We have led with a passion for ensuring that all students have access to quality, affordable, and effective learning experiences. MCC student success involved support in and out of the classroom while designing support services that created individualized outcomes and leveraging public and private funds with state appropriations. During my 10 year tenure, major constructions projects for student success included:
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Prahl Innovation Center: an upcoming complete renovation and repurposing of the 70,000 square foot facility to include both physical and technological improvements. The result will be a space that is devoted not only to innovations in the delivery of student services but also to teaching and student success services.
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The Prahl Center will feature technological innovations including the use of holograms, the development of an artificial intelligence and virtual reality laboratory space, state-of-the-art Future Careers Hub, and a community computer repair area.
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Mott Community College Culinary Arts Institute: a renovated historic building within the heart of downtown Flint, enabling expansion of the Culinary Arts degree program and contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area.
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Lenore Croudy Family Life Center: a recently purchased and renovated historic church building adjacent to the main campus. The Center expands childcare needs for student parents and offers wrap-around services for at-risk students, including a food pantry, professional clothing closet, and hands-on resource assistance working with professional social workers.
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Renovations to the Southern Lakes Branch Center: a major construction update to interior and exterior building systems, upgrades to the Law Enforcement Regional Training Academy, Physical Therapy Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, and improved safety systems.
New and innovative programs designed to reduce barriers, meet students where they are, and provide support on academic and non-academic levels include:
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MCC Mobile Learning Lab, a 48-foot expandable semi-trailer that provides modular, mobile classrooms as an alternative to traditional onsite classrooms for workforce needs.
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Academic Coaches, individuals providing wraparound support for academic, career, and personal needs for a diverse student population.
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Social Workers, credentialed practitioners providing intentional services to reduce students’ personal and familial barriers.
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Study Abroad Program, academic and workforce experiences that introduces students to their fields of study in other countries. Study Abroad experiences have traveled to Costa Rica, Italy, England and France for a nominal fee.
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Second Chance Pell, offering academic degree programs for incarcerated Thumb Correctional Facility students who utilize federal funding for paying college costs.
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National Society for Leadership and Success, established a chapter of the organization which promotes student growth, leadership development, career success and service.
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The Workforce Promise, a program that improves students work readiness based on business and industry partners technical and soft skills assessments required for various career and technical positions. Employers get first pick at hiring students who successfully complete the program and if a deficiency is found, the student will be remediated in that area for free.
When I accepted the American Association of Community Colleges CEO of the Year Award last year, I shared that the award belongs to the Mott Community College employees who worked diligently to provide student success through an employee culture of openness, transparency, and above all, kindness and caring. We have worked to build a culture where courageous conversations can take place and opportunities are offered for employee success as well.
I am grateful you accepted me as your president and that we served together to ensure that Flint and Genesee County had the best educational experience to produce exemplary prepared talent. I look forward to watching MCC’s next strategic endeavors.
Now I will turn to my next journey as the Director of MiLeap (Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential) for the State of Michigan. I am honored and humbled that Governor Whitmer has invited me to serve in her Cabinet to lead this important new department in her administration. This is an opportunity of a lifetime as I will be able to utilize my pre-k through higher education knowledge and experiences to create more pathways that prepare Michiganders with post secondary credentials leading to good paying jobs.
Looking Forward Always!
Beverly Walker-Griffea, Ph.D.
President
Mott Community College
