ACHIEVEMENT
“WHEN A SINGLE STUDENT FINDS THEIR CALLING, DISCOVERS A TALENT, TURNS THEIR LIFE AROUND, HONES A SKILL, OR FINDS THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP, THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE. POTENTIAL BECOMES REALITY. WE ALL BENEFIT ...”
“It is true that basic leadership is about commanding authority and being able to lead, but that’s why it’s basic,” Garcia said. “Where true leaders go above and beyond is when they’re able to tap into everyone’s inner leader, helping them harness their inner potential to be their best selves.” “In every conversation I’ve had the privilege of being a part of with him, he strives to make that connection, to tap into that person’s or group’s potential, helping them see what they can’t see, like how he once was.” In his own remarks, President Tim- mons, talked a lot about how he once was and thanked all those people in his life who made it possible for him to be where he is today: academic leaders, coaches, and colleagues, his brothers from Kappa Alpha Psi ® , his fraternity at Norfolk State University, the histori- cally Black college in Virginia where he earned his bachelor’s degree; his par- ents, in-laws, and extended family; his brother, Tyrell; his wife, Frankie, and, last but not least, his grandmother, Ruby, now 91, who “raised me to be the man I am today.” “Ruby taught me the value of edu- cation, which, she always sad, will help you find your way, and, once earned, can never be taken away.” Before coming to HCC, Tim- mons served as the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, N.Y. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree in higher education from Old Dominion University, and a bachelor’s degree in
financial management from Norfolk State University. Sometimes, he said, he can’t believe he finally achieved this long-sought dream to become a college president. He asked: “How does a kid who grows up in an environment where no one went to college, in a neighborhood where drug deals were the norm, who witnessed family members battle substance abuse, who was never the strongest student or the best athlete, and who was diagnosed with a learning disability in his late thirties become a college president?” His answer: “Mindset. Hard work. And people who believe in you almost more than you believe in yourself–the same qualities that have led to the success of thousands of Holyoke Community College students over our 78-year history.” “I’ll be honest,” he said. “Some- times I pinch myself. The tremendous responsibility of this role is not lost on me.” From the moment he was intro- duced to HCC, he said, he knew it was the right place for him. “Among the things that inspire me
about Holyoke Community College is our commitment to living our values of innovation, collaboration, kind- ness, inclusion, and trust, he said. Do you know what these values have in common? Each word suggests the need for others, for unity and togetherness. None can be accomplished alone.” As an undergraduate himself, he said, he learned first-hand the impact a college president can have on the life of a student. When he ran out of financial aid during his final year at Norfolk State, President Harrison B. Wilson tapped into a discretionary fund so he could complete his bachelor’s degree. “I was able to finish what I started,” he said. “And that was just the beginning.” “In the end,” he said in conclusion, “when a single student finds their calling, discovers a talent, turns their life around, hones a skill, or finds the courage to speak up, the world is a better place. Potential becomes reality. We all benefit. That is the work we are doing at Holyoke Community College, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a life.” ♦
SPRING 2024 ♦ THE JOURNAL 43
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