Michael Morales Awarded CT State Asnuntuck’s McLaughlin Fellow in Leadership

CT State Asnuntuck has announced this year’s McLaughlin Fellow in Leadership is Michael Morales. Morales, from Hartford, is President of CT State Asnuntuck’s Student Government Association and is a student enrolled in the campus’s advanced manufacturing technology program.

A member of both the National Technical Honor Society and the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Michael has demonstrated innovative thinking, the ability to work for change, the ability to work with people no matter what their background, culture, or beliefs, and especially with economically disadvantaged people – all important to former Asnuntuck Community College President McLaughlin.

Committee members agree that Morales, a graduate of Connecticut River Academy, does not just talk about empowering others-he does it. He helps people move into leadership positions and supports them when they do. His Fellowship Project involves various initiatives to better connect students in the Manufacturing program with students in varying degree programs, so that all can work together to help each other succeed and draw more people to the college’s programs and activities.

Committee members commented on seeing Morales in the student government office often, encouraging other students to join him in volunteering for many campus events.

The McLaughlin Fellowship was created to honor the founding President of Asnuntuck, Dr. Daniel McLaughlin, who was a highly innovative leader. He focused intently on ways to get more students to Asnuntuck and to help them become successful once they were in college. Dr. McLaughlin actively promoted a democratic approach to decision-making and strongly supported faculty, staff, and students in developing new ways to help students succeed and achieve more than they thought possible.

Photo caption:

From left to right, McLaughlin Fellow committee members Nick Lefakis and Romiesha Briscoe, CT State Asnuntuck President Dr. Joshua Moon-Johnson, Morales, Committee member and Director of Student Engagement and Co-Curricular Programming Sherry Paquette, Associate Dean Dawn Bryden, and Dean Timothy St. James.

Missing from the photo are committee members Amely Cross, Joe Finckel, Carol LaLiberte, and Bill Searle.

Located in Enfield, Connecticut, CT State Asnuntuck (pronounced: As-NUN-tuck), formerly Asnuntuck Community College, was established in 1972. The campus offers associate degrees, certificates, and short-term workforce training programs to prepare students for careers, transfer opportunities, and lifelong learning.

The 12 community colleges in Connecticut merged on July 1, 2023, to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and the largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students can apply once and take classes and access services at any campus. Locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington). Find out more at ctstate.edu.