Alumna Credits Middlesex CC for Helping Her Find Her Path

At Middlesex Community College, Vivian Villaman discovered her life’s calling. From the Dominican Republic, Villaman moved to Lawrence where she attended high school. Her guidance counselor recommended she go to Middlesex to help her find her path. After four years at MCC – from 2012-2016­ – she got more than she anticipated for in the best way possible.

A Psychology major, Villaman transferred to UMass Lowell to earn a bachelor’s degree. She is now at Merrimack College getting a master’s in Higher Education with a Concentration in Student Affairs. Although she is still contemplating what to do for her career, she knows she wants to work with underrepresented students at the college level. Her experience at Middlesex inspired her interest in this line of work.

“MCC has professionals who actually care about students, they are not just a number,” she said. “[These students] have their own stories and their story will be heard. They are going to receive the resources they need based on their personal needs. They will be represented, no matter what identity. MCC is all about diversity. I can ensure that because I went there and I felt represented in all my identities.”

The first person she met at MCC – Willy Ramirez – made her feel comfortable in her new environment by speaking to her in Spanish, her native language. Ramirez, an Associate Professor of English, worked with first generation students and connected her with resources.

“Everything that I did, he was always helping me and a lot more students like me who were learning the language and the system because we are first generation and we didn’t have anyone else to talk about college-related stuff,” she said.

Her Psychology professor Paul Gibbons also helped boost her confidence. In response to one of personal essays, he wrote she would be successful. She holds onto the paper because it meant a lot to her. As she said, “students need someone who just tells them they’re going to go far in life.”

Having influences like Ramirez and Gibbons at Middlesex also taught Villaman how to advocate for herself and in turn, for others. She learned from Ramirez the importance of a student’s first moments on campus and from Gibbons how to motivate them. This influenced her work as an Orientation Leader (OL) where she enjoyed welcoming students and helping them feel like they belonged at MCC.

In her role, she made sure to answer students’ questions, suggest clubs and other opportunities available to them, and connect them to resources she considered valuable. In some instances, she would speak to her classmates in Spanish if it made them feel more comfortable.

“I believe there is a group of students out there who need to be represented,” she said. “Because I had a great experience at MCC, I believe that students like me who are non-traditional, who are historically underrepresented, they need professionals like the ones who are working at MCC and who I am going to become.”

As she continued on with her education, Villaman gained confidence and started feeling more comfortable. She spent her first two years taking Language Learner and Preparing for College courses to help her adjust to higher education in the U.S. Once she built up her foundation, she started taking more classes and participating in extracurriculars on campus. Throughout her duration at MCC, she participated in the Paul Sullivan Institute, worked as a Jumpstart Court Member and Team Leader, and was a member of the Spanish reading group La Guagua.

As part of these organizations, Villaman took the opportunity to complete Service-Learning experiences. With the Paul Sullivan Institute, she put together a book drive with a classmate that brought 500 books in both English and Spanish to students at Lowell Day Nursery. During her time with Jumpstart, Villaman worked with preschoolers from low-income backgrounds.

Although she was not a member, Villaman also took advantage of all of the professional development and networking opportunities MCC’s Multicultural Club offered. At these events – which are still being offered online due to the pandemic ­– Villaman learned topics such as how to write a resume and cover letter, prepare for an interview and dress professionally.

“It’s always important to participate in extracurriculars,” she said. “It connects you to professionals who have the same educational interests that you have – people who want to grow professionally and educationally just like you want.”

Villaman also worked at MCC for four years as a part-time library assistant where she gained professional and networking skills. She spent most of her time at the circulation desk, but felt it was important to provide more in-depth assistance to students when they needed it. In this role, she had the chance to witness MCC’s diversity. This even more so emphasized her desire to pursue a career in a field that allows her to work with a similar population.

“MCC transformed my learning experience,” she said. “MCC offers equity, not only equality. They provide students with individualized resources. MCC’s values align with my values and beliefs, my way of thinking about education and everything that they offer to students like me.”

MCC is celebrating 50 years! If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join in on the 50th anniversary celebrations – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.

MCC’s Mini-mester II, an accelerated, eight-week session, starts on November 2. To register for classes, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!