MCC Returning-Student Studies Engineering

Middlesex Community College is known for its diverse student body, including in interests and experience. For example, a student with an art history degree who is studying engineering with aspirations of one day making it to NASA.

Following his graduation from high school in Manchester, Conn., Michael Donovan headed to the University of Connecticut to study art history.

“I was at college because other people wanted me to be, not because I wanted to be,” he said. “Ultimately, I grew disenchanted with the major towards the end of school and so upon graduation, I had little motivation to pursue anything related to it.”

The 33-year-old Arlington resident is finishing his final semester at Middlesex Community College, preparing to graduate with an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to transfer to UMass Lowell in the spring to earn a bachelor’s.

“I chose to return to school for engineering because I wanted to challenge my entrenched beliefs about what I was not capable of and I was finally mature enough to do so,” Donovan said. “Learning about why things work the way they do has always been a private interest of mine, and I have always been a hands-on individual – so what better path than engineering?”

He chose MCC due to its affordability and low-barrier to entry, but learned the school had a lot more to offer than a reasonable price tag and convenience.

Donovan said MCC inspired him to think differently and to question preconceived notions he had about his own capabilities. Facilitating a transition from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, he built his confidence and reaffirmed that he made the right decision.

MCC Computing and Engineering Department Chairwoman Michele Stein has a big impact on his educational experience at MCC, Donovan said.

“She gave me a shot at being one of her Supplemental Instruction leaders for Intro to Engineering in Spring 2018, and I have been an SI leader with the ACE (Academic Centers for Enrichment) Department ever since,” he said. “She has also written numerous recommendation letters for me that resulted in scholarships and even a trip to NASA.”

Donovan added that working with the ACE Department has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, watching the dedication of the staff provide students with everything they need to succeed.

“I am particularly grateful to Assistant Director Christine Bell and SI Coach Prof. Beth Kelly for being professional allies as well as wonderful people who are always willing to go the extra mile for us,” Donovan said, adding that overall, MCC provides a great environment for creating a community of success.

“Small classes mean people get to know you, so it is easy to build relationships,” he said. “Professors are more accessible both in and out of class, and being in a particular major means you find yourself in class with the same people, so you have a readymade social network.”

Donovan took two internships that expanded his knowledge and cemented his passion for engineering. He interned in the summer of 2018 at RazorTool in Woburn and as a research assistant in UMass Lowell’s Department of Plastics Engineering this summer.

He is leaving his options open as he thinks about a potential career path “because mechanical engineering is so broad that it could literally take you anywhere,” – maybe even to Cape Canaveral.

“As I progress and get into more specialized classes, I will be able to determine areas of strength that will also help shape my future choices, but I do really like space.”

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/academics/departments.aspx for more information about the different pathways students can take at MCC.

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!