MCC Success Scholars Attend LGBTQIA+ Summit in Cape Cod

On June 2, members of the Middlesex Community College Success Scholars Program attended the LGBTQIA+ Summit hosted by Cape Cod Community College. The event invited community college LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff to come together in celebration of Pride Month.

“The summit presented a nice platform for students and faculty and staff to hear lectures about what other schools do and how to be a better ally or mentor to the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Connor Nickerson, MCC’s LGBTQ+ Success Scholars Coach. “Speakers talked about what they do on their campuses, including working with students on their transition to a four-year school and what to look for if they’re a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

At the summit, Dr. Jennifer Bauer, MCC’s Chair of Communication, Art & Design, presented on MCC’s LGBTQ History in NYC Travel Seminar. Students in the course travel to New York City and visit important landmarks in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement. The three-day trip provides students with more understanding of the history and diversity of the human experience.

In addition to seminars, attendees had the opportunity to network and engage in hands-on activities, such as tie-dying t-shirts and crafting, watching the film “Paris is Burning,” and attending a drag lunch. The next day, a group also went on a Pride trip to Provincetown.

Nickerson attended the summit in just his first week in his new role. A 2019 MCC graduate, he transferred to Merrimack College to earn a bachelor’s in Communication & Media and master’s in Higher Education with a Concentration in Student Affairs before returning to Middlesex.

In his new position, Nickerson coaches self-identifying members of the LGBTQIA+ community as part of the Success Scholars Program. The program supports students with academic advising, career preparedness, accessing resources and student support services throughout the college, and learning how to be a successful college student.“It’s important to support this group,” Nickerson said. “Each letter represents a community that has its own difficulties and stigmas against them that need to be fixed.”

Although he started out at a four-year institution after graduating from high school, Nickerson credits MCC for helping him go at his own pace and learn how to be a student. In his position, he believes he has the opportunity to give back to the community and help other students with “what Middlesex did for me while I was here.”

As the Fall 2023 semester approaches, Nickerson hopes to help students develop skills that will assist them on their individual paths and reach their goals. He plans to work with MCC’s Spectrum Club and coordinate events and activities throughout the semester.

“With the Success Scholars Program, LGBTQIA+ self-identifying students have a connection and backbone here at Middlesex and know they are supported,” Nickerson said. “It leads them to future success because sometimes all it takes is that one person to believe in them, motivate them, and know there’s no barrier that they can’t get past.