From Student to Employee, MCC Alumna Gives Back to Community

Once Serrahtani Parrish came to Middlesex Community College, she never left. Starting as a Psychology student, Parrish worked as a part-time employee even after she transferred. Now she works as the full-time Financial Wellness Coach for MCC’s Success Scholars Program.

“The way I was treated as an adult learner made me at ease with attending school,” Parrish said. “I received the support I needed from semester to semester, and I also received encouragement to further my education beyond MCC.”

When she first started at Middlesex, Parrish had plans to only complete an associate degree. After she took the course Creative Thinking, she was inspired to continue her education. Working with her academic and transfer advisors Ivette Caletz and Diane Parcella helped her through the graduation and transfer process.

Parrish transferred to the University of Massachusetts Lowell and graduated in 2012. Although she felt a little overwhelmed at her new college, Middlesex had given her a strong introduction as to what to expect in college, as well as the support to get her through.

“The transfer process was fairly seamless,” she said. “The tools I learned at MCC prepared me to navigate my way through the UML system.”

For her undergraduate degree, she decided to major in Psychology because her aunt would tell her, “If you know how someone is, you know how to deal with them.” In 2019, Parrish earned a Master of Education from Merrimack College. The combination of degrees gave her the skills and strategies she needs to be successful in her position as the Financial Wellness Coach at MCC.

“I felt Psychology would give me a great foundation to understanding how people are and why they do what they do,” Parrish said. “By knowing this information, I can better support them.”

From networking around campus to proving her strong work ethic as part of her work study positions, Parrish was first hired to work in MCC’s Enrollment Management Office. She then moved into a full-time role in the Student Information Center.

Now with the Success Scholars Program, she is part of an initiative within the Massachusetts community college system to help eliminate and limit barriers surrounding access to education for Asian American, Black, African American, Latinx and LGBTQ+ students.

‘The program is designed to support marginalized students with intentional programming,” Parrish said. “As the Financial Wellness Coach, I am tasked with creating financial workshops and collaborating with community organizations to bring financial awareness to MCC students.”

In her role, Parrish has an opportunity to give back to the community – and its students – that gave her a start on her career path. “I am very pleased with my overall experience here at MCC,” she said. “Both as a student and now as an employee.”