President's Blog

One Month In: Excited for the Future

I’m only a month into my tenure as president, but my appreciation for just how beloved this institution really is has only grown since my blog post at the start of my first week at Owens.

Numerous community partners and leaders in education, philanthropy, government, and other sectors have provided excellent feedback as I have sought to better understand the needs of the community and how Owens can meet them. Owens pride became quickly evident as I began meeting with those who expressed their interest in seeing the College continue to succeed.

In fact, I recently remarked to long-time foundation board members and trustees how impressed I was with the positivity surrounding Owens. There appears to be a genuine embrace of the school as a partner with whom stakeholders are ready to engage for the good of the region.

Several conversations have focused on partnering for student success. There are clearly many people who believe in the mission of community colleges and, more specifically, the mission of Owens and how it benefits our region. Among the most exciting developments is new grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which will allow Owens and Stark State Community College, in partnership with the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, to continue important initiatives to facilitate our students’ pathways to and through higher education.

It reinforces that there exists an enormous opportunity for Owens and other community colleges across the country as we slowly begin to transition into what we hope is our post-pandemic world. If there is a silver lining to come out of the pandemic, it may be that it forced many of us to rethink what was truly important. For some, it raised awareness that higher salaries and more attention to work-life balance were not only possible, but critical.

There are those who ventured forth to discover new paths in the wake of the pandemic, but not everyone was that fortunate. Many Americans were, and still are, stuck in low-wage jobs with few benefits that barely meet the rising costs of food and housing. Potential exposure to the virus and the challenges of mentoring children no longer able to attend in-person classes provided nearly continuous sources of stress for many.

Community colleges still present an incredible option for people of all ages and backgrounds seeking to embark on a new career path. Regardless of whether a student chooses short-term training, courses to transfer, an associate’s degree from a community college or chooses to go straight into a four-year university, there is room for all of us at the table. As a matter of fact, I believe we are all essential given the different strengths we all bring. Educational opportunities, no matter how they may manifest, always boost the region. There’s a lot of energy and momentum around the I-75 corridor, and the innovation and collaboration make me eager to see what the future will bring. As always, I’m open to your ongoing feedback about the trajectory we are on, and I am so appreciative of your support!

Dione D. Somerville, Ed.D.
President