MCC Daily Tribune

Alumnus Rafe R. (Reggie) Ellison to Address Class of 2022

I am thrilled to announce that Rafe Reginald “Reggie” Ellison, member of the MCC Class of 1997, will deliver the Message to the Graduates at MCC's Commencement on Thursday, June 2, at 7:00 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.

Until his retirement earlier this year, Mr. Ellison worked for the federal government for more than 20 years in positions with duties involving the analysis, development, regulatory oversight, and review of affordable housing and community development financing programs and activities. Most recently, he served as senior community development analyst at the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he spent approximately eight years analyzing and leading the review of the nation’s largest banks' public welfare investments.

Mr. Ellison attributes his academic and professional achievements to his experiences as an MCC student.

After graduating from high school and serving in the U.S. Army, he landed a full-time position as a night-shift custodial worker and began his postsecondary educational journey by taking courses at MCC in 1995. He credits his academic success in part to Sumati Devadutt, now retired professor of sociology, who he said saw his potential and helped cultivate it. Years later, he established an endowed scholarship in her honor as an expression of how deeply impactful her contributions continue to be for him and many of her former students.

After earning an associate degree from MCC, Mr. Ellison went on to further his education. He holds two master’s degrees – one in real estate from Johns Hopkins University, the other in public affairs from Princeton University – and a bachelor’s in economics from SUNY Buffalo. 

Mr. Ellison's civic engagement further illustrates his commitment to affordable housing and community development. He served as a commissioner on Prince George’s County Commission for Common Ownership Communities in Maryland and a board member for Veterans on the Rise, which provides services to homeless veterans.

MCC celebrates the success of the Class of 2022 and looks forward to the inspiring words of Rafe Reginald “Reggie” Ellison, our featured Commencement speaker.

A graduating student speaker will be named in coming months. Please regularly check the MCC Daily Tribune for an announcement.

#MCCOpensDoors #MCC2022

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DeAnna Burt-Nanna
Office of the President
03/17/2022