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MCC Daily Tribune

Quotes That Inspire

"Have enough courage to trust ... one more time and always one more time." -- Maya Angelou

As my first week at MCC draws to a close, I have been giving thought to a number of ways I might communicate with colleagues across our campuses and sites. It is important that you get to know me and equally important that I get to know you over the time I will be serving as your Interim President.

Many years ago, as I was packing up the office at the community college where I had spent the first 30 years of my career, I came to realize I am a collector of quotes. Over time I had clipped, saved, posted and framed numerous quotes that at some point in my life and career had been inspirational, motivational, poignant, informational, humorous, and more.

As I traveled around campus this week, I found myself passing a bookshelf in a new colleague's office. A book by Maya Angelou caught my eye. Seeing it there started a conversation where my new colleague and I got to know something additional about each other. That was when the idea for this addition to the MCC Daily Tribune came to me.

My vision for "Quotes that Inspire" is a column that kicks off today. You are invited to submit a quote to PresOffice@monroecc.edu and share why the quote inspires you. Quotes will be featured on Fridays. I will share one on the first Friday of every month; on other weeks, it could be your voice that speaks to our colleagues.

The Maya Angelou quote above aligns with how I feel coming out of retirement to serve at MCC. Forty-four years of service to the community college mission is certainly enough. But I am familiar with MCC and have enough trust that the fit between who I am as a community college leader and the leadership MCC needs at this point in its institutional journey could be beneficial for us both.

After just one week, I also see this quote speaking to you - my new community - encouraging you to trust me. Even though you don't know me well. Even though you may have had some difficult history with leadership. I am choosing to believe we both can do what Maya Angelou urges: "Have the courage to trust one more time ... and always one more time."

Katherine Douglas
Office of the President
02/07/2020