Page 17 - BusinessWest June 12, 2023

A Calling to Serve
George Timmons
Set to Take the
Helm at HCC
BY GEORGE O’BRIEN
[email protected]
George Timmons recalled a conversation he had a with a friend — a college president and mentor — several years back. He had a simple question for him.
“I asked him, ‘doc, how to you know when you’re ready?” he recalled, meaning, in this case, ready to become a college presi- dent himself.
The answer wasn’t quite what he expected.
“He said, ‘George, you’ll know when you know you’re ready,’” he said. “And I used to say, ‘what do you mean?’”
Timmons said he would eventually come to understand what his friend meant — that there would come a time, after years
of preparation, earning needed degrees, and working in differ-
ent jobs that would provide learning experiences and the ability to hone leadership skills ... when he would know that he was ready.
He said he reached that time a few years ago and soon began to at least consider jobs that carried that designation. But — and this is a big but — he stressed that he wasn’t chasing a title.
“It was really about chasing the right opportunity that allowed me to demonstrate the skills and talents that I have that aligned with the needs of the organization and where I thought I could really add value,” he said. “For me, it’s really important that I’m at an institution where I can bring value and that I con- nect with, and be able to take it to a new level of excellence.”
And that’s what he saw when Holyoke Community College (HCC) began its search for someone to succeed Christina Royal last fall.
Specifically, it was the presidential profile, and especially its student profile, one that showcased a diverse population featur- ing a large percentage of first-generation college students, that caught his attention.
“When I looked at the student profile, I couldn’t help but
be reminded of my roots, my humble beginnings, and where
I came from; I’m a first-generation college graduate,” he told BusinessWest. “Also, with 48% students of color ... that was very attractive to me, and would allow me to add value, particu- larly with an emphasis on equity and student success. I saw myself in that student profile.”
“When I looked
at the student profile, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my roots, my humble beginnings, and where I came from; I’m a first- generation college graduate.”
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