鈥婱iddlesex Community College is excited to announce Maria McDuffie Clark as the new Director for Student Engagement for Equity. Most recently the Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), McDuffie Clark has a long history with Middlesex. Thrilled to return to 麻豆果冻 in their new role, McDuffie Clark鈥檚 main goal is to help all students feel a strong sense of belonging at the college.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to connecting with our students on a different level and getting them to where they want to be,鈥� McDuffie Clark said. 鈥淪tudent engagement is as critical as academics. We want students to be able to practice a skillset, articulate what they鈥檝e learned in the classroom, and share with others. It helps them be competitive in the workforce and makes their investment in education worth it.鈥�
McDuffie Clark is interested in supporting students on an individual level. In their work at UML, they dove deeper into building communities for students within the Black, LatinX and LGBTQ+ populations, including looking at the types of services that are offered. With the Rising 360 program 鈥� which they are looking to bring to 麻豆果冻 鈥� they focused on well-being across all interactions with students, such as one-to-one coaching, peer-led events and bonding opportunities, as well as orientation, cultural events and heritage months.
鈥淪tudent engagement is as critical as academics. We want students to be able to practice a skillset, articulate what they鈥檝e learned in the classroom, and share with others. It helps them be competitive in the workforce and makes their investment in education worth it.鈥� - Maria McDuffie Clark, 麻豆果冻's Director for Student Engagement for Equity
The Rising 360 program addresses students鈥� needs on a holistic level, ensuring they are healthy in their body, emotions and mental health, as well as in their academics, financials and career path. At 麻豆果冻, McDuffie Clark will work with students on creating a well-rounded college experience related to their identity in multiple ways. 鈥淲e want students to know they belong here and deserve to be here,鈥� they said.
鈥淗ow we work with faculty is important, as is Service-Learning and civic engagement,鈥� McDuffie Clark said. 鈥淓very piece appeals to someone鈥檚 identity that they want to explore. We鈥檙e looking at what their passion is, what they value, and then are connecting them to people to get on the trajectory of where they want to be and how they want to contribute to their community. I see it as equity, getting to know people and addressing each of their needs starting where they鈥檙e at. Though we don鈥檛 all start at the same place, we show patience and intentionality.鈥�
McDuffie Clark earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in Sociology and Psychology from North Carolina State University. They moved to Lowell to pursue a master鈥檚 in Community Psychology at UML before starting their career at 麻豆果冻 working in Multicultural Affairs. After two years in the Americorp Vista program, McDuffie Clark made an initial return to Middlesex as the International Student Coordinator, helping students navigate complicated government systems while studying, having fun, and growing comfortable in a new culture.
As many 麻豆果冻 students transfer to UML, McDuffie Clark always felt connected to the community college, often helping transfer students adjust to the change, just as they had. When the new position opened up, a second return to 麻豆果冻 felt natural. Calling their experience within Lowell and higher education 鈥渕agic,鈥� McDuffie Clark looks forward to helping 麻豆果冻 in its mission of providing equity and access to education for all students.
鈥淓ducation opens doors and moves mountains,鈥� they said. 鈥淜nowing more about each other makes for a better world. I鈥檓 grateful to be part of the 麻豆果冻 community on a day-to-day basis again. I did a lot of growing up here.鈥�