Frieary Has Taken the Scenic Route, Always in Montgomery County
Published on Monday, October 6th, 2025
Dr. Amy Frieary was born in Montgomery County and has lived here her whole life. “This county has shaped who I am, and my goal has always been to give back in return,” explains Amy. “I care deeply about this community and will always strive to help it grow and succeed.”
Amy is by all accounts a people-person today, which makes her early days as an introvert somewhat surprising. She graduated from East Montgomery High School in 1992, then continued her education at MCC, earning an Associate Degree in Microcomputer Systems Technology. Her early positions with First Bank and the Montgomery County Department of Social Services laid the groundwork for her career, giving her a strong appreciation for organization, problem-solving, and the importance of serving her community. It was during her employment with Troy Housing Authority, however, that her interpersonal skills truly began to flourish. “I started writing, winning, and managing grants and coordinating programs for all the residents, which really brought me out of my shell,” explains Amy. “During my time there, we opened the child care center, began offering the GED high school equivalency program, and employability training. This position required me to interact with a wide variety of people across Montgomery County to establish strong partnerships.”
While working at Troy Housing Authority, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Gardner-Webb University. Having managed the first licensed school-age center in Montgomery County, she discovered her passion for education. This led her into a public-school classroom; Amy served as a seventh-grade science teacher at East Middle School for five years, creating engaging and interactive lessons for her students. She served as the Instructional Facilitator for one year at West Middle school before accepting a position at MCC.
In 2013, Amy joined Montgomery Community College as the Chair of the Human Services Program. The following year, she completed a Master’s Degree in Career & Technical Education from Concordia University- Oregon and assumed the responsibilities for the Early Childhood Program. She then was named the Interim Dean for Arts & Sciences in 2018, and by 2019 she was appointed the Dean of Health & Human Services at MCC. As a lifelong learner, she pursued her Doctorate in Education in Leadership & Innovation from Purdue University Global, graduating July 2025.
“I love learning, which explains why I keep going back to school, but I am also trying to equip myself for the tasks ahead.” Amy believes today’s students need guidance navigating issues ahead of them. “As educators, we need to find more innovative ways to increase our students’ employability. We need to deliver the education and training they need, faster, to help them meet their goals.” Dr. Frieary also sees a need for educators to model appropriate uses of artificial intelligence so students can be trained and made workforce-ready sooner.
She serves on the committee that organizes an annual Dr. King’s Day meal-packaging event, where middle, high school and college students join community members to prepare meals for local food pantries. Driven by her commitment to service, Amy has taken on leadership of important projects at MCC, including efforts to establish and sustain partnerships linking allied health programs with Montgomery County Schools. Working closely with her faculty, Amy assisted with the development and implementation of the new accelerated pathway for Medical Assisting, which now allows students to earn credentials in just two semesters. She also created a similar accelerated opportunity for Early Childhood students. She is collaborating with Partnership for Children to establish the Child Care Academy to help address the child care teacher shortage. Right now, Frieary is overseeing the arrival of MCC’s Dental Hygiene Program, which will hopefully enroll its first class for Fall 2026. Her passion for teaching and continuous improvement have made her an invaluable member of the MCC team. “Our community deserves access to education and training that opens doors to new opportunities. I am proud to be part of the MCC family and proud of the ways we work together to serve Montgomery County and its residents.”