MCC’s Beth Smith Retires with Emeritus Status
Published on Monday, January 25th, 2021
In recognition of outstanding commitment and service to Montgomery Community College, the College Board of Trustees voted to grant emeritus status to Beth Smith, its Vice President of Student Services. Beth will retire from MCC on January 29, 2021 having served the College for 34 years.
“I fell into this career,” admits Beth. “I had worked for Montgomery County Schools for a few years and the last position I held with them was actually housed on the MCC campus. The secretarial position in Student Services opened; I got up my nerve and applied for it, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“I’ve stayed here so long because I was lucky enough in 1986 to happen upon a career that just seemed to fit. I loved working in the field of education. Working with the students, seeing them accomplish their goals, seeing the pride on the faces of their families and friends at graduation; I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I’ve also been fortunate to work with a lot of great people over the years.”
“What I will remember most is what it feels like to leave Capel Hall after the graduation ceremony is over and walk through the crowd of smiling graduates, seeing congratulatory balloons floating in the air and flowers being held, and hearing people laughing and enjoying the moment.”
In addition to her distinguished employment, Beth is also an alumna of the College. A tireless advocate for students, she has been a leader at the institution, guiding student service initiatives and influencing the direction of the college in its mission to provide life-long educational opportunities that prepare individuals for existing and emerging careers and personal growth.
Multiple generations of students have been aided and supported by Beth in her years of service. In addition, she has mentored a number of younger MCC employees during their time at the institution. She has strongly supported student scholarship as a MCC Foundation President’s club member and as an active fundraiser for the Montgomery Community College Foundation. Beth is a “goodwill ambassador” for the College and her name is synonymous with MCC in the community.
“We are grateful to Beth for her decades of service to our institution,” said College President Dr. Chad Bledsoe. “The culture and spirit of our College were created and sustained by employees like her, and she has our heartfelt thanks and admiration for all she has done for MCC.”
As Beth prepared to retire, Bledsoe received numerous requests to honor her commitment to the institution in a formal way. The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously in its January 13, 2021 meeting to confer emeritus status to Beth, a fitting honor for an individual who has given so much of herself to this institution. This is the first granting of emeritus status in the history of the College.