The Monday Minute with Dr. Williams | Montgomery College, Maryland

September 8, 2025

As we enter the second week of the fall semester, I hope everyone is building a firm foundation for success. This season is a chance for all of us—students, faculty, and staff—to engage fully in the life of the College. Students can join clubs, build new skills through academic supports, and discover creativity through experiential learning. Faculty and staff play an essential role in guiding these opportunities and inspiring success. Together, we make MC a community where learning and belonging thrive all year long.

Kick Off The Semester With Skills For Success

Starting the semester strong means tapping into the many academic resources available to you. This fall, students have access to 32 Zoom-based workshops (PDF, ) covering essential skills like time management, note-taking, and research strategies to help you thrive in class and beyond. The College’s support centers, including the Writing, Reading, and Language Centers, Digital Learning Centers, Learning Support Services, MC Library, and the Academic Success Center are offering these sessions. Whether you are looking to sharpen your study habits or explore new tools, these workshops are designed to support your success. Invest a little time now, and you’ll be better prepared to excel throughout the semester and beyond.

Feds To Eds Graduates Become Local Heroes

Two Montgomery College graduates of the Feds to Eds program were recently honored by U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin as “local heroesnew window.” Dr. Ethan Taylor, formerly with the U.S. Department of the Interior, now teaches Spanish in Montgomery County Public Schools. Dr. Karen Armstrong, who served at the U.S. Department of Education, teaches mathematics. Both transitioned into education through MC’s Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET) program. With $100,000 in funding from Governor Wes Moore’s administration, ACET is expanding to help more professionals bring their expertise into classrooms—meeting a vital community need and empowering career transformation through education. I deeply appreciate the faculty who developed and taught this program over the summer.

Experiential Learning Helps Students Make A Difference

Learning by doing helps to deepen and enrich learning. At Montgomery College, experiential learning connects coursework to real-world impact—whether through community service, research, or study abroad. Professor Kiersten Newtoff brings this to life in environmental science. On the Germantown Campus, her students study bird ecologynew window by managing and monitoring an Eastern Bluebird nestbox trail with 23 boxes. Students track nesting activity and use color banding to identify individual birds, gaining firsthand experience in research and conservation. These opportunities help students see how their studies matter—and how they can make a difference. Faculty and staff interested in expanding experiential learning in their own fields can explore the Hub for models and guidance.

With Raptor Regards,
Dr. Jermaine F. Williams signature

Dr. Jermaine F. Williams
President
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Instagram | @drwilliamsmc

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