Montgomery College Celebrates 80 Years of Educational Excellence, Student Success and Community Impact
Montgomery College is celebrating its 80th anniversary this week, marking eight decades new window of expanding access to higher education, helping students achieve their goals and contributing to the educational, economic, cultural and civic life of Montgomery County and the region.
Founded on September 16, 1946, as Montgomery Junior College, the College held its first classes at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School with an inaugural cohort of 186 students. Eight decades later, Montgomery College serves more than 47,000 students annually through its three campuses, the East County Education Center and online programs, offering more than 140 areas of study.
The Montgomery County Council formally recognized the College’s 80th anniversary during its September 15 meeting, celebrating Montgomery College as an institution that has shaped the county for generations. The council’s proclamation recognized the College’s contributions to educational access, student success, workforce development and the broader community, as well as the students, alumni, faculty, staff and trustees who have carried that work forward.
“We’re so proud to have this jewel in Montgomery County, because you are creating the talented workforce of the next generation in this county,” said Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González. “Montgomery College is really an example nationwide of how to adapt to new realities—to make sure [students] are not just graduating from your institution, but are ready to work and get high-paying jobs.”
“Montgomery College is serving its community and burnishing its reputation for service in making Montgomery County a stronger, more equitable, more economically driven community,” added Montgomery College Board of Trustees Chair Annice Cody. new window
Montgomery College President Jermaine F. Williams new window said the College’s 80-year history is rooted in a mission new window that remains central to its work today.
“When we say that Montgomery College is the community’s college, we mean it—we live our mission. Montgomery College is the place where students discover their passions and unlock their potential to transform lives, enrich the community and change the world,” Dr. Williams explained. “We are dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for everyone. We believe in postsecondary education as a public good, and we will continue to fiercely advocate for academic freedom and intellectual curiosity because we know that betters our society.”
That mission is reflected in the students who come to Montgomery College from communities across the county and from nearly 150 countries. The College welcomes students at many stages of life, including recent high school graduates, first-generation college students, career changers, parenting students and high school students participating in dual enrollment.
Montgomery College also serves as an important pathway to four-year institutions, with its students accounting for nearly one in four Maryland community college transfers to institutions within the University System of Maryland. The College’s influence extends throughout the local economy as well, with an estimated $1.4 billion in annual economic impact and 87 percent of alumni remaining in Montgomery County.
For generations, Montgomery College graduates have carried the value of their education into classrooms, hospitals, businesses, laboratories, nonprofits and public service agencies throughout Montgomery County and beyond. Alumni participating in the Council’s anniversary recognition included Anita Neal Powell ’79, president of the Montgomery College Alumni Board of Governors; Tabari Fletcher ’22, an assistant researcher at Children’s National Hospital; and Diane Carrillo ’26, an immigration and youth justice advocate. Their stories represent thousands of graduates whose knowledge, skills and service continue to shape the community.
The anniversary also offers a moment to look ahead. As Montgomery College enters its ninth decade, the College is continuing to prepare students for evolving careers and serve as an anchor institution for Montgomery County. This includes advancing plans for a fourth campus in East County that will expand access to higher education and serve as a civic, social and educational hub for one of the county’s fastest-growing communities.
“As we look toward the next 80 years, we know there is work to do. The needs of our students, our workforce and our community continue to evolve, and we must evolve with them,” Dr. Williams said. “Montgomery College has been part of Montgomery County’s story for 80 years, and we are honored to carry that story forward together.”