AAWCC-MC History

MC Chapter of American Association of Women in Community Colleges!

In 2017, Montgomery College became a member chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.

The purpose of MC-AAWCC is to:

Encourage educational program development for women in community and technical colleges;
Support women in leadership roles;
Develop communications among women in community and technical colleges;
Promote and offer local and state workshops for women in community and technical colleges, and
Disseminate information on courses, programs, and services for professional women.

After having attended the AAWCC National Awards and Scholarship Breakfast, supported an annual institutional membership and supported staff and faculty participation in the association, Dr. Monica Brown, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, encouraged and supported the establishment of a local chapter at Montgomery College. A national board member at the time, Dr. Carmen Poston-Farmer Travis, reached out to Dr. Kimberly McNair about heading up the effort. On October 13, 2016, an interest meeting was held at the College. During the meeting, Dr. DeRionne Pollard, AAWCC President-Elect and Montgomery College President, facilitated a coaching session in leadership advancement titled Advantageous Career Tips to Advance to Executive Leadership Roles. There was great interested in starting a chapter. Bylaws were written and submitted to the AAWCC national, and the following year, the College chartered a local chapter with 33 inaugural members.

The thirty-three women were: Shakenna Adams, Ramica Allen, Eunice Akitobi Ndoung, Diana Benson, Debra Bright, Monica Brown, Shelly Caldwell-Bennett, Karen Callendar, Patty Chalkley, Kristine Chin, Tameka Cruz, Lindsey Curley, Joyce Dawkins, Francine Farr, Cathy Galasso-Schwartz, Denise Graves, Liz Greaney, Melissa Gregory, Stacey Gustavson, Katie Kelpy, Beatrice Lauman, Ja'Bette Lozupone, Diana Matthews, Tracee Matthias, Kimberly McNair, Eniola Olowofoyeku, Carmen Poston-Farmer Travis, Benita Rashaw, Tilandra Rhyne, Clevette Ridguard, Mary Robinson, Judy Taylor, Stephanie Will, and Norma Winffel.

Inaugural Members elected to the executive board of MC-AAWCC are:

President: Dr. Kimberly McNair, Director of College Access and Enrollment, GT Campus
Vice President: Dr. Mary Robinson, Chair, English and Reading Department, GT Campus
Treasurer: Ms. Tameka Cruz, Financial Aid Counselor, RV Campus
Secretary: Ms. Norma Winffel, Recruitment and College Access Coordinator, GT Campus
GT Campus Liaison: Ms. Shakenna Adams, Financial Aid Specialist
RV Campus Liaison: Ms. Cathy Galasso-Schwartz, Assistant to the Deans
TP/SS Campus Liaison: Ms. Tilandra Rhyne, Library Assistant
WD&CE Liaison: Ms. Tracee Matthias, Senior Program Director
Office of SVP for Student Affairs/National Board Liaison: Dr. Carmen Poston-Farmer Travis, Director of Student Affairs and Initiatives

AAWCC History

The American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) was organized in 1973 and became an Affiliate Council of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC), now the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

For more information about the national history, check out AAWCC Historical Backgroundnew window.