Michigan Community College Association

👏 A fantastic partnership between Muskegon Community College and Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore!

What an incredible week at the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference.

MCCA was proud to be part of important conversations about workforce development, educational opportunity, and connecting more students to high-demand careers.

Throughout the week, we met with lawmakers, business leaders, and education partners from across the state to discuss priorities like:
• Expanding dual enrollment opportunities
• Strengthening pathways from high school to college and careers
• Supporting adult learners through Michigan Reconnect
• Building the workforce Michigan needs for the future

A highlight of the conference was a panel discussion supported by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation featuring MCCA President Brandy Johnson and Bay College President Dr. Nerita Hughes alongside state and business leaders focused on strengthening connections between education and workforce opportunity.

There is real momentum behind Michigan’s community colleges and the students and communities we serve.

🎓 Honored to make history at Bay College as the first-ever commencement guest speaker this spring.

In her remarks, Brandy Johnson celebrated the strength, resilience, and determination of students in the Upper Peninsula and the important role community colleges play in the region’s future:

“...juggling jobs, families, commutes, and dreams. You are late night essay writers, early morning shift workers, caregivers, first generation collegegoers, and adult comebackers.”

“You are changing the trajectory of your family for generations to come. You're also contributing to our state's economy and the Upper Peninsula’s prosperity.”

“Community colleges and the students we serve are the heart of Michigan’s future.”

Congratulations to the Bay College Class of 2026 — we can’t wait to see the impact you continue to make across the U.P. and beyond. 💙