Q&A with Dr. Bethany Silver, MCC Foundation’s New Board President
Following our recent announcement introducing Dr. Bethany Silver as MCC Foundation’s new Board President, we had the opportunity to speak with her about her journey, leadership philosophy, and vision for the Foundation.
As the first MCC/CT State Manchester graduate to serve as president of the foundation board, what unique qualities do you bring to the role?
This opportunity is a culminating event for my life journey with Manchester. As a first-generation college student, I wasn't sure what to expect of the school, or myself. Over the three years I studied at MCC, I grew in my understanding of what college was, and what I was capable of accomplishing. I explored student government, serving a term as president where I increased membership from about 15 to more than 75 senators. I worked with faculty members to establish the Travel Club, which offered inexpensive travel to students and community members. As the club grew over the years, hundreds of people enjoyed trips all over the world, including to Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Africa and other destinations.
Because of what Manchester taught me about myself, I continued on to UConn, finishing with a doctorate in educational psychology. During my career, I served in various leadership roles, including on the Manchester Board of Education, and as Interim Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Performance Officer, and college professor. All of these experiences have helped me develop my listening and leading skills. While they contribute to who I am, foundational to these is the value I experienced as an MCC student. The faculty and staff shared their time, skills and ideas with me, which ultimately helped me cultivate a vision for myself that was larger than what I had previously imagined.
What will the board prioritize under your leadership?
We will continue the good work that the Foundation is known for - supporting students and programs at Manchester. This work is possible because of the generosity of our local community - individuals and organizations committed to supporting the mission of service to our Manchester students. Bequests and financial gifts from local residents, MCC and CT State Manchester faculty, and business leaders have brought millions of dollars to the MCC Foundation. These funds are under the active stewardship of the MCC Foundation Board. This stewardship and careful fiscal management have permitted the Board to award nearly a million dollars each year to support Manchester students and program enhancements, including recent gifts that amplify learning for students in our paralegal, dental, and occupational therapy fields.
Our Foundation work is also possible because of the commitment of our Board members. Their stewardship, oversight, and leadership are at the center of our success. Our Board will continue to grow, reflecting the strengths and perspectives CT State Manchester students embody, as well as the voices within our Greater Manchester Community.
What attracted you to this role and the mission of the MCC Foundation?
As an active member of the MCC Alumni Committee, I was invited to explore the Foundation by Diana Reid, Director of Development and Alumni Relations and a long-time MCC alumni champion. I became a member of the Foundation in 2019 and created space in my calendar for full engagement on various committees in addition to serving as the Board’s Secretary on the Executive Committee under Peter Grose's capable leadership. I was impressed by Peter's enthusiasm and commitment to the College, and I wanted to continue the good work that he and the executive team had been doing.
It's also a culminating experience for me – a full-circle return to a school and learning experience I deeply treasure – that changed the course of my life and the lives of my children and extended family. I am the first in my family to go to college and earn a doctorate, starting a trend that this year expands to my own daughter completing her PhD.
In what other ways have you served on the Foundation board or its committees?
Over the years, I’ve also had the privilege of chairing the Board Development and Nominating Committee, where I’ve helped bring new members into the fold. I’ve also enjoyed working on committees that focus on governance, alumni engagement, and long-term planning. Each role has given me a better understanding of how much teamwork, trust, and shared purpose go into making the Foundation’s work successful.
Are there other ways that you have engaged with campus activities as a graduate?
In 1990 I had the honor of serving as the speaker at Convocation, where I delivered a message of possibility for the future, and expressed how I value my MCC experience. I have been a member of the Alumni Committee for many years, planning events with and for alums. I worked with Jack Lardis, a well-known artist, to bring his art to MCC, and have also had the honor of meeting students at our Information Tables at the beginning of a number of semesters.
I have also been able to donate funds to the Foundation, ensuring that students like the younger me can defray some of the costs of college. I have attended graduations, to cheer on students as they step out into a larger world, better prepared for the opportunities they can create for themselves. Most of all, I am an ordinary, everyday champion for MCC, asking people I meet if they attended college, recommending MCC, and sharing the financial opportunities that the Foundation offers current students.
What message would you like to share with the Foundation's supporters and the community?
Thank you! We have so much to celebrate! Thank you, Manchester Community College, for the roots you helped me create, and the vision you inspire for every learner who enters your doors. This leadership opportunity is a wonderful path for me to “pay it forward” – through outreach to students, Board director recruitment, relationship building with college staff and faculty, and donor celebrations. Every credit, every class, is a step toward a brighter, more informed future.