Current Position: President of South Mountain Community College
Story Posted: Summer 2024
Veronica Hipolito, student in GMercyU’s EdD program, first discovered GMercyU during her search for a doctoral program. Her hope was to find an online program that offered the chance to apply prior coursework.
“I found a few programs, but selected GMercyU because I felt aligned with GMercyU’s Core Values, especially the focus on social justice,” Veronica said.
Prior to GMercyU, Veronica earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and her Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Northern Arizona University.
Experience in the EdD Program
I’ve had a great experience. In addition to providing a robust learning experience, faculty take a personal interest in you. I have felt supported, challenged to grow as a scholar, and encouraged.
One of Veronica’s favorite courses was EDU 835: Equity-Minded Innovation in Higher Education taught by Dr. Cresswell-Yeager. Thus far, Veronica’s career has been spent in community colleges focusing on increased access to education and service to local communities.
“We had great discussions among classmates and the content was relevant to the issues we’re facing in higher education and our communities,” Veronica said. “I could immediately apply what we were learning to my work.”
She will graduate from GMercyU’s EdD program in December 2024.
Career Outlook
“I have found my calling working in community colleges,” Veronica said.
Throughout her career, Veronica has been dedicated to creating a college environment where all students have the means to reach their fullest potential and are prepared to be change makers and leaders within their communities. Veronica hopes to help break down the barriers in higher education that marginalize many students, making it difficult to achieve their goals.
My education at GMercyU has helped me to be competitive for a presidential role, and I’m excited about the opportunity to lead South Mountain Community College in the Maricopa County Community College District.
In her new role, Veronica will have the opportunity to take the issues above and create scaled change. She shared that “with my professional experience and GMercyU education, I feel well prepared to lead SMCC in their vision, ‘Community College educates minds, transforms lives, touches hearts, and builds community.’”
