HCC celebrates the inauguration of President George Timmons
On April 19, 2024, Holyoke Community College inaugurated George Timmons as its fifth president. During the ceremony, people from nearly every stage of President Timmons’ life and career in higher education stepped forward to honor him and attest to the qualities that make him “the right person for this job,” said Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts secretary of education. Meanwhile, hundreds more — relatives, college friends, former and current colleagues among them — filled the Leslie Phillips Theater to celebrate his official installation as president and ascendance as the first African American man in that position, a historic event Vanessa Smith, acting chair of the Board of Trustees, called “Truly momentous.”
Accompanying photos from the event are quotes from President Timmons’ Inauguration speech, the full text of which can be found on the HCC website: hcc.edu/inauguration-timmons
“The tremendous responsibility of this role — of leading this institution — is not lost on me. I believe the answer to how I got here is the same collection of qualities that have led to the success of thousands of Holyoke Community College students over our 78-year history: Mindset. Hard work. And people believing in you almost more than you believe in yourself.”
“Holyoke Community College is a place where lives are transformed. We are a community that welcomes any individual seeking to find their path. And not only are you welcome here, you belong here.”
“Look in the mirror and believe that you are capable of greatness. It begins with you. … You have the ability to manifest your success by beginning to see it for yourself.”
“No one can determine how hard you work toward your goals. Get involved, put yourself in situations that challenge and surprise you, and let people get to know you. Develop the discipline to remain focused on what matters most — and go after it with everything you’ve got.”
“Our job is to create the conditions under which students will be inspired to succeed. We must enlighten and empower them to reach their goals. We do this by trusting one another to do our best work, by celebrating the diversity of perspectives that make us great, and by simply being good human beings.”
“Among the things that inspire me about Holyoke Community College is our commitment to living our values of innovation, collaboration, kindness, inclusion, and trust. Each word suggests the need for others, for unity and togetherness. None can be accomplished alone.”
“We are not just providing an education to the students enrolled in our courses. We are enabling students to set an example for their families, to earn a livable wage, to address challenges within their community, to chart a completely new path filled with potential for themselves and their children. We are elevating society.”
“In the end, when a single student finds their calling, discovers a talent, turns their life around, hones a skill, or finds the courage to speak up, the world becomes a better place. Potential becomes reality. We all benefit. That is the work we are doing at Holyoke Community College, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a life.”
