Features

Quartey awarded by MCCA for Service

MCCC’s president, Kojo Quartey, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in July by the Michigan Community College Association.

Quartey was given this award after many years of service to the MCCA.

According to their website, the Michigan Community College Association fosters collaboration, connection, and partnerships among the 28 Michigan public community colleges and their stakeholders.

The MCCA provides strong legislative and public advocacy in Lansing and throughout Michigan, works to improve the image and credibility of community colleges, and advances numerous shared initiatives through the Michigan Center for Student Success, Michigan Colleges Online, and the Michigan New Jobs Training Program.

Michael Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association, recognized Quartey for his many years serving the MCCA.

“Dr. Quartey received the award in recognition of service to the MCCA, having served on the Executive Committee for several years, chair of the President’s Committee for two years, and serving as chair of the MCCA Board of Directors from 2018-2019,” Hansen said via email.

In regards to Quartey’s service to the MCCA, Hansen said he thinks highly of Quartey.

“His leadership and dedication to the mission of advancing the public policy agenda for the association definitely made the MCCA a better organization.”

The award is conferred based on one’s position of Chair of the MCCA Board.  It is a recognition for serving as Chair of the organization.

Quartey first served on the MCCA board of directors when he began his tenure as MCCC’s president in 2013 and began serving on the MCCA’s Executive Committee two years later in July 2015.

For his position with the MCCA, Quartey chaired all regular meetings and led the Executive Board.

Quartey also served as faculty for the MCCA Leadership Academy, which provides an avenue through which community colleges can prepare their potential leaders while supporting existing talent.

The nine month cohort-style academy includes three workshops at the MCCA office in Lansing, action-based learning projects between the workshops, experiential learning activities, coaching and mentoring.

Outside of the community college world, Quartey is involved in many organizations in Monroe County, including United Way of Monroe and Lenawee Counties, March of Dimes, a guest reader at Waterloo and Manor elementary schools as well as a tutor at the Arthur Lesow Community Center.

“I don’t do what I do for recognition,” Quartey said. “I do it to make a difference. My career has been made through service.”

In addition to his award from the MCCA, Quartey was also recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by the Boys Scouts of America.

The award, the Boy Scouts of America’s Running Waters District 2019 Distinguished Citizen Award, was given to Quartey during a ceremony for his honor that took place at the La-Z-Boy Center at MCCC this past June.

Melissa Stricherz, Southern Shores Scout executive, said the award is given to community leaders who provide outstanding civic service to both adults and youth in the community.