Many times, I have shared the words of one of our SACSCOC on-site visitors, “Programs are about people.” All MGCCC employees know that the strength of our college comes from the strength of our people. I am elated, but not surprised, that this fact is so obvious to an outside visitor who was with us for only a short amount of time.

As you know, in our QEP, career program instructors and public speaking instructors are paired together in what I call dynamic duos. Each month, I would like to feature instructors who are on the front lines of the QEP, working together to teach and reinforce essential skills in our career program students. One of the greatest rewards from the QEP has been the budding of personal and professional relationships between career and public speaking instructors. This month, I would like to feature a dynamic duo from the JD Campus: Mr. Brent Bond and Dr. Janey Mattina.

Mr. Bond teaches Electrical Technology at the JD Campus. Under his tutelage, his students learn all aspects of installing, operating, and maintaining electrical systems and become professional electricians in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. His QEP partner, Dr. Mattina, says, “Mr. Bond is a truth-teller to his students.” She contends that quality makes Mr. Bond a great mentor because he instills in his students professional knowledge that they will need to be successful in the workplace. She also praises him from being very approachable to both his students and his colleagues. Dr. Mattina has noticed Mr. Bond’s acumen for retaining students, graduating them, and getting them into the workforce.

Dr. Janey Mattina, a public speaking instructor on the JD Campus, knows that her collaborative role with Mr. Bond is of utmost importance to the QEP. She states, “An essential part of what makes the QEP collaborations work is that the team of instructors provides insight into essential skills connected to the workplace. Students buy in when they know their instructors believe it is true and valuable.”

As QEP Director, I have been granted a vantage point to witness and appreciate the relevance that Dr. Mattina brings to her lessons. She puts a great deal of thought into how to make her communication lessons relevant to the specific career fields of the students that she teaches. Mr. Bond agrees, stating that she “keeps her lessons in the real world,” giving students vivid examples of how communication plays out in their unique fields. Bond insists that Dr. Mattina is very professional in working with both him and his students. In his opinion, Dr. Mattina should be Instructor of the Year!

Mr. Bond and Dr. Mattina work together to continuously improve QEP efforts in the classroom. They have set goals to improve upon what has already been a good start to the QEP. Their efforts will surely help students to become even more prepared to serve the workforce needs of the MS Gulf Coast for years to come. When you see Mr. Bond and Dr. Mattina, please join me in thanking them for what they do for students.