That connection began with her maternal grandfather, Quincy Long, who spent several decades serving students at the Harrison County Campus. Long taught science and served as dean of students during a career that spanned the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. His influence at Gulf Coast would eventually extend well beyond the students he taught and into his own family.
All three of Long’s children attended and graduated from Gulf Coast. His daughter Kristen, Gregory’s mother, attended the Harrison County Campus in the 1980s, while her twin brothers, Andy and David Long, later followed in their father’s footsteps to the College.
Gulf Coast also became part of the Twedt side of Gregory’s family. Her father, Steven Twedt, attended Gulf Coast before transferring to Mississippi State University.
By the time Gregory and her brother, Sam Twedt, reached college age, attending Gulf Coast continued a family connection that had already touched two generations.
Gregory attended the Harrison County Campus in 2012-2013. Her path began through Adult Education, where she earned her GED, before continuing her studies and earning an Associate of Arts degree. Her connection to Gulf Coast eventually took on a new dimension when she joined the College as an employee. Today, she serves as an enrollment specialist, helping students navigate their own paths to higher education.
Her brother, Dr. Sam Twedt, attended the Harrison County Campus from 2010-2012 and earned an Associate of Arts degree. An active student, he participated in Phi Theta Kappa, Connections and the Science Club. He was selected for Who’s Who Among Students and the 2012 Harrison County Campus Hall of Fame. A decade later, Gulf Coast recognized him again when he was inducted into the 2022 Alumni Hall of Fame for the Harrison County Campus.
Gulf Coast also played a role in Sam’s personal life. While students, Sam and Nicki Strunk, who attended from 2010-2012, met at MGCCC. The two later reconnected and married.
The family connection continued through Gregory’s own marriage. Her husband, Timothy Gregory, attended the Harrison County Campus in 2022-2023, adding yet another member of the family to its growing Gulf Coast story.
For Gregory, those connections make her role at the College particularly meaningful. She is not simply working at her alma mater. Each day, she carries forward a family tradition built on education, service and a lasting connection to Gulf Coast.
From Quincy Long teaching science and serving students to his granddaughter helping today’s students take their first steps toward a college education, the family’s relationship with Gulf Coast has come full circle. What began with one educator became a tradition of learning, service, achievement and connection that continues through Mary and the generations that followed.
