Victoria Makumbi’s dedication to her work – in both academic and professional settings – has been the backbone to her success. The Middlesex Community College alumna put herself through college and has built an impressive resume of achievements. Her journey started at MCC where she “was able to learn through hard work and perseverance, I can dream beyond tomorrow.”
“My experience at MCC was very enriching, enlightening and rewarding,” she said. “Attending MCC enabled me to be immersed into a sweet melting pot of students from different ages, cultures and backgrounds.”
In addition to MCC having “a great reputation for diverse learning,” Makumbi decided to come to the college because it was affordable, close to home, and recommended to her by friends. In her experience, she enjoyed MCC’s strong curriculum offerings, variety of pathway options, scholarship opportunities, small class sizes and flexible schedules.
When Makumbi was unsure if she could afford moving on to a four-year college, her advisor Jane Fain, MCC’s Coordinator of Transfer Affairs, told her about the MassTransfer system. Combined with financial support from the Lura Smith Scholarship, MassTransfer offered her a more affordable path to continuing her education. She is thankful for these opportunities and that MCC was so dedicated to her success as a student.
Makumbi graduated from Middlesex in 2010 and transferred to UMass Lowell to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting and then a master’s degree in Accounting. She worked first at Ernst & Young LLP and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and is now working for The Kraft Group & Affiliates.
“This opportunity came along through a conversation sparked by a recruiter noticing I started my education at a community college and worked my way to earn a master’s degree and become a CPA,” she said. “Through grit, tenacity, perseverance and having a strong educational foundation at MCC, I have seen my career journey evolve successfully in ways I could not have imagined.”
At Middlesex, Makumbi studied Business Administration. Many of the courses she took that were required for her major helped her stand out, including Business Law – a course she says is important to becoming a CPA. Her professors also helped make the information easier to understand. Makumbi remembers Professor Barbara Noonan mimicking the dance movements of Elvis to teach the cardinal rule of financial accounting – “debits must equal credits.”
In Business professor Dr. James Dottin’s Principles of Marketing class, she learned how to relate the theoretical knowledge she was learning to practical real-life experiences. From Dr. Dottin, she also found an additional source of motivation.
“Dr. Dottin was a great inspiration for me as a Black student,” she said. “He set an example that with hard work I would be able to achieve success in the business world. It was inspiring to see someone who looked like me be successful and share encouraging words.”
While Makumbi developed a foundation of business skills at MCC, she also found her other courses to be beneficial. In her sociology course she learned about different cultures and how to relate more to others. She discovered the benefits of diet and exercise in her health and nutrition class – knowledge that helped her maintain good habits when she was working towards her CPA as she needed “strong mental and physical stamina” to stay on track.
A particular moment of pride for Makumbi during her time at Middlesex was her induction into Phi Theta Kappa, MCC’s honors society. While the recognition of her hard work opened up more networking opportunities, Makumbi was just as proud to have her mom come to the ceremony. She also made sure to attend many campus activities to network with and get to know her classmates and faculty.
Because the college gave her such a positive and supportive start to her academic and professional journey, Makumbi recommends other students choose Middlesex as theirs. From the professors to the variety of course and pathway options, Makumbi believes MCC provides opportunity for students.
“MCC is always evolving to cater to the student body’s needs and provides them with the most current learning to help them succeed,” she said. “MCC helped me gain confidence that I can step outside of my comfort zone and not be afraid to try new things.”
MCC’s Business program helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_business.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a Business degree at Middlesex.
MCC is celebrating 50 years! If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join in on the 50th anniversary celebrations – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or [email protected]. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.
There is still time to register for MCC’s Spring semester Mini-mester II, starting on March 29. To register, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.
Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!
