Over the past month, we've had the pleasure of welcoming several distinguished guests to campus.

In early September we welcomed the Commissioner of Higher Education for Massachusetts, Commissioner Carlos E. Santiago and Mass DHE's Senior Associate Commissioner for Strategic Planning, Winifred Hagan, Ed.D. to campus to kick off the strategic planning process we'll be embarking on this year. Our guests enjoyed a tour of campus followed by an all-college meeting with faculty and staff.

In October, we welcomed members of the Joint Committee on Higher Education to campus for a tour and critical dialogue. Committee Chairs Anne Gobi and Jeffrey Roy were joined by Senator Jo Comerford, Representative Mindy Domb, Representative Paul Mark, Tom Sannicandro, and Sean Garballey. We had some terrific conversations about the opportunities and challenges we face as the most rural community college in the Commonwealth. Thank you to the faculty and staff who helped show our legislative guests what's so special about GCC as well as the students who carved time out of their busy lives to meet.

In late October coinciding with Mass STEM Week it was an honor to host Massachusetts Secretary of Education, James Peyser, on campus. Secretary Peyser oversees early education, K-12, and higher education for the Commonwealth and is Governor Charlie Baker's top advisor on education. Senator Jo Comerford also joined us on the tour, as well as representation from Representative Paul Mark's office. We're deeply appreciative of their steadfast support for GCC and the region.