Get to know the people who help make Prince George’s Community College a place where anyone can achieve their professional, educational, and personal goals.
Mother and son both receive diplomas at PGCC Commencement
Published June 27, 2024
This article was featured in the June edition of the Owl Brief newsletter.
As mother and son, Kellie Felder, 46, and Aaron Wilson, 20, have shared many life memories. Now, they can add receiving diplomas from Prince George’s Community College to their list. The pair was among nearly 1,000 students who walked across the stage at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, during PGCC’s recent 65th Commencement exercises.
“Being a single mother, raising a young African American man in today's society, and graduating with your son is a feeling that I can't even describe,” Felder said. “It was emotional. It was happy tears and happy emotions that we did this together. We pushed each other.”
Wilson was excited to experience college, as well as Commencement, with his mother.
“It made me feel like I graduated with a purpose because my mom wanted to graduate and she wanted me to graduate,” Wilson said. “I felt like I made her proud. At her stressful moments, she's been trying to be there for me during my stressful moments. It was very comforting and special to know that I graduated with her.”
Above: Kellie Felder and Aaron Wilson with PGCC President Dr. Falecia D. Williams during Commencement.
Dr. Falecia Williams, president of PGCC, highlighted Felder and Wilson’s story of triumph during her Commencement speech. Felder began her studies to become a Health Navigator at PGCC in 2012, but reduced her classes after being diagnosed with aggressive stage three triple-negative breast cancer.
“I was scared that I wasn't going to be able to finish or I wasn't going to be able to complete my courses,” Felder said. “So, luckily, I had amazing professors that understood.
According to a 2018 study led by a Mayo Clinic geneticist, triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 35 percent of breast cancer diagnoses in African Americans, and it is associated with a high rate of recurrence and poor five-year survival rates.
Despite Felder’s diagnosis, she held on to her higher education and career goals. With almost 20 years of work experience in the medical field, she wanted to advance her career by helping others manage their health care experience.
“Some people don't know a lot about the ins and outs of insurance or understand medical terminology, ” she said. “I always wanted to learn more about helping people, helping my community, and especially the elderly with the evolving health care system."
In addition to taking classes at PGCC, Felder also worked full-time, and provided caregiving for her mother. She credits her family, the professors at PGCC, and the flexibility of the course offerings for her ability to push toward the finish line.
"Professor Stephanie Burke gave me a lot of insight on how I can go from doing health navigation, to a community health worker, to public health,” Felder said. “She was very understanding through everything. She contributed to me completing my studies, but also my son being my cheerleader and motivation.”
Felder’s son, Aaron Wilson, began his mass communications studies at PGCC in 2022. He said he chose PGCC because he wanted an affordable way to ease into college life, as well as the comfort of knowing his mom was close by. He said he’s always had a passion for video and music editing, as well as other creative arts.
“I'm really passionate about graphic design and editing,” Wilson said. “Since middle school, I always wanted to get into editing just to see what it was like. Ever since I got a foothold on how to edit, it just snowballed from there. I have been developing these talents for almost seven or eight years now.”
Wilson said PGCC has been a supportive environment to learn, grow, and develop.
“PGCC is a diverse community college,” Wilson said. “I've met a lot of people and a lot of my friends at the College. I'm so glad I met them, especially the administrators and teachers. The professors have helped me most with trying to balance school and life so that I have a good work-life balance.”
Wilson and Felder look forward to life after PGCC. Wilson plans to continue his education at a local four-year university and Felder is excited to begin a new career in public health or health care management.
Dr. Mark Hubley
Published May 3, 2024
This article was featured in the April edition of the PGCC Connect newsletter. Sign up for it here.
In higher education, there are individuals whose dedication, expertise, and leadership serve as guiding lights, illuminating the path for others. Dr. Mark Hubley is one such exemplary teacher and leader at Prince George's Community College. With a commitment to excellence, Dr. Hubley embodies the values of the institution and has made significant contributions to the academic and personal growth of students.
Dr. Hubley, a tenured professor in the Natural Sciences Department, is known for his love of students, passion for teaching, and championing PGCC students. Despite constantly being sought-after to serve on committees and assume leadership roles, Dr. Hubley prioritizes students first. For more than twenty years, he has effectively balanced service to students in the classroom and the greater college community.
In 2010, he became the chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. In 2016, that department merged with the Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering and became the Natural Sciences Department. Dr. Hubley continued to serve as chair through 2019. From 2010 to 2019, the department grew considerably in terms of faculty, the number of students enrolled, courses offered, and class locations. The department played an important role in the successful development of the Academy of Health Sciences, which is the first middle college formed in Maryland.
Dr. Hubley’s leadership style inspired confidence and teamwork in the department, creating an environment where his colleagues thrived. Under his leadership, programs were revised and new courses were created to serve PGCC students better. He also championed faculty excellence and professional development, leading to many faculty achieving tenure and promotion. Faculty in the department have become leaders across campus, playing key roles in the Middle States accreditation reviews, the Faculty Senate, promotion and tenure committees, assessment, and more. Though Dr. Hubley left the position as chair in 2019, his leadership effectiveness is still evident in how his colleagues speak about him—they "love" Mark (as he insists everyone calls him).
Dr. Hubley's influence extends far beyond the confines of his department, and his college-wide collaborations transcend the boundaries of his discipline. His college-wide engagements underscore his commitment to institutional advancement. Additionally, his broad knowledge of his discipline, experience with college operations, and affable personality make him one of the most sought-after members of the faculty to serve on committees and special projects. His success as a faculty leader began early in his career at PGCC when he served as president of the Faculty Organization for two terms from 2006 to 2010. That service established him as a campus leader, and his popularity with Prince George’s Community College faculty continues to shine today. It would require a lot of space to describe all of Dr. Hubley’s contributions to the College, but here are a few highlights: he has served as co-chair of the Academic Council, chair of the General Education Committee, a member of the College-wide Tenure Committee, two terms as the chair of the Promotion and Tenure Appeals Committee, co-chair of the Chairs Council, and a member of the Curriculum Committee.
Dr. Hubley has published articles and books in the areas of biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology. At various conferences, he has presented his work in those areas, along with innovations in classroom instruction. Recently, he has joined with colleagues at national conferences to present the College’s new program in micro-credentials.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hubley has successfully obtained grant funding from sources that include the National Institutes of Health and Merck. However, of all his accomplishments, Dr. Hubley says his greatest ones are the positive connections he made with students across thirty-five years of teaching. In any role he is serving the College, PGCC’s Core Commitment of Students First has always been Dr. Hubley’s core commitment. Dr. Hubley’s love for his students is reflected in the comments his students have made in their reviews of his performance.
Dr. Mark Hubley epitomizes the quintessential academic leader. His foundation is a deep knowledge and passion for his field, and for over thirty-five years, he has been dedicated to transferring that knowledge and passion to his students. Throughout his career, he has been a scholar, a biologist, and an educator. He is deeply familiar with the process of research, understands how to analyze data, and makes informed decisions. Throughout his time at PGCC, Dr. Hubley has formed relationships with his colleagues and put himself forward as a leader—a leader who has not been afraid of challenges but a leader who has demonstrated success in uniting those he serves and helping them to flourish. Dr. Hubley inspires those who seek excellence in academia.
As we celebrate Community College Month, let us recognize the invaluable contributions of institutions like Prince George’s Community College in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education. Additionally, we want to acknowledge and honor outstanding faculty members like Dr. Mark Hubley, whose dedication and leadership enrich the educational experience and shape the future of students. Through their efforts, community colleges continue to serve as beacons of opportunity, empowering individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals.