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 “Welcome to Shoreline Community College!”
I love being able to say that, because Shoreline is exactly the place I want to be and I hope it will be for you, too.
One of the reasons I sought out Shoreline is the college vision statement. It says, “We are recognized for inclusive excellence in teaching and learning, student success, and community engagement.” I wanted to be part of a place that shouts out, “We will be the best for our students and community!”
How does a college become recognized for excellence?
Through its students. And that means we want to come alongside you to be your very best!
First and foremost, Shoreline is about student success. Shoreline has a reputation for academic excellence. That reputation has been earned by creating the environment and providing the support students need to do their best work. My experiences at Shoreline have confirmed that I am part of a learning organization that is focused on helping students finish what they start.
I know that Shoreline students come from all walks of life, so let me tell you a little about how I got here.
I am the youngest of four children, born to two high-school valedictorians and college graduates who instilled the value of education as the door to the life of the mind and access to the American dream.
My father is African-American and the oldest of nine. He grew up in rural Georgia where the violence and indignities of overt racism and Jim Crow laws did not crush his spirit. From a very early age, he wanted to fly. In the 1930’s, it was illegal for an African-American to become a licensed pilot. Despite the odds, he saved his money and learned to fly. Later, he used his skills as a pilot and became one of the distinguished aviators in World War II, known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
My mother is the only child of an only child. Her parents emigrated from Haiti in the 1920s. Among her many successes, she graduated from Benedict, a historically Black college, where she taught Freshman English at the age of 15 and received her baccalaureate degree at 18. Through my mother, I learned that truth can be found through education and the wonder of the written word.
So much of who I am comes from this wellspring of tenacious hope and belief in the human spirit.
Life is about discovering what your life is meant to stand for and then living that life to its fullest. French writer Marcel Proust said such discovery takes fresh eyes. Education can give you fresh eyes to discover talents and strengths so you can make a difference. This requires an openness to learn more, to care more, to achieve more for you and your community.
I urge you to engage in your education and know there are people ready to come alongside you on this journey of discovery. Shoreline is ready to walk with you on your path to success. I’m confident that together, you can get there.
With best wishes for your success,
Cheryl Roberts, Ed. D.
President, Shoreline Community College
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