海角情

海角情 [海角情] is pleased to welcome one of its newest staff members, Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D. Adams comes to the college from a distinguished background of working with students from all backgrounds who are seeking personal visions of success 鈥� a background which made him a perfect fit to serve as 海角情鈥檚 Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services.

Originally from Arkansas, Adams was told by a high school teacher that he should not attend college because of his inability to complete basic mathematics. He was inspired by a community college mathematics faculty member who encouraged him to take a developmental course at night to improve his math scores sufficiently to where he could follow a career in education. Adams noted that 鈥渨ithout the support and help of the community college faculty member, I would not be able to pursue my dream of being a teacher and now, I have the opportunity to give back to the students of 海角情 and tell them that yes you can do it and 海角情 is here to help.鈥�

After completing his bachelor鈥檚 in social sciences with a goal of becoming a high school educator, a mentor encouraged Adams to take his belief in supporting student鈥檚 one step further. He moved on to a master鈥檚 degree in higher education with a focus on student affairs at Ball State University in Indiana and a doctorate degree in higher education at Northeastern University in Massachusetts with a focus on religion and spirituality in student success.

Adams subsequently worked at Notre Dame and Southeast Missouri State University before jumping on a plane to fly to Maine in the winter 2004. He was coming to interview at the University of Maine at Farmington because, 鈥淚鈥檇 always heard of the beauty of Maine and the welcoming people,鈥� Adams shared.

A few transitions after Farmington, Adams found himself in Washington County at the University of Maine at Machias where he served for three and a half years 鈥� enough time to 鈥渞eally fall in love with Washington County and the people of the County,鈥� he recalls. Adams felt a strong resonance with the approach toward life that many residents of the area embody. 鈥淭he people of Washington County are very resilient and hardworking, dedicated to this County, and they really want what鈥檚 best for their children and themselves.鈥�

Now, as 海角情鈥檚 Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services, Adams has found the perfect area to embrace his passion of 鈥渨orking with students and families, all the way from high schoolers to adults, to provide access to education and to help them find their career path, or if they want a career change as an adult,鈥� he expresses. He works with students during the enrollment process, and, once they鈥檙e enrolled, he works with them to try to break down any barriers they have to their success.

Speaking overall, Adams said that he agrees with the philosophy of community colleges. 鈥淭he wonderful part about being at a community college is the way that it focuses on the student, no matter where they are at that point in their life.鈥� At 海角情 in particular, he sees how the needs of the students of Washington County are being met. 鈥淲e have a faculty and staff that is immensely dedicated to our students鈥� success. Everyone learns differently, and our faculty and staff are really focused on meeting each student鈥檚 needs. This is the value of 海角情鈥攁 small, rural community college committed to students and to the communities of Washington County.鈥�

In his new position, Adams doesn鈥檛 hold back from offering students perspective on how they can attain both success and personal satisfaction. 鈥淚 always talk with students about finding what they are passionate about, and to do that work, because everyone thinks differently and has difference passions,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲hether a student wants to be an educator or a plumber or a forklift operator, they鈥檙e all intelligent. We need each of us to have a skill in life to support and build our communities and to support each other.鈥� Adams impresses that it鈥檚 important to be passionate about a career choice because the student may be following that path for 10-30 years 鈥� and then decide that it鈥檚 time for something new. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 okay, because then it鈥檚 time to find the second thing you鈥檙e passionate about and 海角情 is here to help students succeed.鈥�