Meanwhile, the McCree team has been building its online presence, which will include career skillbuilding, networking resources, a calendar of upcoming events, relevant articles, key campus connections, and more. By leveraging technology, both in-person and online learners will experience the full benefits the new center will offer. Nguyen said the goal is to envelop students with support throughout their academic journey and provide a clear pathway to career and life success.
“We’ll be working closely with the entire university community to deliver a rich experience both in and out of the classroom,” Ngyuen said. “We’re all here to help give every student the opportunities to explore their interests, leverage their strengths, and develop the skills needed in today’s world.”
The development and launch of the McCree Center is central to MBU’s work to reimagine the undergraduate residential experience. Last fall, the MBU Board of Trustees engaged leading higher education consultant EY-Parthenon to conduct a data-driven, independent analysis of Mary Baldwin’s market position and develop a strategy that enables the university to deliver on its mission to empower inclusive leaders to create lives of purpose and professional success in a changing world.
In April, the firm presented its recommendation for a new strategic direction for undergraduate, residential education at MBU, and earlier this month the Board appointed two creative teams to begin the work of rebuilding the academic curriculum and student experience based on this direction. The goal is to transform the college experience to meet the needs of today’s students who are on the road to adulthood and independence by combining an innovative liberal arts core with experiential workforce preparation at an affordable price.
Current students are not the only learners to benefit from the new center. McCree staff will soon begin working with alumni to develop career development support through regular online programming, career tools, mentorship opportunities, and networking events.
The new center was established through the generosity of longtime university benefactors Donald and Gabby McCree ’83.