NORTH MANKATO — If you had a keen eye at outgoing South Central College President Annette Parker’s recent retirement party, you might’ve noticed the starfish that donned the PowerPoint backgrounds behind words of praise for the retiree.
Or, you might’ve caught the starfish table toppers, which SCC students crafted themselves.
The animal is a nod to a familiar story Parker heard at an event a while back.
A man on a beach came across starfish that had been washed up onto the shore, and was throwing them back one by one. Another man approached and, after watching him for a while, asked the first man why he was doing it, and said that, with so many starfish on the shore, his efforts couldn’t possibly make a difference.
The first man hurled another starfish into the sea and said, “I made a different for that one.”
Parker was so inspired by the tale that she bought starfish pins to hand out to those she encountered throughout her tenure.
Eventually, it became tradition for students to wear a starfish pin at graduation for each person that made a difference during their time at the college.
As she completes her 12th and final year as president, Parker is reflecting on the impact she’s made and the legacy she’s leaving behind.
“I look at the list of presidents out in front of my office, and you think about your contribution, and it can’t be forever. That’s the resolve I’ve had, and I think I’ve done a good job in leaving the college in better shape than I found it,” she said as she sat at her desk wearing a starfish pin on her lapel.
“The number one thing that I always say is that I took a really great college, a really student-focused college and I elevated that to a higher level to make sure that we’re providing everything that we can to help them be successful. I think that that’s probably my biggest contribution to the college, and I’m extremely proud of that.”
Parker said she never thought she’d be a college president. An advocate for career and technical education at SCC, she started as an autoworker herself.
“In the downturn of the auto industry back in the 80s and 90s, I decided to go back to school, so I went to Lansing Community College and fell in love with teaching there,” she said.
Parker said staff at Lansing saw her helping other students and asked her to be a tutor. She then started moving up and continued to fall in love with teaching.
“Instead of pursuing engineering, I decided to pursue education. After that I became full-time faculty where I served for 12 years. Then I was asked to go into administration,” she said.
Years later, a search firm working for the Minnesota State system reached out and asked her if she was interested in the president role.
She was a finalist for both SCC and Riverland Community College at the same time but said visiting the local community steered her in this direction.
“I believe that the role of the community college is to be a support for community, to build strong communities, civically engage students, and Mankato and Faribault seemed to fit who I am as an individual,” she said.
Parker said coming out of a career and technical field herself helped her see how SCC could connect the community and employers with the school’s programs.
Not long after the start of her tenure, Parker would put SCC’s name on the national map.
Months after her start date, she was appointed to President Obama’s advanced manufacturing steering committee, which led to a $15 million grant for the Minnesota State system. That eventually helped build a sustainable model for apprenticeships at SCC.
Parker said that, as a former adult student herself, she tries to instill that anything’s possible.
“I try to inspire young women, because I was a mom of three when I went back as an adult student,” she said.
Parker is also close with her family. In fact, two of her grandsons have been right down the hall from her office, including one who graduated from the business program in May.
“That was awesome because I got to officiate my grandson’s commencement. I started with him by just taking him on a tour. He lived in Kentucky, so he really didn’t understand my job until I had him on campus. He toured the campus and he was like, ‘I’m coming here,’” she said.
Her other grandson at SCC, KeJuan Thompson, is in the culinary program.
Thompson said he was frustrated that he couldn’t start earlier so Parker could hand him his diploma at graduation like his cousin, but mostly, he’s extremely proud.
He said his grandmother has taught him that dedication and working for your family pays off in the future.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am. My mother wouldn’t have met the people she met to bring me into the world, and I wouldn’t have the choices I could have now,” he said.
SCC student April Khemphomma met Parker during her first semester of college during a day celebrating first-generation college students like herself.
She wasn’t supposed to be there that day, but her job told her she could have the day off.
Khemphomma, who is studying business management, went back to school after over a decade in a welding career. Parker’s story, which is similar to her own, lifted her spirits.
“I felt like an imposter. I was going into school with people younger than me. I was going into school with people that had parents that were providing for them so they can get their education, and I was providing for my two kids by myself,” she said. “Then this woman comes down walking down the hallway, and everybody’s talking to her.”
“With her presence, I felt her aura where I was safe, I was comfortable … She told me her story, and it was just the same story. We came from the same background. She gave me hope.”
Parker also has a strong reputation with Minnesota State system and SCC faculty.
Minnesota State Chancellor Scott Olson said it was obvious from the get go that Parker was going to be an amazing leader.
“The thing that first struck me and continues to amaze me is the national connections, the national perspectives that she brought. We often in Minnesota think locally and regionally, but she brought a true national perspective to Minnesota State and to South Central College,” he said.
SCC Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Kelcey Woods-Nord said Parker is a true advocate of the school in the community.
“She’s competitive, but in a good way. She wants the best for the college. She’s willing to ask the questions and listen to our feedback about issues that are present for the college, but I think the thing that we focus on the most is that she’s student-focused,” she said.
SCC Dean of Business and Industry George Taylor said Parker was a large reason why he came to work for the school.
“One thing that really stood out to me is that she said continue to work with your faculty. Make sure that you have meaningful conversations and know what makes them tick. Give them space but also make sure that you have your pulse on your vision,” he said.
Parker said she is also proud of the work she’s done with incorporating Achieving the Dream at SCC, a network of community colleges that helps students, including low-income students and students of color, meet their goals.
Ritu Raju has been named SCC’s next president and will take over the role on July 1. Raju brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education leadership and instruction, according to the school’s announcement.
Parker said her hope for the future is that SCC continues the legacy of student success.
“I think that the college is well equipped for that. I didn’t do this work by myself. We did it as a college together, and there’s a lot of really good talent in the institution to help the next president continue to elevate that work,” she said.