“Leadership Spotlight” is a new series highlighting the leaders who are driving innovation across the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College (D3C3) network. In each issue, the D3C3 team sits down with a community college leader or partner to hear how they’re thinking about student success, collaboration, talent development, and the future of community colleges.
September’s spotlight features Kojo Quartey, President of Monroe County Community College (MCCC). Shaped by a global upbringing and his experiences as a first‑generation student, Quartey leads with a mission‑driven commitment to expanding opportunities for learners in Monroe County. During the interview, he reflected on the experiences that shaped his leadership, MCCC’s evolving role in the Detroit Region, and the impact of partnerships such as D3C3 on advancing student success.
When Kojo Quartey talks about student success, he speaks from personal experience.
Born in Ghana and raised across four countries as the son of a diplomat, Quartey’s journey eventually led him to the U.S., where he attended Morgan State University in Baltimore. As a first-generation college student whose parents had limited formal education, he saw firsthand how education can create opportunities and change lives.
Today, as President of MCCC, he continues to draw on that experience to shape both his leadership and the college’s mission.
“My leadership mission is focused on removing these barriers for our students who are in sore need of MCCC to uplift them and enrich their lives so they can earn credentials of economic value and achieve success in life,” Quartey said. “What I do at MCCC is more than just a job. It is a mission, a purpose in life.”
Removing Barriers, Expanding Opportunity
Quartey believes community colleges play a critical role in helping students overcome challenges that can stand in the way of educational attainment.
At MCCC, those challenges often include transportation, childcare, food insecurity, healthcare access, technology needs, and the rising cost of living. In response, the college has developed a range of support services, including a food pantry, clothing closet, free transportation, emergency funds, scholarships, and mental health resources.
“What I am hearing more recently is that students and parents are concerned about the cost of living,” Quartey said. “Some are asking, ‘Why go to school when I can barely afford my groceries?’”
For Quartey, addressing those barriers is more than helping students stay enrolled. It’s about helping them achieve their goals, uplifting their families, and strengthening their communities.
Meeting Workforce Needs
As workforce demands continue to evolve, MCCC is expanding programs designed to connect students with high-demand career opportunities.
Over the past year, the college has introduced new programs in healthcare, technology, supply chain and logistics, drone technology, and aviation. MCCC also remains the only college in Michigan offering a Nuclear Engineering Technology program in partnership with DTE Energy, creating a direct pathway to employment in a critical industry.
Quartey sees these programs as part of a broader commitment to helping students earn credentials with real economic value while meeting the needs of employers across the Region.
Learning Through Collaboration
Partnerships have played an important role in strengthening MCCC’s work.
Through D3C3, the community college has adopted new approaches to advising, recruitment, student support, and workforce readiness while benefiting from peer learning and shared best practices across the Region.
“The collaboration with D3C3 gives MCCC access to best practices worthy of replication,” Quartey said.
Among the initiatives supported through D3C3 partnerships are automatic admission efforts, enhanced advising through the Student Success Center, expanded support for adult learners and students with disabilities, and deeper engagement in underserved communities. D3C3 has also helped MCCC strengthen relationships with K-12 partners and expand workforce readiness efforts through programs such as its Criminal Justice Academy.
“Recruitment is not about the numbers,” Quartey said. “It is simply about better serving our community.”
Looking Toward Community College 3.0
That community-focused mindset also informs how Quartey is thinking about the future of community colleges.
Looking ahead, he is focused on what he describes as “Community College 3.0,” ensuring students are prepared not only to complete a credential but to succeed after graduation.
A major priority is establishing MCCC’s first career center, which will provide career navigation services from early exploration through completion while helping connect students to mid- and high-wage career opportunities. The effort is designed to strengthen pathways from K-12 education through college and into the workforce, aligning with Quartey’s belief that the future of community colleges remains closely tied to strong partnerships among education, business, and industry.