Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez was inaugurated as Montgomery County Community College’s sixth president during a special drive-in ceremony at MCCC’s Blue Bell Campus on Friday, April 16.

A procession of area community college presidents, former MCCC presidents, special guests, MCCC leadership, and Dr. Bastecki-Perez was led by the festive beat of the East Coast Drumline, MCCC Municipal Police Academy cadets and macebearer, Dr. Celeste Schwartz, MCCC Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Digital Officer from the campus quad to the Morris Road parking lot for the drive-in ceremony. Guests watched from their cars and online via livestream.

The event started with the national anthem sung by Communications Instructor Jeslin Mathew and welcoming remarks by Frank X. Custer, Chair of the MCCC Board of Trustees.

“We eagerly look forward to this new chapter with Dr. Bastecki-Perez as our president, and the growth of Montco as an institution,” said Custer. “Her leadership and decisive actions have kept Montco at the forefront of higher education during a time when many institutions are struggling. She continues to build upon and strengthen relationships at all levels while expanding awareness of the College’s programs and services, but at the heart of everything she does, every decision she makes, is our students. And, after all, isn’t that why we are all here.”

Following a nationwide search, Custer said, the search committee was confident “that the best candidate to lead Montco was already at MCCC making a profound difference in the lives of our students and communities for more than 25 years.”

Dr. Bastecki-Perez plans to expand upon the College’s vision, mission and strategic plan together with the “passionate, enthusiastic, equity-minded, innovative, resilient and determined members of the Montco Family.”

 “As president, I hope to make a difference with an inclusive recovery for Montgomery County, economic and social mobility, and generational wealth, and to leave a legacy at Montco that is forever green, so that it will impact not only today’s County residents but the residents of the future for many generations to come,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez. “Traveling on this journey together with our Montco Family, I truly am humbled, privileged and grateful to serve as the sixth president of this remarkable institution where together we will inspire, lead and transform.”

Before she was appointed president, Dr. Bastecki-Perez served as Interim President (2019-2020), Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost (2010-2020), Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (2006-2010), Dean of Health and Physical Education (2000-2006), and Director of Dental Hygiene (1996-2003). Before joining MCCC, she was an award-winning faculty member and Senior Clinical Supervisor at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine for nine years.

MCCC’s Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Bastecki-Perez as president on May 18, 2020. During her first year, she has made several significant accomplishments, including launching the first Challenger Learning Center in Pennsylvania at MCCC’s Pottstown Campus in fall 2021.

MCCC also received the largest philanthropic gift in its history, a $3 million gift from Ken Baker, CEO of NewAge Industries, Inc., to launch the Baker Center of Excellence for Employee Ownership and Business Transformation, a valuable asset for the region’s businesses. The Center will help to boost economic recovery, strengthen an inclusive workforce, serve as a resource for models of dynamic employer-employee partnerships, and assist employers interested in advancing employee skills, particularly in leadership areas.

Throughout the pandemic, MCCC, under Dr. Bastecki-Perez’s leadership, has taken bold steps to help students and the community. MCCC became the first community college in the nation to collaborate with Talkspace to provide online mental health therapy to students at no additional cost. MCCC also was the first college in the country to partner with Benefits Data Trust, a national nonprofit that students may contact for assistance with public safety net services for their essential living needs. Additionally, MCCC launched the Montco Recovery Tuition Assistance Program to provide last-dollar tuition waivers for County residents who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

During the inauguration ceremony, several guests, including U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr., U.S. Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Achieving the Dream CEO/President Dr.  Karen Stout, Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Noe Ortega and Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chair Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH, among others, shared their congratulatory messages through recorded videos.

In her video remarks, Dr. Arkoosh noted how MCCC through Dr. Bastecki-Perez’s leadership, has been a “wonderful community partner throughout the COVID pandemic,” serving as a COVID testing site in 2020,  as the first mass vaccine clinic in the County and as voting registration, ballot drop-box and polling locations during the election.

“We can’t thank you enough for all the work you continue to do to make Montgomery County Community College more than a community college but a place for our entire community,” said Dr. Arkoosh on behalf of the Board of Commissioners. “Congratulations on your inauguration, and we wish you and the College continued success into the future.”

For the inauguration, MCCC students Doug Michie, Gordon Michie and Steven Nivan, under the guidance of faculty and staff members David Ivory, Michael Kelly, Ron DiSilvestro, Louis Rieger, Howie Gordon, Sarah Kane and Matt Porter created an original musical interlude, “Open Up Your Eyes,” that was played during the ceremony.

Before the ceremony, student-athletes Blaise Blomstrom, Mary Grace MacDonald, Grace Nicodemus and Jake Schalki presented a framed national championship basketball shirt with a piece of the basketball game net and MCCC athletic gear to Dr. Bastecki-Perez for her inauguration. The men’s basketball team was crowned the 2020 Region 19 champions and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in MCCC’s history, and basketball coach, Nyere Miller was named coach of the year.

Earlier in the week, students from Montco Radio held an “Inauguration Marathon” of radio shows, including a podcast interview of Dr. Bastecki-Perez. In addition, Galleries Director Patrick Rodgers presented a special landscape painting, “Twilight Landscape” created by alumnus Jackson Moyer for Dr. Bastecki-Perez’s office.

In celebration of her inauguration, Dr. Bastecki-Perez started an annual outreach initiative called “Monty’s Book Club.” Each year, Dr. Bastecki-Perez will donate books to the libraries of all public and private elementary schools in Montgomery County. This year’s selection is “I Believe I Can,” written by Grace Byers and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo. The children’s book has a simple yet powerful message of believing in oneself and having the courage to take risks and bounce back from setbacks.  Her favorite line is “I know I can do anything – if only I believe I can.”

The installation ceremony was the capstone of a two-week series of events marking the celebration, including two free drive-in movie events for community members as well as fireworks.