MCC Appoints Interim Provost & VP of Student & Academic Affairs

Middlesex Community College has named Dr. Arlene Rodríguez Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs. She has over 20 years of experience working in the Massachusetts community college system, most recently as Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs at Cape Cod Community College. With a lifelong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Dr. Rodríguez and MCC share a mission of providing an equitable and accessible education to all students.

MCC President Phil Sisson has worked closely with Dr. Rodríguez since 2015 when she became the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Springfield Technical Community College. Calling her a “change agent leader,” Sisson is excited to welcome Dr. Rodríguez – and her dedication to equity in higher education – to Middlesex.

“I have truly admired her exemplary leadership in a number of areas which I believe are critical to our future success at MCC,” President Sisson said. “I not only have complete confidence in her ability to lead our academic and student affairs areas, but I am also confident that Arlene will bring an important new perspective to our work ahead.”

Throughout her career, Dr. Rodríguez has developed strong relationships within the community, creating relevant and valuable partnerships, fundraising initiatives and opportunities for students to reach success. Her experience working within the Mass. community college system has shown Dr. Rodríguez the positive impact that Middlesex has made throughout the state and for the college’s students.

“I am honored to be part of an enterprise that is committed to the Greater Lowell and Bedford communities, and ensuring that all of our students have access to social and economic mobility through a college education,” Dr. Rodríguez said. “I am enthusiastic about working with an innovative and dynamic community of faculty and staff on deepening that commitment.”

Before her tenure at Cape Cod Community College, Dr. Rodríguez was the Senior Academic Affairs Advisor to the Mass. Department of Higher Education in which she worked on boosting college completion rates, closing achievement gaps, and graduating more students from underserved populations. She also co-led the initiative “100 Males to College” to create a college-bound culture for low-income males and young men of color.

With a doctorate in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Rodríguez holds an MA from Lehigh University and a BA from Fordham University. Fluent in Spanish, she started her career as an English professor, transitioned to the administration level as an Academic Dean and then became Vice President of Academic Affairs at Springfield Tech.

A productive member of her community, Dr. Rodríguez has been appointed to the Barnstable County Human Services Commission, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and was on the Springfield YWCA’s Board of Directors, among other titles. She has also won several awards dedicated to her human service and leadership.

For more information about MCC – and to register for the Summer and Fall 2021 semesters – visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!