A professional reference in the Albany area, WMHT gets new reporter/producer:
https://www.timesunion.com/business/...ness-spotlight
https://nynow.wmht.org/blogs/new-yor...edia-reporter/
Also, SyraQs: Warren Hilton rose from first-generation college student to OCC president:
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2022/0...president.html
https://www.sunyocc.edu/office-president
From the interview...
"Tell us about your childhood and how it got you to where you are.
Hilton: I grew up in Philadelphia, in a blue-collar neighborhood, a predominantly Black neighborhood. Like many neighborhoods in the early ‘70s, late ‘60s, everybody was a family. You could go into the neighbor’s house and get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You had friends, you played in the street.
My parents had not gone to college. They did both finish high school in the South and they migrated, like many Black folks did, from the South to the North. They always wanted more for my brother and I than they had. They made sure I did well in school, did my homework.
I stayed out of trouble, and anytime it looked like I was headed to trouble there was always a family member or a friend or somebody in the neighborhood or a coach that would kind of pull me aside and go, “That’s not for you. You need to go on a different path.” Because of that I am where I am.
Q: So you had a big support network.
A: I didn’t recognize it at the time. When you’re a kid you just think this is the way the world is. I would also say I did recognize at that time that there were people in the neighborhood who didn’t have as big of a network, and that’s where my parents and other folks kind of came alongside and helped those individuals.
Q: For kids today who are in the situation you were in, how does a community college help them get to where you are?
A: Community colleges are critical to all students, but particularly students who may be first-generation college students, students who may be low economic status, students who may be new to the country. We offer something very unique and special, at a low cost.
As a first-generation student, you step on a campus and think, “Do I belong here?” You do have what they call imposter syndrome. And it’s critical to help students understand that they do belong here, and that this is an opportunity for them to change the trajectory of their life.
Q: What have you done so far in Central New York?
A: I probably shouldn’t mention that most of what I’ve done is eat at very good restaurants. Everybody said you had to go to the barbecue spot, Dinosaur, so I’ve done that. I’ve certainly partaken in chicken riggies and the bakery at Green Hills. The apple fritters are wonderful.
I drove around to different communities and talked to people, whether it was going to get gas or buy something to eat, to get the lay of the land and understand kind of where people are, what they need, what they want.
Q: What have you learned from those conversations?
A: I think the number one thing that I’ve heard is they want opportunity. A young person who was working in Wegmans told me, “I want to be able to afford to go to college. My parents have done well, but they haven’t been able to save a lot of money.” Talking to individuals who are working in retail, or health care, they want opportunities to upskill.
Q: Enrollment is down at community colleges across the country, including here. What does that mean and how do you address it?
A: We do have to figure out ways to innovate and partner with each other so that we can do this effectively and efficiently. I’m interested in doing is figuring out what those partnerships are, what those innovations are, so that we can show our legislators, our constituents, our community, that we are adding value at a low cost. And once you can do that, that message will spread and you’ll see the enrollment bounce back.
But there’s a reality to that we all know. If you’re thinking about 17- to 19-year-olds, there’s just less of them today than there was 10 years ago. We’re uniquely positioned to not only help that 17-year-old and 19-year-old, but to help the 25-year-old, the 45-year-old, the 65-year-old who wants to get some training so that they can achieve their dreams.
Q: Low enrollment can mean that more people are working, right? If you see fewer people taking classes, that means they’re out working.
A: Absolutely. And I think that’s a good thing for the economy. However, I would also offer that those are folks who still have dreams right now. No matter what position you are, you’re thinking, “What can I do right now to advance, to help my family, to help my community.”
Maybe there’s a person who’s sitting in a really wonderful position, and they’ve done great in their career, and then they’ve been put in a position where they’re supervising people. We can come alongside them and provide that training on effective supervision.
Q: Let’s talk about SU basketball. It’s a big deal here.
A: Yes, it is. This is just my opinion, and Coach Boeheim can tell me I’m wrong, but he recruits in a way that is tailor-made for the strategy that he employs: getting the right people in the right position on your team. And he plays a unique style -- matchup zone -- and he’s been doing it for how many years, perfecting it. I think that’s innovative, and there’s a lot to be learned from that.
Q: Of course, OCC has had its own successful sports programs.
A: I was hoping we would get to that! You can look at the banners over here by the field of the national championships.
Athletics is one of the ways that brings vibrancy to the community, whether you love athletics or not. Maybe you don’t have a love for lacrosse, but if your family member is playing, you’re going to go support that family member.
Q: Obviously, you had snow in Philadelphia, but not like up here. You came to one of the snowiest cities in America.
A: You know, snow doesn’t bother me. As long as you can get around, it’s beautiful. Inclement weather is a part of life. It teaches us things. And people up here know how to drive in snow.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: What free time are you talking about? (laughs) I spend time with my family. I read. I really should exercise more – I eat way too much.
Q: Which means you need to exercise even more.
A: Exactly.
Q: What do you like to read?
A: I read a lot, obviously, about higher education because that’s my passion. I read books about finance and economics – my undergrad minor was economics. And then of course I like the John Grisham-style books."
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