The Path to Success

As the 11th of 14 children, Kathy Simmons knows what it’s like to be a part of a close-knit family.

Which is exactly why she has made her way back to Trident Technical College 33 years after graduating in 1985.

Kathy’s path back to TTC began with her desire to fulfill two goals – advance her education and travel – and she figured the best way to accomplish both was through the military.

So Kathy joined the Air Force in 1987, and did indeed accomplish both goals. She received her Bachelor of Arts while stationed in Minot, North Dakota, her Master of Arts from Erskine Theological Seminary and she has completed 60 hours toward a Doctor of Education from Walden University. She saw much of the country and spent time overseas in Korea.

After the military, Kathy found herself back at TTC in the Admissions and Registrar’s office, and it was there she realized she really wanted to stay in education and help students find success. But a wise mentor once told her that in order to advance your career, you have to be willing to relocate. So Kathy took a job at a small college in Orlando as the college registrar, and then onto university registrar at a larger college in Oklahoma.

But Kathy missed her large, extended family back in Charleston, so she and her son moved back in 2016. Not long after, she was hired at TTC as the director of The Hub, a new student success center to help streamline the onboarding process and the path to graduation.

“I always knew I would come back to TTC. It is such a great place to work and The Hub was an excellent opportunity for me to bring my skills back to the college,” says Kathy.

She is very excited for the new opportunities available to TTC students at The Hub. Through the new Navigate software, students, with the help of dedicated Navigators, will be able to explore careers that fit their goals, design an academic plan and build their schedule out in advance, giving them a clear direction and streamlining their college experience.

Kathy says it will save students time and money. “There were so many students that were taking classes they didn’t need or changing majors because they weren’t sure, so Navigate helps students better determine what is right for them from the start.”

Kathy knows how frustrating it can be, as she was once in their shoes. She says, “When I was as a student here, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do either.”

That’s why Kathy is so passionate and dedicated to helping students find their path to success.

“I want students to feel like they, too, are a part of the TTC family. And by sharing my story with them, they can see that starting their journey at TTC can lead to success, just as mine did.”

Click here for more information about The Hub and Navigate program.