As Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s first Hispanic person to serve on the President’s Cabinet, Dr. Corina Langford, Chief Student Officer, is in a unique position to use her specific set of experiences to advocate for all underserved minorities.
“I have experiences that no one else here has, and a different perspective,” she said. “Everyone has a unique contribution to give, and it’s important to have diverse voices in leadership because when everyone thinks the same way, that won’t lead to change. It’s like cooking – different seasonings come together to make something great.”
The President’s Cabinet serves in an advisory capacity to Dr. Juston Pate, ECTC president, and provides leadership and guidance on a variety of issues affecting the college’s mission and strategic plan.
Originally from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Langford is both a doctor of medicine and is working toward a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Educational Leadership. Her path to ECTC has not always been straightforward or simple. Her career began as a primary care physician, then she moved to teaching courses like anatomy and biochemistry.
“I was teaching the tough courses, and the success rates of my students was very high,” she said. “I realized that when I was teaching, I was helping others and empowering them. I have a passion to serve.”
For Dr. Langford, her success was not without challenges.
“Many times, I’m the only one at the table who looks like me,” she said. “That’s why it’s important for students to see me in this position. My mission in life is to give a voice to minorities and to show what is possible if you work hard enough. I think I am the proof of what is possible.”
Dr. Langford has also experienced situations where her accent and cultural background has led people to underestimate her intelligence, resulting in a need to work harder to demonstrate her capabilities.
In her work at the college, Dr. Langford hopes to be an inspiration to students, because representation matters. If students with similar backgrounds see her success, it can motivate them to be successful.
“I know what it is to feel that I have to compensate for other’s perceptions,” she said. “Other people may not know what it is to be excluded, but I know the importance of feeling like I belong. To me, it’s all about having more autonomy to drive change. Serving on the President’s Cabinet, I can make sure to represent underserved people like myself.”
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up