Counselor

“Because I’m coordinating the African American Collegian Center, I feel like I’m a mother. I’m only 29, but I’ve got all these teenage and adult ‘kids’ I take care of!”

“I want our students to know that when they come to talk to me, they’ll be getting a person who will do whatever she can to help them reach personal and educational goals,” says Sherri Johnson. “Many of our students need nurturing because I see a lot of problems with self-esteem. They have the capability to excel but, to a certain extent, they might be in need of some ‘cheerleading’ and a little bit of a push.” Sherri says that going the extra yard often means a huge effort to get students’ attention and make them feel connected at SMC.

“We had a ‘Welcome Back’ party and gave away free pizza on a radio station—92.3 ‘The Beat’—to let people know about us and encourage them to come to the African American Collegian Center,” she says. “And when students do come to us, they’ll find an amazing support program. We have tutorial services, counseling, and workshops on academic and social issues,” she says. “But we also have tours to visit other colleges. The tours are great because they give students a chance to think about a future they might not have imagined possible. And it also allows them to band together and find strength from each other. Ultimately,” she adds, “it’s this kind of involvement that gives students the desire to compete for scholarships and to feel that they deserve excellence in their lives. It’s my pleasure and my joy to see that they all get to where they want to go in life.”

SMC Academic Counselor Sherri Johnson began full-time at SMC in Fall ’99. Welcome!

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