Dr. John Selmon, President, Muskegon Community College (MCC) in Muskegon, Michigan, shows how they boost student success through the Jayhawk Hub’s basic-needs support, 37 community partners, and AI-ready learning — driving retention, transfer, and workforce outcomes.
As part of our Heroes of Higher Ed series, we celebrate the remarkable leaders who are shaping the future of higher education through purpose, innovation, and compassion.
When I sat down with Dr. John Selmon, one of the first things that stood out was his humility and warmth. As he reflected on his journey, he shared that his path to higher education began with a simple but powerful motivation — the search for a better life. Growing up in a family of eleven, with eight brothers, education quickly became more than a pursuit — it became a shared family mission and a pathway to opportunity.
With more than three decades of experience in leadership roles across public and private institutions, Dr. Selmon has dedicated his career to advancing access, completion, and equity in higher education. Since becoming president of MCC in July 2022, he has led with the same values that have guided him throughout his life — perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
You’ve had an incredible journey in higher education. Could you start by sharing a bit about your background and what brought you to Muskegon Community College?
Muskegon Community College is one of 31 community colleges in the state of Michigan. We have approximately 5,000 students annually and roughly 80 certificate diplomas and associate degree programs. We have a diverse staff, and it's just a great place to work.
I began as Vice President for Student Affairs and Administration at MCC in 2011 and subsequently became Provost before assuming the position of President in 2022.
What was that transition like for you from student affairs to eventually leading the entire college?
It's a leap up, but I was prepared. I'd been through several training sessions with the Aspen Institute, Lake Institute, and Harvard's Management Development Program. I served as the second-in-command as Provost for approximately five years. I have a lot of experience working with staff and students in the community.
What led you to a career in higher education?
I was searching for a better life. For many years, I observed that college graduates generally did well after graduation. It changes your life. A college education can really help move the needle.
Looking back, was there a turning point that really shaped your career or gave you the confidence to pursue college leadership?
I think it was completing my doctorate. That was a turning point. The confidence was there for me. I had experience, so I felt it was time to pursue greater opportunities, such as becoming a college president. I felt ready for the next level.
You’ve worked closely with students throughout your career. Do you still see that same drive and motivation in today’s students?
In the media, you hear that the value of a college education isn't there. Still, the research that I do and the companies I speak with still clearly indicate that a college degree is the quickest path to the middle class. Some people don’t have such good experiences in higher ed. It's always going to be that way because you have to make up your mind that it’s what you want to do. College is voluntary in a sense. It's not like K-12, where you’re mandated to attend school.
The value of education is coming back to us, and enrollments are increasing. We're communicating to individuals in our community that there is value in a college education. Our institution is one of the ways to obtain a quality education and gain valuable experience. We want students to transfer to senior institutions and universities so that they can secure employment and earn family-sustaining wages.
That's our mission — economic mobility and the talent development forces of college.
Do you have any specific stories about your time in student affairs that made you feel like you made an impact on students' lives?
As Dean of Student Services and as Provost, I have had numerous opportunities to work with students and develop programs. We would assess where students are and what they need to succeed in terms of student support services. Many factors influence the classroom.
One of the things that has had the most profound impact on me is developing the Jayhawk hub, a system of support for students that aims to eliminate insecurities related to basic needs. For example, factors such as food insecurity, clothing, and transportation have a significant impact on students outside the classroom. If they can't eat right, they’re not coming to class and certainly aren’t going to pay attention.
Today, we have 37 community partners. One of the aspects of post-community college success is that, in terms of transfers and workforce, you need external partners to complete the necessary work. Community colleges cannot do that work alone. You have to engage partners and develop highly effective external partnerships to make it work. We focus on that.
What do you love the most about your institution?
We have amazing people doing some amazing things in this region and within our community! We all support student success and completion. They believe in it, and that guides our work. I love that about our institution and the people who represent the institution.
You have to have a team. I have the opportunity to work with some of the fastest and brightest minds in Michigan’s higher education institutions. Starting with our board of trustees, we're dedicated to ensuring they provide us with guidance and leadership as we move forward. And then our staff, as well as our students and community.
How do you define student success?
Helping students meet their educational goals. When you come to us, if you want to take a class or learn a skill set, we're here to help you achieve that goal. If you want to graduate and attend a senior institution, we want to support you in doing so. If you're going to secure a good career job immediately after graduation, we want to provide that opportunity for you, too. Credit and non-credit work, or training — it depends on the goal.
When a student comes to us, we ask them about their goals and try to help them achieve them. So, that to me is student success in the truest sense of the word. We want to deliver as an institution.
Is there anything that you would like to change about your job if you could?
I'd like to slow things down, perhaps. The speed of change and information is incredible. It's so fast-paced that you don't get a chance to catch your breath before the next issue arises. You press a button, and it goes around the world in nanoseconds. You don't even have a chance to sit and reflect.
In terms of information and things of that nature, I’d slow it down because it's so fast-paced. You must be prepared for this as an administrator, staff member, and student. Things are swirling around us at an incredible speed.
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) rolling around, you know it's here to stay. As an institution, you must adopt it in ways that are beneficial for both students and staff. It isn't slowing down, so you need a good team to roll with the situation that's before you.
Employers are looking at AI skill sets, like how you utilize AI in your daily work and similar activities. We must use it productively and effectively. AI can be really valuable, and our faculty have embraced it.
We have a policy, and they have some flexibility in terms of academic freedom to incorporate AI into their coursework. We have to prepare students for the real world. We must embrace it and help our students understand it critically, learning how to utilize it as a benefit. We're about teaching and learning, so we have to teach students and staff how to use AI and how to be productive with it, as it's now in the workplace.
Have you found that your staff and students are interested in learning about AI?
Yes, without question. It's the new thing. If you want to be on the cutting edge and be relevant in the world, you have to look at those things, get out front with them, and embrace them as a college.
We're a place where you can have intellectual dialogue. You can have a safe space to try things. AI is one of those things that we have come to embrace as an institution. We're having conversations in the community as well as on campus.
What advice would you give to someone who's entering a career in higher education?
Stay the course! We're committed to teaching and learning, so we continually strive to improve our skills and gain exposure to leadership, training, and other opportunities. Don't shy away from challenging projects or initiatives. That's where you learn most. That's where you grow.
Sometimes you don't tend to learn anything from it because you didn't try. You didn't get tested on challenging assignments. Raise your hand and get that assignment, because I guarantee you'll learn something from it. I would encourage people to remember that learning is a lifelong process. Continue lifelong learning and improve your skill sets. Take the tough assignments.
I look for individuals who sign up and say, ‘I'll try this. I don't know much about it, but I'm going to learn, and I'll do the best I can.’ That's the kind of person I'm looking for. They have to be willing to try to take it on and work on their skill set and policy skills, because the next time around, they'll be much better at that situation or scenario.
Always focus on teaching and learning, even when it comes to yourself. We do it for students, but you must also maintain the professional development aspect for yourself. You want to be ready, not have to get ready. Hit the ground running.
