The crowd at the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main was a welcoming one for Dr. Georgette Perez, when many of her friends from Hialeah and colleagues from her two decades-long career in higher education attended the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Dec. 13.
“I think [Miami Dade College] is one of those institutions that in this community ... it’s very difficult to be in a room and not have a good portion if not all of the people in the room some way, somehow, be impacted,” Perez said. “Whether it’s because you’re an alum, because someone you know went to school there, someone received some type of training.”
She said that one of the “most remarkable things” for MDC’s leaders, is “for us to be able to have that impact on our community. We are really a catalyst for this community in partnership with many of the higher education institutions that serve the South Florida area.”
Perez was named president of the Hialeah campus in 2022.
“I am a Hialeah girl so [my life is] very full circle,” she said.
She was educated at Florida schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Education degree in Student Personnel Administration at the University of Florida.
Florida Atlantic University awarded her a doctorate in Higher Education Administration.
Perez described MDC’s honors program and the breadth of corporate training, certificates and degrees offered, including a new bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence.
She also discussed dual enrollment for high school students who can accumulate college credits and save money on their college tuition bills.
Students of all income levels are welcome at MDC and many are eligible for financial aid. They can get meals from a food pantry, free tutoring, and take English language and workforce training, she said.
The chamber’s next luncheon is Jan. 10 at the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main, 6842 Main St.
The guest speaker will be Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, who is also a candidate for mayor of Miami-Dade County.
Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. To register go to MiamiLakesChamber.com.