MCC Student Activities Director Steps Down

By: Corina Lombardi-Adamousky

Posted: 5/6/09

There are legendary rock bands, notorious singers and even well-known excursions taken by explorers, but never has there been a more distinguished director of Student Activities and College Center at Middlesex County College then Terry McGlincy. As of the fall 2009 semester, McGlincy will be stepping down from his position as director to a full-time professor at MCC.
"It's time to step aside. After 39 years here [student activities] it's time for a change. I've been teaching continuing education classes at night for a while now and I enjoy it," said McGlincy. "In the fall semester I will make my transition into a full-time professor."
McGlincy attended Montclair State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science and continued his education to receive his master's in student personnel. After completing his master's, McGlincy attended Rutgers University and received his second master's degree in labor relations. Seton Hall University was the next stop on McGlincy's educational journey. He earned his Juris Doctorate, which is the first professional graduate degree and professional doctorate in law, there.
"I worked at Montclair for about a year, maybe a year and a half before getting a job at MCC in November of 1970. I started off here as the director of Student Activities and the position grew from there," said McGlincy.
As a student at Montclair University, McGlincy was involved in many different student activities and always worked with people. As director of Student Activities and College Center, he continues to be involved with student life. McGlincy takes care of all the non-academic programs at MCC and enjoys working with the student body immensely, said Patricia Daly, assistant director of Student Activities and College Center.
"When Terry first started at MCC, it was just him and one other person running everything. He saw College Center being built and helped expand our staff to better take care of the student body," said Daly.
Many of the things seen in Student Activities are reasonably the same throughout the years, but it's the new students every year that keep the changes coming. It's refreshing. Working with students, thinking like them and with them keeps the staff young, said McGlincy.
"It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I started here, but I know it is. I love the interaction I get with student's here [student activities] that's another reason why I'll be teaching now," said McGlincy. "It's a substantial change from what I'm used to, but I'll still get that interaction between student and professor even if it is on a different level."
Since starting at MCC, McGlincy has worked under every president, has taken on tremendous responsibilities coordinating all events that come through the College Center and is a member of several committees. It's very rare to work in Student Activities for the length of time he has and his dedication to his employees and to the college is a tell tale sign of how much he loves it here, said Daly.
"I've been working with Terry for over 20 years. I remember the day he hired me. I was pregnant and he hired me anyway. Not too many people would do that. He is very selective when it comes to hiring potential candidates," said Daly. "He won't hire just anyone. He'll wait until he finds the candidate that he feels fits the best qualification-wise as well as with the environment. That's one of the reasons we are such a close knit group. He treats everyone as equals. You'll never find a better supervisor."
McGlincy will miss the day-to-day activities, the challenge of putting together large scale events that happen often without a lot of time, meeting different people from vendors to governors and such that come with being in his current position, but is ready to move onto the next phase in his life. Everyone working in Student Activities is sad to see McGlincy go, said Daly.
"I would not have lasted in a job going on 28 years without having as great a supervisor as he [McGlincy] is. He's fair to a fault and understands what kind of environment it takes to keep people happy," said Daly.
McGlincy will be teaching five law classes in the fall and also retaining his position on most of the committees he is currently a part of.
"If I had to describe my time in Student Activities, I'd say it's like standing in the ocean waiting for a wave to come, but before you can stop to enjoy it too much another wave is rippling toward you. It was exhilarating," said McGlincy.