Tell us a little about your business. – Metropolitan Community College (mccneb.edu) provides students of any age with accessible, affordable opportunities to pursue their goals. As Associate Dean of Math and Natural Sciences, I work with faculty and staff in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, general science and the new biotechnology programs. What I enjoy most about my role is helping faculty and staff have the tools, resources and support they need.

How did you get started in the business? – I originally set out to become a math teacher. Math did not always come easily to me, and I had to work hard to succeed, which helped me understand the challenges many students face. I enjoyed the structure of mathematics, but what I enjoyed most was working with students. Helping students build confidence and discover they could be successful in math was the most rewarding part. While my career has evolved into leadership roles in both K-12 and higher education, I still consider myself a math teacher.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – When I think about the impact of my work, I think about former students and colleagues and the paths they have taken. One of the most rewarding parts of education is hearing from former students and knowing I played a small role in their journey.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – One of the biggest turning points in my life was realizing that my impact in education could extend beyond the classroom. When I began my career, my goal was simple: I wanted to teach mathematics. I never envisioned pursuing leadership roles. Over time, opportunities to support teachers and students led me down a different path. I am grateful I was open to those opportunities because they ultimately led me to higher education, where I have been able to combine mathematics and educational leadership.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Travel and explore new places. While I enjoy traveling with friends, I have learned not to wait for the perfect schedule. If there is somewhere I want to go, I try to make it happen, even if that means traveling on my own. Sometimes you simply need to make the plans and go.

Who inspires you? – My parents have always been an inspiration. They emphasized the importance of education and hard work, and growing up, attending college was always an expectation for my siblings and me, even though neither of my parents attended college. Their belief in the value of education helped shape who I am. I have learned from many outstanding high school and college instructors whose passion for teaching and commitment to students inspired me.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – One of the most meaningful lessons I learned during my Educational Specialist program was the story of the starfish. In the story, starfish has washed up on a beach. As one person throws them back into the ocean, someone asks why they bother since there are so many and they could never save them all. The response is simple: as another starfish is thrown back into the water, “It mattered to that one.” That story has stayed with me. In education, it is easy to focus on numbers, but real impact happens one student, one colleague and one interaction.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – I don’t spend much time thinking about how I will be remembered. I would rather focus on doing the right thing, supporting others and making a positive difference each day. If I can help students, faculty, staff and colleagues be successful, then I feel I have spent my time doing something worth doing.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – You can contact me at nriley@mccneb.edu or visit mccneb.edu/Biotech.