PRODG Entertainment Promotions

PROFILES

Louis Elneus
Founder of HLD

Richard Jeanty
Author & Entrepreneur

Leslie Demangles
Author & College Professor

Danielle Legros-George
Haitian Poet & Autor

Margaret Papillon
Haitian Author

Myrtelle Cherry
Haitian Artist & Painter

Carole B. Joseph
Mass Bay Community College President

Gashford Guillaume
Mozayik Drummer

Pascale Auguste
Haitian Association Against Cancer

Andy Jacques
Haitian Fashion Designer

Phillip J. Brutus
State Representative

Yvecar Momperousse
Haitian Student Alliance

The Maroons
Haitian Writers & Poets

Evans Thesee
Founder HaitianConnection.com

Abdias Charles
Founder of Repair Haiti.org

Mecca AKA Grimo
Haitian Hip Hop Artist & Activist

Fania Simon
Writer, Lecturer & Activist

Nadege Fleurimond
Owner of Fleurimond Catering

Interview: Carole Berotte Joseph, Ph.D.

		Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph was appointed president of MassBay Community College in Boston and became the nation’s first Haitian-born college president. Dr. Joseph who has been on the job for a little over a year spent the past ten years as the Dean of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer of another college. She moved to the United Sates in 1957 and speaks four languages fluently.
Prodg Entertainment Promotions president, Bleky Seide, recently recently had a chance to speak to Dr. Joseph about her new job, and what it means to the Haitian community.

Bleky Seide (BS): Dr. Joseph, for the benefit of our readers, who might be unfamiliar with your background, can you provide some brief biographical details about both yourself and your career as an educator?

Carole Berotte Joseph (CBJ): I began my career as a Third grade teacher in Manhattan (NYC) and taught a Spanish bilingual class my first year; I then taught JHS Spanish & French for a number of years in Queens, NY and began my career in Higher Education at the City College of NY (in Harlem) as an Instructor in the School of Education in the Bilingual Teacher Education program. I later completed my doctorate and continued to teach both pre-service and in service teachers for 23 years. I earned tenure and my promotions to Full Professor. I also became involved in Administration since I had been the Director and Principal Investigator for several grants serving the Haitian community. I was an Asst. Dean, Associate Dean, Dean of Faculty at Hostos Community College in the Bronx and later Vice President of Academic Affairs there. I had a very successful career within the City University of NY system (CUNY). I later joined Dutchess Community College, as Dean of Academic Affairs and spent 5 years in Poughkeepsie, NY in the State University of NY system (SUNY).

BS: You have been in your position since March 2005, how has the transition been?

CBJ: the transition has been, as expected, smooth because I was totally prepared for this major responsibility.

BS: When you were elected, did you have doubts with your leadership abilities?

CBJ: Presidents are appointed at the college level and I was very sure of my leadership abilities since I had been the 2nd person in charge of a college (VP of Acad. Affairs and Dean of Acad. Affairs) for 10 years prior to assuming this position.

BS: How do you get the students, who are rightfully self-interested in pursuing their education, to be interested in doing more than coming to school and leaving. How do you insert your leadership into their daily life?

CBJ: I support the Student Activities office with a good budget so that they can offer a variety of experiences to our students. As a community college it is very important for our students to not only attend classes but also attend other events on campus. We have an Art Gallery and every month the exhibits change. We house the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra and the Newton Country Players (a theater group) on campus so there are many opportunities for our students to enrich their lives and learn in different settings. I have just established an Office of International Education and Study Abroad and the purpose of that effort is to encourage our faculty & staff to internationalize the ways that they teach and do business and for our students to study languages and study abroad. That way they can get a more global experience even at the community college level.

BS: How does it feel to be the first Haitian American College President?

CBJ: I feel very proud and it is a really good personal feeling but I know that I have a big responsibility to be successful since I am a leader and a pioneer. I have always been an example to my family, friends, colleagues and community so I work hard not to let anyone down, especially in my community.

BS: What is your relationship like with the students? Do you think your sex has affected the way you're perceived by them?

CBJ: I have a great relationship with students on my campus since I am a teacher at heart. I always try to reach out to them. Introduce myself wherever I see them and find out how they are doing. I know that they like that. I don't think that my sex has affected the ways that they see me or think of me. As a matter of fact, I know that many of the young women are very proud of me.

BS: Do you think there are cultural influences which keep Haitian women from attaining positions of power? What can the Haitian community do to promote greater female involvement in all professions?

CBJ: Yes and No I believe that even though there are cultural norms that may limit a woman of Haitian background that she herself must want to learn and lead. Positions of power can be reached by anyone who believes in herself but it is how you use that position that is the difficult choice. Our community can allow everyone - men and women- boys and girls- to be what they want to be. Our community can help teach pride in being Haitian since we do not choose our countries of birth, we must learn about our heritage and use the things that are good in our culture to advance and let go of the things that are not so good. Parents can help by teaching their boys to be just as responsible around the home as girls are expected to be so that they learn to balance and support each other later in life, as adults.

BS: How do you use your leadership position at the university to impact the Haitian community?

CBJ: I have always been a community activist so I use my professional position to educate, to encourage, to organize and to mobilize the community when we need to take actions. I am often asked to speak at community events and so I back the community by not only being present but by also assisting various groups with their events. I also contribute financially to many organizations in Haiti and in the states.

BS: What challenges have you faced as a foreign woman?

CBJ: As a hyphenated American, I have faced much prejudice because many people just like to judge minorities negatively without even knowing me. I don't consider myself a foreigner since I grew up in the US. What has strengthened me throughout my professional life has been the belief and the assurance that I know I am more than good. I also know that most of the North American people who make up US society came from somewhere else so if it is not you who is an immigrant then it was your parents or your grandparents. This is a country of immigrants. I know that I have worked hard and have earned the respect of most of my professors, supervisors and colleagues and so I am confident that I can face the various challenges that come before me and not worry about what people think of me just because I was born in another country or because I am a person of color. Personally, I believe that one never knows enough so I continuously strive to better myself and to reach the excellence that I envision in all that I do.

Continue with Dr. Joseph's Interview