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Rochester EOC – 1970-71 From High-School Dropout to College Dean Thirty years ago, Dr. Emeterio “Peter” M. Otero never dreamed he would be a college dean someday – or even go to college. He didn’t even like going to high school, so he dropped out in 10th grade to join the Army. After earning his GED in the Army, Dr. Otero married and started raising a family. He realized that higher education was the key to a better-paying job, so he signed up for College Prep courses (such as English, Math and Logic Science) at the Rochester EOC in 1970-71 (then known as the Cooperative College Center). Balancing school, work and family wasn’t easy, but Dr. Otero was inspired to succeed. “I learned many things about myself at the EOC,” he claimed. “The logic course gave me new ways of looking at things. And the writing course showed me that I could be a creative writer.” His EOC experience enabled him to attend St. John Fisher College, where he graduated in 1976 with a degree in Psychology and Spanish. Then, he attended and graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Master’s degree in Counselor Education. He completed his formal education with a Doctorate from the University at Buffalo in Higher Ed Administration. Dr. Otero worked as a recruiter in the Hispanic community for the Rochester EOC until December 1981 when he became the Assistant Director of Admissions and then Assistant Dean of Admissions at Monroe Community College (MCC). Then, he was offered the position of Director of Student Services at MCC’s new Damon City Campus in downtown Rochester. He eventually became the school’s first Dean of Students and was appointed the Executive Dean of the campus in 2003. His responsibilities include overseeing the education of over 2,500 students, along with the school’s faculty and staff. He concludes, “My success has been dependent on others – like the EOC – so now I have the responsibility to ensure success in others.” |
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