A Place to Land Safely: Sierra Akers, CCP Alum and Diversity Fellow

For Sierra Akers, a CCP alum and current Diversity Fellow in Behavioral Health and Human Services, the College is more than just an institution of higher education; it’s home. “At times, where I've needed some place to land safely and feel comfortable, I've come back to CCP,” Akers said. “Whether it was to go to school or to come back and get resources, and now even as an employee.” Through the Diversity Fellowship program, Sierra is receiving valuable teaching experience and mentoring as CCP works to increase faculty diversity. As we celebrate 60 years as a learning institution, we also celebrate lifelong connections with alum like Akers, one of several graduates who now work at the College.

“I'll tell you, my greatest memory from CCP really is the community that I built here,” Akers said. “My best friend, Marion Whaley, and I met here in the back of one of our [Behavioral Health and Human Services] classes, and we have continued to do life together.” It’s connections like these that make this place feel like home to so many students, faculty and staff.

But Sierra has taken more than just friends and knowledge from her time here at CCP. She’s gained a perseverance that’s helped her throughout her career and life in general. “CCP taught me to keep going, to just try again. If it doesn't work the first time, a do-over is not a failure,” she said. It’s this persistent attitude that brought Akers back to CCP as a Diversity Fellow and what will keep her connected as she moves forward in her career. "It prepared me to meet plenty of barriers in the world, but also how to pivot and keep going no matter what.”