Marian Howe-Taylor, M.A.

I attribute much of my success to the era in which I came of age, from the late 1970s through the 1990s, a period when multiculturalism was increasingly emphasized and eventually evolved into today’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most importantly, I credit my parents, Theodore Howe and Ruth Arline Howe, who were social workers before pursuing careers in law. My mother became particularly recognized for her work involving family law and child neglect. Through their careers and commitment to serving others, they showed me the importance of creating meaningful change, advocating for those who need support, and using my work to make a positive difference.

The best career advice I received came from my father, who supported and guided me throughout my early career, including helping me make important professional connections until his passing in 2000. I was also deeply influenced by Senator Tsongas, who taught me that no job is too big or too small for the person responsible for getting it done. His emphasis on humility has stayed with me throughout my career and reinforced the importance of remaining grounded, willing to learn, and ready to contribute wherever I am needed.

My advice to young women entering the field is to meet people where they are and focus on building genuine relationships by showing up, listening, and taking the time to understand others. I also strongly encourage education and continuous learning. If a four-year university is not immediately accessible, community college can be an excellent starting point. Formal education, combined with meaningful relationships and real-world experiences, can provide a strong foundation for professional growth and create opportunities throughout your career.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is navigating a rapidly changing social and educational environment while supporting a diverse community college student body. I have seen how immigration enforcement can create serious uncertainty for students, including individuals with green cards who may face detention or deportation. At the same time, the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and efforts to limit or avoid teaching accurate American history present additional challenges for educators and students. I find the current climate difficult to reconcile with the civil rights aspirations I grew up around and the values modeled by my family. My mother’s cousin, Virgil Wood, was close to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped organize civil rights marches, which has given me a strong appreciation for the importance of education, inclusion, and honest engagement with our history.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are grounded in my faith in God and the traditions of the African-American church. I draw particular strength from the scripture that reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. This belief guides how I approach challenges, relationships, and opportunities, encouraging me to lead with courage, compassion, clarity, and a commitment to serving others.