INSPIRING OTHERS in Milledgeville and Baldwin County scene and heard
14 Milledgeville Scene | Holiday 2022
Alumnus changed family ’ s trajectory to serve as a role model for students
Dr . Cedric Howard , ’ 94 , who was Georgia College & State University ’ s ( GCSU ) commencement speaker in 2017 , has been named one of the “ Top 10 Inspiring People in Education ” by CIO Views Magazine . And all for good reason . As vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services at the University of Northern Colorado , Howard impacts the lives of students every day .
“ I like my role because I ’ m able to change the trajectory of not just the lives of students , but their families ,” Howard says . “ I ’ m very fortunate that I ’ ve been a vice president for over 20 years . And now , I get to use the vehicle of higher education as a vessel for social mobility , and be transformative in my initial approach to support people who were like me .” Born and raised in the Macon , Georgia , housing projects , he was the first in his family to graduate from college .
After his graduation ceremony , Howard ’ s grandmother illustrated the importance of what he had accomplished .
“ This speaks to the transformative properties of GCSU ,” he says . “ That day at the Centennial Center , my grandmother said , ‘ Cedric , I would like to have your gown .’” “ I earned this one ,” Howard says . “ We ’ re going to try this one more time ,” she said . “ I would like to have your gown .”
Howard handed her the gown . His grandmother turned to all 11 of Howard ’ s cousins and said , “ He is the first in our family to graduate from college . It is my expectation that each of you will bring me a college graduation gown .” “ This is the key : The knowledge belongs to you ,” his grandmother said . “ You went to school to get knowledge . The investment of the gown belongs to me .”
Howard ’ s grandmother passed away in 2011 . Each time the family celebrates a new college graduate , they take the graduation gown to their grandmother ’ s grave site and put it in a lockbox to pay respect to her and the tradition she began in June 1994 .
Today , she would ’ ve had 18 grandchildren — 16 of them have college degrees .
Howard started this tradition at Georgia College , which played a significant role in his development . He was a senior and student body officer in Student