Montgomery County Leadership: Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, President of Montgomery County Community College

This Montgomery County Leadership profile of Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, President of Montgomery County Community College, was originally published on MONTCO Today in December 2021.

Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, President of Montgomery County Community College, spoke with MONTCO Today about growing up the youngest of four children outside Pittsburgh. She attended the University of Pittsburgh with the hope of becoming a dental hygienist before discovering a love of learning and teaching and landing her first job, a full-time faculty position at Pitt when she graduated at age 21.

After getting her Ed.D. and teaching for several years, President Bastecki-Perez describes how she serendipitously learned Montgomery County Community College was looking for a Director of Dental Hygiene, landing the job and then working to become the college’s sixth president.

As president of MCCC, Bastecki-Perez talks about creating a culture of opportunity and learning and the challenge of leading the school through the pandemic.

Where were you born, and where did you grow up?

I was born and grew up in Allegheny Township (PA) in Westmoreland County, which is northeast of Pittsburgh.

What memories do you have growing up in Allegheny Township?

My parents knew that higher education would be a catalyst to change my life and my three brothers’ lives for the better. We are all first-generation college graduates.

Although my parents did not have the opportunity to attend college themselves, they were able to see and emphasize the value of higher education.

What did your parents do?

My dad was the senior staff technician for Alcoa for more than 35 years. My mom was a stay-at-home mom until we started heading off to college, and then she began working as the manager of a Hallmark store.

My parents sacrificed tremendously so that we could attend college, and my brothers and I knew we needed to capitalize on this wonderful opportunity.

My parents had a strong conviction for service and leadership. They always emphasized the importance of giving to our communities. From an early age, they had us volunteering with formal organizations or self-discovered grassroots efforts. They always taught us to pay it forward.

Where did their conviction come from?

I think it was part of the fabric of who they were and the timeframe when they grew up. They had some tragedies in their lives at an early age. My father lost his father in a car accident when he was a young man, and my mother lost her sister as a young adult as well. I think their families instilled a commitment to service in them, and they encouraged us to serve and take on leadership roles. They always saw the good in others.

What memories of growing up in Allegheny Township stay with you?

Because of the diversity of the Pittsburgh area, we had an opportunity to have enriched lives. While our family’s finances were limited, we were still able to take advantage of the museums, cultural events, and other transformational experiences.

Did you play any sports in high school?

I was the catcher on a championship softball team in a community league. Having three older brothers, I was very competitive. We played basketball, tennis, and racquetball, swam, and we were always outside because we lived in a very rural area. We would go sledding in the winter and pick blackberries in the summer. I was also a majorette in middle and high school, as well as in the marching band. I was involved in several clubs in school, including leadership organizations.

Did you have a job growing up?

The priority in our household was our schoolwork – so that was our job, per se. On weekends or holidays, I would babysit kids in the neighborhood. In college, I would come home on breaks and work in the Hallmark store with my mom.

What lessons did you learn from babysitting and in the store that stay with you today?

With babysitting, I learned responsibility, and I realized the positive impact my actions could have in helping with and caring for others. With the store, I always worked at peak times during the holidays, so I learned valuable customer service skills. You need to be a good listener and articulate and communicate well when working in retail. You also wouldn’t believe how fast I can wrap a package! That comes in handy every holiday or birthday.

Where did you go to college?

I began my college education at the University of Pittsburgh in the School of Dental Medicine. My career aspiration was to become a dental hygienist and complete two certificate programs at Pitt, dental assisting, and oral hygiene, which I completed with honors. I was a continuous learner, so I went through undergraduate at Pitt in six semesters, summers included.

While there, I had the opportunity to be a student-teacher and focused on K-12 education in the curriculum. I transferred to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania to earn with honors my Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, beginning my graduate studies at Exeter College, Oxford University, through study abroad, and then completed with honors both a Master’s and Doctorate in Instructional Design and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh.

You took a very unusual path from dental to education, what caused the change?

From an early age, I’ve always had a passion and avid curiosity for learning. When I was at Pitt in the Dental Hygiene Program, I participated in a practicum in the Pittsburgh Public School System and taught students about dental health education. Also, I was asked by a faculty member to be a teaching assistant in the labs of the dental hygiene curriculum.??

One faculty member, Microbiology Professor Herman Langkamp, took the time to invest in me the first semester of my first year at Pitt. He believed I had more to offer and encouraged me to continue my education beyond earning my certificates.

What was your reaction to that?

I knew he was right, but at the same time, I was an 18-year-old, first-generation college student. It was the first time someone outside of my family and inner circle told me I was intellectually talented and had a lot to offer. He helped me realize my potential and believe it!

What did he see in you that set you apart from the other students?

I think he saw my curiosity for learning and a strong work ethic, my critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities, as well as integrity and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I also demonstrated leadership in my classes, despite being a freshman and coming from a small rural town. I think he saw that I was humble and grateful for the opportunities I had through higher education.

Speaking of leadership, when did you first see that you had leadership abilities?

Read Dr. Bastecki-Perez entire Montgomery County Leadership profile on MONTCO Today here.