For Dr. Leona McGowan, Virginia Peninsula Community College was the start of what some might consider an improbable academic journey. The foundation set at VPCC took her from a General Educational Development (GED) diploma recipient to college educator.
With associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees under her belt, she proudly graduated with a doctoral degree from Old Dominion University in May.
“It feels like the little girl in me saying, ‘You did this. Despite everything that stood in your way, all the obstacles …’ It just meant everything,” she beamed.
McGowan will never forget the College’s role in turning her life around. She happily returned to her alma mater when an opportunity she couldn’t ignore arose. This time, it was as an adjunct sociology instructor. She also taught SDV 100 College Success Skills.
McGowan enrolled at VPCC in 2003 at age 18.
“I knew I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to do that with the GED. My mom suggested that maybe I should start at the community college and just go from there,” she said.
She remembers challenges that could have changed her mind about taking the big step, but her drive outweighed them. McGowan had a 9-month-old child, worked part time at points, and she didn’t have a car. The College’s flexible schedule and location along a bus line worked in her favor.
“It’s small things like that you don’t really think about,” she said of figuring out transportation to campus. “It was important that the bus was right there. I could catch the bus from home just to be able to make my classes.”
She said the smooth enrollment process she experienced also helped.
“With everything I already had going on,” said McGowan, “if it had been something that was chaotic or unorganized, I probably wouldn’t have pursued it. It was pretty easy to enroll, register for classes, and everyone was so helpful and supportive.”
McGowan completed VPCC’s public administration program with a specialization in human services in 2007. The program is now called human services, she noted.
From there, an internship with a local social services agency turned into a job offer that launched her career. She has since enjoyed several promotions and about 12 years as a case manager and eligibility worker. Teaching also entered the picture.
“I was (also) an adjunct for an online college while I was still working full time in social services,” she recalled.
She admits her VPCC experience shaped her career. Human services faculty convinced her this field was the right fit for her. Additionally, a sociology instructor lit a fuse that eventually led McGowan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Saint Leo University.
McGowan continued her education at Saint Leo, earning a master’s degree in criminal justice. In addition to her Ph.D., she received ODU’s Outstanding Doctoral Student award in her department with a 3.93 GPA. Her doctoral research examined the “lived mentoring experiences” of Black women faculty at public historically Black colleges and universities.
That honor is as prized at the “Guiding Star Award” McGowan received from Elizabeth City State University, where she also teaches sociology. She noted it’s a student-nominated recognition for faculty excellence.
While proud of her accomplishments, she does not shy away from her background. Raised by a single mother, she became a teenage mother and dropped out of high school despite doing well academically. She wanted to create a different future for her children.
“I wanted to break that cycle,” said McGowan, now a mom of three. “I wanted to pursue my education so that I have at least the social and economic mobility to be able to take care of my children.”
“It has also let my children know that no matter what you go through in life, you can still be successful as long as you have dedication and you’re motivated. Your beginning does not define ending,” she added.
McGowan credits her mother, who’s her biggest supporter, with helping her stay on track. Her mother, she recalled, would meet her and her son at the bus stop between VPCC classes and work. Support didn’t end there. Her mom retired early to help care for McGowan’s youngest son so she could focus on finishing her latest degree.
The inspiration and influence went both ways, she stressed.
“At the time when I was enrolled in school, my mom ended up getting an associate degree. But I’m the first person in my family on both sides to get a graduate degree and also get a doctorate,” she said.
She’s keen on authenticity as life experiences inform her teaching approach. She shares her story with students, particularly adult learners, parents and others returning to school after time away.
“I always tell them my story, so that they know I once was in that seat that they’re in,” she said.
McGowan, who doesn’t have any VPCC classes this semester, wants students to see higher education as attainable. She reassures them that although family responsibilities, finances, transportation, or past academic experiences create barriers, they can enroll and finish.
McGowan describes community college as an “open door” for students who may not initially see themselves as college material.
“Take that first step,” she advised. “You don’t know what lies on the other side of the door if you don’t take that first step.”
It’s a lesson that began with a GED diploma for McGowan. More than two decades later, she celebrates an academic journey that ended with a Ph.D., a fulfilling role as a college educator and a lengthy career in human services.
