By Maggie Murphy
Guest Writer
Thirty years ago, I enrolled as a guest student at a community college located in Battle Creek, a short commute from Hastings where I had recently relocated. Little did I know just how much this experience would shape my life and career.
That semester, the great professor Liz Neumeyer created historical quests, sunny afternoons cataloging tombstones amid the brilliant fall foliage found across southwest Michigan, a lovely bit of fieldwork after earning my bachelor’s degree in history.
During the weekly evening classes, my classmates included recent high school graduates, veterans attending on the GI Bill, and adult learners, all figuring out their next steps. A few months later, I was thrilled to learn that KCC was building a new location: the Fehsenfeld Center in Hastings.
My adjunct teaching career began at KCC around the same time, primarily teaching evening classes in Hastings. KCC continued to offer part-time career opportunities that fit well with the needs of my growing family. Later, I joined the Fehsenfeld Center office staff, connecting with local students for more steps in their academic journey.
Over the years, I’ve taught at every KCC location and watched generations of students succeed. Many are now leaders in the community and sending their children here.
As the Fehsenfeld Center approaches its 30th anniversary next year, I’m reminded of what a blessing it is to have this learning institution in our town. Community colleges change lives, and I’m proud to be part of this wonderful tradition.
Maggie Murphy is a longtime educator, musician, writer and hobby farmer who is also a center assistant at KCC’s Fehsenfeld Center campus in Hastings. The center will celebrate 30 years in 2026.
This article first appeared in the September 2025 edition of BruIN magazine. To read the issue online, please visit kellogg.edu/bruinmagazine.
