Carol Strom, a former member of the College’s Board of Trustees, will receive an honorary degree at the 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony May 9.
Campus certainly looks different than it did when Carol Strom took office in the mid-1990s.
After serving for 31 years on the College’s Board of Trustees, Strom decided it was time to retire this past November.
“It doesn’t seem like 31 years. It seems like only yesterday when I started,” Strom said. “It’s just been incredible. The progress and the changes that have occurred with each one of the presidents, it’s been absolutely amazing.”
That service has earned Strom a very special designation: she will receive an honorary degree from Schoolcraft College during the 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony, which will take place May 9 in the TrinityElite Sports Center.
A Detroit native, Strom graduated from Cooley High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in teaching from Wayne State University. She then began teaching physical education in communities such as Southfield and South Lyon, where she helped launch the South Lyon High School girls’ varsity basketball and volleyball teams.
Living in Livonia, Strom saw an opportunity to get involved with the local PTA. Her experience there led her to running for the board of education for Livonia Public Schools.
Then, the opportunity that would define her public service would become available: a vacancy popped up on the Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees, and Strom was encouraged to apply. Given she had been part of committees to help establish the College decades before, Strom said it was a natural fit. So, she applied.
“I had been involved with the Livonia schools,” Strom said. “I just felt like it was something I wanted to do because I had served 14 years on the Livonia board and I wanted to move on.”
Major impact on the College
Strom served in several leadership roles on the Board, including as vice chair and chair, overseeing the governing body of the College. One of the things that motivated her to run for reelection to the Board was the wonderful working relationship the Board of Trustees has had.
She joined before several buildings were constructed, including the Biotechnology Center, the TrinityElite Sports Center and the Vistatech Center, which Strom had plenty of input to give.
She recalls informing Dr. Richard McDowell, then-president of the College, that the Vistatech Center needed an overhang at the entrance. She was convinced the building wouldn’t be successful without one and wouldn’t bring it to the table for a vote without it.
“I said, ‘If I’m dropping my 85-year-old mother off at the college, I don’t want her to be out in the open,’” Strom said.
Today, not only does the Vistatech Center have that overhang, but the breezeway entrance now bears Strom’s name because of her influence: she was recognized in a dedication ceremony naming the breezeway after her last summer.
Despite resigning, Strom isn’t giving up all her connections to Schoolcraft College. Dr. Glenn Cerny, current president of the College, has named Strom to serve on the Schoolcraft Development Authority, which oversees the dynamic partnerships the College has.
“Few people have had the impact on Schoolcraft College that Carol has had. Her passion for this campus and its students is unrivaled,” Cerny said. “We are eternally thankful for all her hard work to make our campus the amazing place it is today.”
Strom’s influence has reached far past campus. During a December meeting at the Livonia City Council, Strom was honored and recognized for her hard work and dedication to Schoolcraft College by then-Councilwoman Laura Toy, who also previously served as a member of the Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees.
“Many years ago, the best way to find yourself is to use yourself in the service of others,” Toy said. “And you certainly have done that.”
Despite her retirement, Strom still finds herself fielding questions about the College at places such as church. Her dedication to the College is something she will treasure forever.
“It’s a great place to be involved with,” she said. “Schoolcraft College is one of the gems in this area and it keeps getting better and better.”
