Jeff Carpenter and Carmela Ochoa have served at Moraine Valley for 15 and 30 years, respectively. Their commitment to diversity and fostering a climate of respect, in addition to their valuable work to implement a summer English camp in Irbid, Jordan, earned them the Embracing Diversity Award.
Carpenter manages communications tutors, who assist students with writing and “all things English.” The Academic Skills Center tutors Intensive English Language (IEL) students, including international students seeking to improve their English skills to excel in their courses, and students seeking assistance with research and writing techniques for their subject matter courses. Carpenter came to Moraine Valley after 30 years as a high school English teacher. He began at the college as an adjunct instructor before transitioning to lead tutor and then to working full time.
Ochoa oversees the college’s State of Illinois High School Diploma courses. Among her responsibilities is hiring teachers, creating class schedules and coordinating the Spanish section. She has been in her position for eight years, starting out as a departmental assistant prior to moving up to secretary and earning her bachelor’s degree.
Carpenter said he embraces diversity as part of his role’s day-to-day responsibilities, “What we try to do is create an atmosphere in which students of all stripes, of all backgrounds, of all abilities feel safe, feel recognized, feel heard and feel that they’ve been helped.”
Ochoa also shared, “I embrace diversity by trying my best to serve all our students from diverse cultures—of course, I’m partial to the Latino community because I can relate to them. The full-time instructor in Adult Education and I, we created a mentoring group for Latino students for GED and ESL because we both recognized the barriers they face with their culture.”
Carpenter and Ochoa collaborated on designing and implementing a summer English Camp for the Arar Academy in Irbid, Jordan, in 2019. Their nominator, Michael Morsches, dean of Learning Enrichment and College Readiness, explained that Moraine Valley partners with the academy, which serves children grades K-10 and enrolls special needs students. Carpenter and Ochoa worked with children of all ages and abilities during their two-week trip and designed and delivered the region’s first Girls Empowerment Workshop.
The two were tapped to join the team after the employees who were originally supposed to go could no longer participate. “Well, we found ourselves on a plane to Jordan one day!” Carpenter mused.
While in Jordan, Ochoa enjoyed teaching women and girls about the importance of having a voice while also respecting their culture. Carpenter mentioned that they both worked to empower participants without trying to force an American perspective.
Carpenter shared that coming to Moraine Valley after his experience teaching at a less diverse, private high school was humbling. He mentioned that his trip to Jordan gave him a greater appreciation for Jordanian students studying at the college. Ochoa added, “It really made me appreciate our students who are non-native speakers because it’s like a whole different world.”
“I’m really appreciative to Dean Morsches for giving us the opportunity because we learned as much as the students did,” Ochoa said.
“I always look at any type of award as a group project or team effort,” Carpenter shared. “My own development to be curious and seek and embrace diversity is one thing for me, personally — but to encourage and prod my tutoring staff came not just from my initiative, but from others with whom I work.”