HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal was honored May 3 with a celebration of her tenure with the school as the end of the academic year will coincide with her retirement from the position.

Royal, 50, started at HCC in 2017 and is the fourth president in the school’s 75-year history. She is not only the first woman to be in the position but is also the first openly gay and biracial person to serve as president. Royal called her time as president the “experience of a lifetime” and that she would be “embarking on a self-imposed sabbatical” to take the time to find out what is next for her career wise. She also noted she would be getting married in her time off.

“I’m not leaving the presidency for another job, I’m leaving because I feel called to something greater,” Royal said, citing her work as president of HCC was done. “Instead of rushing into something else, I’m doing something every leader should do when unsure of what’s next.”

Guest speakers at Royal’s ceremony included state Sen. John Velis, state Rep. Patricia Duffy, former colleagues, students and others who have crossed paths with Royal during her tenure. Speakers credited Royal for her time spent in the role as well as some of her notable accomplishments in creating a more equitable and accessible educational pathway.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement Amanda Sbriscia credited Royal’s leadership and ability to bring people together for the greater good.

“To me, she’s been a mentor and a fierce champion for my goals. To her entire cabinet, she’s been an example of how to lead with vision, passion and empathy,” Sbriscia said. “Today we come together to celebrate President Royal’s leadership and what it has enabled us to accomplish as a community.”

One accomplishment of note achieved by Royal during her tenure was the establishment of the Student Emergency Fund, something she launched following her inauguration. Sbriscia noted Royal would often say, “no student should have to choose between a car repair and registering for their class.”

Sbriscia added this fund set a new standard for the college since it’s inception and thanks to the generosity of donors, more than half a million dollars has been raised to respond for the fund to help students facing unforeseen financial challenges. According to Sbriscia, to date there have been more than 500 students that have been able to receive immediate support to remain on the path to achieving a college degree.

Velis echoed similar sentiments about Royal’s leadership and said his main takeaway after meeting her a few years ago was that she was “an all-star.” He added the first impression he received from Royal always stuck with him and showed the president was “passionate, compassionate, empathetic and cares [about HCC].”

Velis also credited Royal’s ability to recognize how outside factors come to play for students in every day life.

“President Royal realizes — if not more than everybody — she realized that what determines what happens in the four walls of a school, institution or anything, in many respects is based on things that happen outside of here,” Velis said.

Velis credited Royal’s commitment to tackling food insecurity for students as well as the opening of the Itsy-Bitsy Child Watch Center that serves as an on campus watch center for the children of students during class. Another accomplishment of Royal’s during her time was getting the on-campus Homestead Market to accept SNAP benefits, making it the first campus store in state to accept these benefits.

“Empathy, compassion, decency, gets that education where we are today,” Velis added. “Integrated education, caring about the whole of the person and the student is my takeaway of President Royal.”

Duffy complimented Royal for a “remarkable tenure” as president and said representing the college was one of her biggest sources of joy through her work. Attending on behalf of Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was Office of Planning and Economic Development Director Aaron Vega who also expressed similar gratitude for Royal and what she accomplished during her time as president.

“What President Royal was able to do with this institution was address those issues and gaps, and struggles, and obstacles, that students have in achieving higher education,” Vega said. “We’re encouraged, we’re happy, we’re blessed to have worked with you and we look forward in the future to your future endeavors.”

Students, staff and faculty shared memories and gratitude of Royal’s commitment to her work and the impact she had in adding to the college’s legacy. Royal was also credited for being the first president to fly the trans and Pride flags on campus, as well as establishing the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institution on Race Street.

When reflecting on her life and tenure, Royal mentioned being a child and buying a used magic set from the Salvation Army. She became obsessed with magic and being able to pull of some tricks for her friends in the neighborhood. This experience has stayed with Royal throughout her career.

“While my time using magic was all child’s play, I felt there was a very powerful lesson in learning magic. It was an understanding and belief that the mind was so powerful it could make you believe or not believe anything, including about yourself,” Royal said.

Royal said it was a lesson in creating and using a growth mindset in life as she felt helping students embody a growth mindset and realize their potential within was what HCC was all about.

“Students, you are why we are here. Your willingness and your desire to co create your own educational experience is inspiring and what gives me the greatest hope for our future,” Royal said. “We are cultivating the next generation of leaders right now and right here.”

Overall, Royal shared appreciation for the love and support shown during the ceremony and reiterated she would miss the job. In the history of HCC, Royal will live on for her commitment to students and creating a more inclusive community college.

“In the story of the colleges impressive history, my leadership is just one piece of a long and impressive timeline,” Royal said. “You all will continue that legacy going forward, grounded in our mission to educate, inspire and connect.”