In 2018, Patience A. Mason, MEd, was named Chief Student Affairs Officer for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Suwanee and Moultrie, Georgia, campuses. In this role, Mason leads all student affairs operations. She oversees student activities, clubs, and organizations, in addition to career, academic support, counseling, and disability services, student recreation and fitness, and selected campus events for more than 2,800 students.
As the former PCOM interim chief student affairs officer, Mason has directed the Center for Student Affairs at PCOM Georgia in Suwanee since 2012. In addition, she served as the associate director of the Center for Student Affairs from 2007 to 2012. Prior to joining PCOM, Mason was the director of student life for Georgia Perimeter College, Atlanta, Georgia, and a first-year counselor at Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey.
Mason currently serves on the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Empathy and Diversity committees and on the Student Affairs Council. At PCOM Georgia, Mason has served on the Student Progress and Evaluation Committee, the Campus Crisis Management Team, the PCOM Diversity Committee, and as an advisor to the Student National Medical Association. She is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett.
Mason earned a master‘s degree in education with a specialization in higher education administration from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN.
I typically define first-generation as a student (attending college) whose parents did not attend college.
Having a supportive community is critical in any higher education environment. While there were not a ton of black students in the Curry School of Education, there was a black graduate and professional school organization that provided a sense of community. Many of my friends were first-generation, so I never felt like I was alone or that people couldn't understand my experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my graduate school experience. I attended the University of Virginia and obtained a master's in counseling with a focus on higher education administration. It is different than undergrad in that you really get to focus on your area of interest. With the exception of statistics, I loved all my classes. Another benefit of graduate school was the interaction with your colleagues, people who had similar interests. Researching and studying subjects that excite you makes all the difference in the world.
I was fortunate that my family, and specifically my mom, was adamant that my siblings and I get a college education. But I was aware that it was a sacrifice. I did feel isolated being so far from home.
Find your tribe. Find folks that have similar concerns and experiences. They will be a source of support. Find allies … you need to build rapport and relationships with faculty and administrators that will help you to navigate your way. Find a mentor. When embarking on a professional career, it is imperative that you find mentors that can assist you and advocate for you on your journey.
I'm not sure I can point to one experience, but I truly enjoy working with students that overcome obstacles or barriers in their tenure here at the College. There is nothing like watching a student walk across the stage when you know what they have overcome to get to that point. I am overjoyed and humbled by the fact that I can be a part of that journey. We have the opportunity to see them during orientation, sometimes looking like a deer in headlights, nervous and excited, and then see them accomplish their goals during graduation.
The Office of Diversity and Community Relations celebrates the unique accomplishments of first generation students. This series features PCOM faculty, staff and students who were the first to attend college, graduate school or medical school within their families. We believe spotlighting our first generation community members will encourage our students to use their talents to shine during professional school and as future healthcare providers.
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