When Eric Mackey, 48, of Chandler, graduates from Mesa Community College with an Associate in Business degree, he’ll have several people to thank.

He says at the top of the list is his wife, MCC Nursing faculty member Linda Camille Mackey, his biggest cheerleader.

“Having her alongside me has been a great help,” Mackey said. “She encouraged me to go to the tutoring center before classes. She also made sure that I didn’t miss registration deadlines, and she kept me on track. If MCC didn’t have the class that I needed, she found alternatives. Most of all, she kept me motivated to succeed.”

Mackey, a facility operations manager for Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, decided to return to college to pursue a director position at the hospital. He plans to continue his education journey by earning a bachelor’s degree and perhaps a Master of Business Administration.

“I had heard many good things about MCC, and it was the right choice when the time came for me to continue my college journey, not only because it is close to home, but also because of the level of education that MCC provides,” he explained.

In addition to Linda, Mackey said his first advisor, Alicia Barnett, contributed to his success.

“She helped me align all of the courses that I needed and helped me many times along the way when I had questions,” Mackey said. “She even helped me after she relocated to Paradise Valley Community College in a new role!”

Another terrific resource for Mackey was the tutoring center.

“I used that many times, mainly for Calculus,” Mackey said. “The tutors were very helpful.”

Mackey advises other students that MCC might just be the right path for them.

“MCC is a great community college,” Mackey said. “The teachers will take the time to explain and help you succeed. Take advantage of the tutoring center, if you need help. Or make an appointment with your instructor. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. The student services people can direct you, if you don’t know who to talk to. The services are there to help the students, you just have to ask.”