February marks the powerful intersection of Black History Month and Career Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to celebrate Black leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of technical fields. In Roxbury, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of  Technology (Franklin Cummings Tech) is a two-year, private, nonprofit college that embodies this spirit, providing hands-on training in high-demand careers: HVAC, automotive, construction management, cybersecurity, opticianry, and more. 

With deep roots in the community, the school is dedicated to supporting students who face systemic and economic barriers and who have historically been underrepresented in technical industries. This commitment aligns closely with UW’s focus on centering the needs and voices of young adults and providing the supports they need to find meaningful pathways to college and career.  

We sat down with Marvin Loiseau, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, and Michael Felix, Senior Director of Student Affairs, to hear firsthand how career technical education empowers students and creates opportunities in fields where representation is needed most. 

Marvin and Michael opened up about what motivates them and why career technical education can be a gamechanger for students. 

Marvin Loiseau: 

Our mission is to provide transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic mobility. We fulfill that mission every day. 

Our new campus reflects our commitment to equity, innovation, and workforce-ready education. Today, 73% of our students are students of color, 46% are first-generation college students, and 98% rely on financial assistance. We design our curriculum to align with the latest technology and the skills needed in today's workforce. We also work with employers to design curriculum and create apprentice and co-op programs. All of this allows our students to achieve a degree quickly, with little debt, and be employed. 80% of our graduates are employed within a year, earning an average annual salary of approximately $57,000. 

Creating pathways to good jobs for our students means placing them on the pathway to prosperity, not only for themselves but for their families and communities. By training people for in-demand jobs, Franklin Cummings Tech also allows our graduates to join the workforce and help build an economy in which they, too, can thrive, whether as employees or small business owners.  

Michael Felix: 

Student success doesn’t stop at academics. Our student affairs team provides student success coaching, wellness and support services, learning assistance, and student life programming. If a student is dealing with housing insecurity, food insecurity, or needs classroom accommodation, we’re here to make sure those barriers don’t derail their education. 

Every student at Franklin Cummings Tech has a Student Success Coach who serves as their advisor and mentor figure. Our coaching staff partners with faculty to ensure all students are supported along their journey pursuing our education. 

Michael Felix: 

Black History Month is a significant celebration for us every year. We highlight cultural and historical months for our students, putting their diverse identities at the forefront. 

We’ve hosted Black-owned business marketplaces, speaker series, panel discussions, and community conversations. Innovation and technology are woven throughout Black History Month activities, with trivia events focused on Black leaders in STEM and technical industries, giving students a clear through line: “Someone who looks like me has done this before. I can do it too.” That connection builds confidence and expands possibilities. 

But beyond February, we intentionally spotlight Black students, faculty, and staff year-round to celebrate their contributions. Representation is part of our institutional culture, not just a monthly theme.  

Marvin Loiseau: 

When students in engineering, computing, automotive, or HVAC programs see innovators who look like them, it changes perspective. It makes leadership and ownership in STEM careers feel attainable.  

Black history is full of innovation, technical mastery, and entrepreneurship. That’s why the connection between Black History Month and CTE Month is so natural for us. 

By highlighting this legacy, we send a powerful message: you are not new to these spaces. You are part of a long tradition of innovation. 

Marvin Loiseau: 

Our students inspire me. 

Many navigate housing insecurity, food insecurity, family responsibilities, and financial strain. Yet they show up, ready to learn, ready to build, ready to persist. 

Watching them persevere, graduate, and secure meaningful employment is transformational, not just for them, but for their families. This work isn’t easy; it requires blood, sweat, and tears. But seeing students overcome barriers and achieve economic mobility makes it worth it. 

Michael Felix: 

I started here as a student success coach and quickly saw parallels between our students and my own family’s story, which has been a big source of inspiration for me. 

My father worked in construction; a field connected to our programs. My mother earned a certificate, then an associate degree, and eventually a bachelor’s degree. Our students follow similar pathways: certificate to associate degree, building step by step.  

Seeing it come full circle, with students completing these pathways, launching careers, and achieving economic mobility, is incredibly rewarding. 

Marvin Loiseau: 
Life is challenging. Nothing is guaranteed to be easy. But you cannot give up. Build a network that lifts you higher. Keep working toward what you need to be successful. Perseverance matters. 

Michael Felix: 
At Franklin Cummings Tech, our faculty and staff include Black leaders, including myself, Dr. Loiseau, and President Francis, who are creating change, impact, and progress. 

It’s important to bet on yourself and know that you deserve the spaces you find yourself in. Our students may enter fields where they are the only person of color, the only woman, or hold multiple identities that make them “the only one.” Know that you belong, and you bring a lot of value with your ideas, knowledge, and skills.  

At Franklin Cummings Tech, Black History Month and Career Technical Education Month remind us that progress is built through innovation, education, and opportunity. 

It starts in classrooms and labs, grows through mentorship, and thrives in students who refuse to give up. Watching them step into careers that transform their families’ futures is the real legacy. Empower the next generation of Black innovators- connect with us!