Student Spotlight: Reverend Ashanti Dickerson

Reverend Ashanti Dickerson came to Onondaga Community College in search of a healthcare related career and found a path in the new Healthcare Administration degree program. It provides students with a solid foundation for transfer and ultimately a position as a manager or administrator. "OCC has really been phenomenal. It's preparing me for what I will do next."

Dickerson is a 45-year-old father of 4 who worked long and hard to find his passion. He graduated from Corcoran High School in 1994 and went to a four-year school that fall. He admits he wasn't prepared for success in college. He earned a lot of credits but never graduated.

Dickerson returned to Syracuse, worked in telemarketing for a year, then accepted a position as a Teaching Assistant for the Syracuse City School District. "It was a huge financial cut. My starting salary was $13,800. I constantly had to have a second job." His second jobs included positions in the fast food industry and working at  the New York State Fair at Omanii's Lemonade Heaven, a business his uncle started 25 years ago and he now runs.

While he wasn't making much money as a Teaching Assistant at Van Duyn Elementary, the position paid dividends in another way. It's where he met his wife, Christina, who was a teacher there at the time. 

Three years ago he became a volunteer with the North Area Volunteer Ambulance Company in North Syracuse. He earned his Emergency Medical Technician certification through SUNY Upstate Medical University. He loved the EMT experience but the pay was similar to that of a Teaching Assistant.

Last year Dickerson was hospitalized for a few days. The tremendous care he received got him thinking about a career in healthcare. That positive experience brought him to OCC. In the summer of 2021 he took a Biology class and a Chemistry class and did well in both. In the fall he entered the Healthcare Administration degree program. "I really enjoy being in a leadership role and inspiring people to do great things."

Dickerson has been inspiring people to do great things through religion. He grew up in the Southern Missionary Baptist Church, was Pastor at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, and recently started the Kingdom Christian Cultural Center of Syracuse. The church is online as he searches for a physical home for it.

The religious community came out in support of the Dickerson's in June of 2020 when Christina and Ashanti welcomed a baby boy into the world during a time when many Covid-related restrictions were in place. "We did a drive-by baby shower outside. The cars just kept coming with people showing so much love. Everything we would need for the baby! We didn't have to buy anything ... clothes, diapers, wipes... until October of 2021. It was a blessing."

Dickerson will complete his work at OCC this semester, just as their oldest child graduates from high school. In the fall Zacari Dickerson will enroll in OCC's Music degree program. His father has set the bar high for him. Earlier this semester Ashanti Dickerson was inducted into OCC's chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. "It meant so much to me. I wanted to show my kids hard work pays off and to finish what you start. It's important they know that what I ask them to do I am also willing to do."

As Zacari begins taking classes at OCC, Ashanti plans to take classes online at SUNY Canton, then transfer to SUNY Empire. His OCC experience has paved the way for what he hopes will be a successful career. "Coming back and really seeing what life is without higher education, whether it be a college degree or some type of a certificate, it's very hard without it. You spend most of your time working and less time enjoying life. To be able to get a great education at an institution like this opens so many doors whether you continue on or start working."