PCC Board student rep showcases passion for leadership, travel and philosophy
Story by Misty Bouse. Photos by James Hill.
Josh Hutchinson leads the student body at PCC.
Associated Students of Portland Community College (ASPCC) President and New Jersey transplant Josh Hutchinson now calls Portland, and the welcoming confines of PCC, home.
“I have officially driven coast to coast (Point Pleasant, New Jersey to Seaside, Oregon) and it only took me four years and three cars,” said Hutchinson, citing his unusual relocation journey to Oregon.
In fall of 2023, Hutchinson enrolled at PCC and plunged into student life, serving as ASPCC Vice President last year. He is now the student body president and wants to boldly represent the student voice on the PCC Board of Directors.
He and ASPCC staff engage with students every other Friday where they can provide public comments, testimonies, discuss issues and submit ideas. Students can engage with their leadership by visiting the PantherHub, the Student Life webpage, or the @aspccpanthers handle on Instagram.
Hutchinson is sworn onto the PCC Board of Directors by President Adrien Bennings.
The Northwest Portland resident took a moment from his coffee-laden start to fall term to chat with us:
Why did you move to Portland?
Josh Hutchinson: Two main reasons: family and school. I’ve always wanted to move to Portland to connect more with my family here. Also, PCC genuinely has one of the best transfer programs in the country. I felt like coming out here would really be the best of both worlds.
What is the most memorable thing you did this summer?
Hutchinson: Getting to travel! I had the opportunity to attend two leadership conferences, one with Association of College Unions International (ACUI) in San Bernardino, Calif., and one with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) in Mississippi—both states I had never been to—as part of preparing to be the new PCC Student Trustee on the PCC Board of Directors for 2024-2025. The conferences focused on community building and leadership development for college student-leaders.
What degree are you working toward?
Hutchinson: I am working on an Associate of General Studies, hoping to transfer after this year with either a double major or major minor in Philosophy and Business Administration.
What career or job are you interested in?
Hutchinson: I plan on practicing law, and I am pretty set on either business or contracts law for now. My real dream is to practice law until I can retire, get a Ph.D. in Philosophy and become a professor.
A law degree is in Hutchinson’s future.
Why did you pick PCC?
Hutchinson: I chose PCC mainly because of how great the transfer program is. I planned on getting my bachelor’s degree from PSU originally, and through PCC I was able to prepare for that (as well as figure out how to navigate college in general!) over the last two years.
What kind of support have you received?
Hutchinson: I am literally only able to go to school because of financial aid and the PCC Foundation scholarships—they have made my whole journey possible. Beyond that, the Panther Pantry and the resource centers have gotten me through some of the busiest weeks of my life, and I will always be grateful for that. On that note, too, I am so excited to now have the opportunity to engage more with the student leaders in these departments; we’ve had some amazing conversations already.
What would you tell others about the value of PCC’s student life?
Hutchinson: These are the opportunities that really make a difference. I have learned more than I even realized from just getting to be a part of ASPCC—skills that will benefit me regardless of where I am or what kind of work I am doing. I have learned to view student government as a kind of leadership class, too, since so much of what I’ve been a part of thus far has been an opportunity not only to help students, but to actually learn how to be a leader as well. Being a part of the ASPCC has totally changed the trajectory of my academic journey, and the support I’ve received from both advisers and peers has really shaped me into the person I am today.
PCC’s student representative is passionate about philosophy.
Why did you want to be the student president?
Hutchinson: Last year, I got to work with the ASPCC as vice president, and more than anything I wanted to make sure that we picked up where we left off, since last year’s team did an amazing job of getting the ball rolling and setting us up for success this year. I felt that there were definitely some improvements that needed to be made to really utilize the ‘student trustee’ role, and I hope to set a good precedent and example this year.
I’ve found that I really have a passion for the work we do, and I hope that all students will be able to personally feel like we’re here for them.
What is your student government goal?
Hutchinson: We’re trying to do a lot better to reach out this year, so expect to see plenty of flyers, posters and ads with all kinds of information and engagement opportunities.
What are your favorite hobbies or interests?
Hutchinson: Honestly, my top three hobbies right now are reading, cooking and exercise—most of my time is basically either school, work, or school-work. So exciting, I know! I am, however, trying to get into golf… is that better?
I am also very passionate about existentialist philosophy, and I would love to talk about it all day. I will talk about it all day, too, which I guess is an invitation or warning, or both.
Thank you, Josh!