47 Millennium - Nineteenth Edition EDUCATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR UNDERGRADUATE RECRUITMENT University of South Carolina Upstate Spartanburg, SC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER (RETIRED) AYS Inc. Indianapolis, IN Millennium Magazine Featured Listee REBECCA K. GONZALEZ As a child, Rebecca K. Gonzalez aspired to become a cosmetologist, driven by her passion for working with her hands and uplifting others. She pursued her dreams by earning a bachelor’s degree in business management at the University of South Carolina Upstate and obtaining a cosmetology license from the Paul Mitchell Hair & Beauty School. After gaining firsthand experience, Mrs. Gonzalez opened her own small business, relishing the control and creativity it afforded her. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to the University of South Carolina Upstate as an admissions counselor and recruiter, discovering a new passion for inspiring and preparing students. Now, as the assistant director for undergraduate recruitment, she continues providing students with the necessary knowledge for their career journeys. Looking ahead, Mrs. Gonzalez aspires to continue her career in higher education. Should she transition out of higher education, she remains interested in working in a high school guidance office, where she could assist students and their families in preparing for college. She finds fulfillment in having a positive impact on the lives of students. Margaret E. Higgs operated as a special education teacher in the Indianapolis Public School System for 16 years. Poised to have a positive impact on the school’s academic system, she subsequently became a principal, a capacity in which she served for 27 years before retiring after over 40 years in academia. As a principal, Ms. Higgs oversaw a K-8 open-concept school with 600 students, implementing strict discipline and replacing ineffective teachers with 25 highly qualified ones, which led to the school winning an award. In her last role at a Montessori school, the school achieved blue ribbon status. Having previously cultivated her own higher education, she holds a BA in education from Purdue University and an MS in education from Butler University. In addition to her career as an educator, Ms. Higgs served on the board of directors for AYS Inc., an organization that provides after-school activities for children. She is an avid writer, having co-authored “Girls Grow Up To Be Mommies: A Study of Sexism in Children’s Literature” alongside Dr. John Stewig. Moving forward, she plans to enjoy her retirement and continue contributing to educational initiatives. MARGARET E. HIGGS
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