Student Spotlight
Bronson Kieltyka, full plate
As if two jobs, a full course load and being active in the Business Club weren’t enough, Bronson Kieltyka has taken on an added responsibility for the coming school year: He’s the new president of the SMCC chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Bronson took a gap year after high school and came to SMCC because he’d heard good things about the Business Department and he could play on the soccer team.
Outside of the classroom, he’s a member of the Business Club, overseeing the club’s investment portfolio, and works sales jobs at two retail stores.
Bronson says he’s had more opportunity at SMCC than friends of his who go to University of Maine schools.
“This school is a great place to explore your career paths. This has been an awesome step forward for me.”
Faculty Spotlight
Bill McClaran,
After 38 years teaching Criminal Justice at SMCC, Bill McClaran is officially retiring. But you’ll still see him around campus.
When he began teaching full-time at SMCC in 1978, McClaran already had a distinguished law enforcement career as an undercover federal drug agent and as police chief in three cities, including Portland (where he was chief from 1972-78).
Besides teaching, he’s also led about 20 study abroad trips to England and Ireland during spring break. Two years ago, he published his memoir, “Sonny Days: The Dark Side of an Undercover Narc into the Light of Community Policing,” chronicling his law enforcement career.
Even though he’s now “retiring” at age 80, don’t expect him to disappear. He’ll still teach part-time next fall.
“I’ll be teaching Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and knowing me I’ll probably be here Tuesday and Thursday as well. I really like my students.”