STCC graduate finds her voice in the arts, excels at MCLA and the Clark Museum

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When Enaya’ Ajahnae Ogletree ‘24 first came to Springfield Technical Community College, she knew she wanted a future in the arts.

What she didn’t yet know was that her time at STCC would lay the foundation for a career that would take her from a small campus gallery in Springfield to the galleries of world-renowned museums.

While it is the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a range of liberal arts programs, including fine arts. Ogletree graduated with highest honors from STCC in May 2024, earning a degree in Liberal Arts Transfer. Ogletree is now on track to earn her bachelor’s degree in December from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, a semester ahead of schedule. In the past year alone, she has curated exhibitions, completed a competitive internship at the Clark Art Institute, and secured a post-graduation opportunity at a contemporary sculpture park in New York.

But the path that led her here began much closer to home.

Born in Boston and raised in Chicopee and Springfield, Ogletree attended the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, where she first explored graphic design.

When her grandmother passed away, she took time away from school to regroup. She worked at a preschool but found herself drawn back to creative work. “I realized I wanted to go back to school for the arts,” she said. “STCC was affordable, close to home and I liked the programs. I always anticipated going on further, so having that two-year start at a more affordable rate was definitely something that interested me.”

Ogletree spent her entire two years at the college working in the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery as a gallery work-study student under the mentorship of Professor Sondra Peron, gallery coordinator.

The gallery was a great opportunity to learn about behind-the-scenes curatorial experience. Enaya’ Ajahnae Ogletree, STCC student, Class of 2024

Peron says watching Enaya’s growth has been deeply rewarding. “She’s a talented, dedicated student who took full advantage of every opportunity,” Peron said. “To see her now working in museums and thriving in her field is incredibly gratifying.”

“The gallery was a great opportunity to learn about behind-the-scenes curatorial experience,” Ogletree explained. She initially saw the gallery as a stepping stone toward one day owning her own art center. “Working there ended up building a stable foundation for really good opportunities to come.”

Peron gave Ogletree meaningful responsibilities early on, including the chance to co-curate a photography exhibition by Gabriella Angotti-Jones in the winter of 2023. “That was amazing,” Ogletree said of being offered a curatorial role as a student. “It was my first introduction to what it would be like working in that type of space… working directly with an artist, going through those ups and downs and making ideas work logistically.”

One of the photographs from that exhibition is now displayed in Building 17 at STCC, a permanent reminder of Ogletree’s contribution to the gallery. She returned to campus in summer 2024 to see the photograph installed. “It was really rewarding,” she said. “It’s amazing to see work like that, that represents the STCC community more authentically, be housed on campus so that it can encourage students to maybe see their own work up there someday.”

Her gallery experience also extended beyond curating. Ogletree showcased her own work in group exhibitions and helped formally establish the STCC Art Club, which continues to thrive and host art fairs. “That’s something I’m really proud of,” she said.

Mary Lou Vredenburg, Dean of the School of Liberal and Professional Studies, said Enaya’s journey reflects the broad educational opportunities available at STCC.

“While STCC is the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, our arts and humanities programs are among the most dynamic in the region,” Vredenburg said. “Students like Enaya demonstrate that creativity and technical skill go hand in hand. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and the example she sets for others.”

From STCC to the Clark

Ogletree’s experiences at STCC prepared her for opportunities far beyond Springfield. This past summer, she completed a prestigious paid internship at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, where she served as a Gallery Interpreter in the museum’s education department. She was the only undergraduate student in her cohort.

“It was a very small group,” she recalled. “Everyone else had just recently graduated college. But they were all very supportive. I worked under all women, which is kind of rare in that field, and it was really nice.”

She underwent intensive training, meeting with curators and researching the museum’s collection before leading gallery talks using Visual Thinking Strategies, an engagement method that focuses on dialogue rather than lecture. One highlight was interpreting a summer exhibition on women artists and activists of Great Britain, which resonated with her personally. “It was a great chance to deep dive into artists I knew nothing about and to be part of the museum’s mission toward including more diverse voices,” she said.

Adapting to the museum environment, she added, was both challenging and rewarding. “Museums can kind of feel cold and very academic. The audiences are often older, wealthy and really into fine art. I’m a contemporary artist, so I had to adjust my language and how I talked about the work,” she said. “But it was a great opportunity to dedicate three months to just learning about art that I didn’t know much about before.”

Ogletree credits STCC with helping her develop skills that continue to set her apart. “The professors are really big on helping you talk about your work and build relationships with people,” she said. “Critiques in the art department at STCC are really big, and that’s such a great tool to have. You become really receptive to feedback and learn how to reflect and grow.”

That confidence has helped her thrive at MCLA, where she is majoring in fine and studio arts management. She’s taking a heavy course load this fall, two internships, and an independent research study. One of those internships is at Art Omi, an arts center and sculpture park in Ghent, N.Y., where she is developing the site’s first tangible visitor guide. The project is designed to help teachers, families, and young audiences engage more deeply with contemporary sculpture.

The internship has already opened doors. “They would like to work with me after I graduate,” Ogletree said.

Overcoming Challenges and Paying It Forward

Ogletree’s path hasn’t been without obstacles. As a first-generation college student, she navigated the complexities of financial aid, credit transfers and degree planning largely on her own. “It was definitely a solo mission,” she said. “But in doing so, I feel that it’s made me even more self-sufficient and independent.”

That experience now inspires her to encourage her younger sisters – and other students – to pursue higher education. Her advice to current STCC students is clear: “Be aware of the huge safety net we have as students. There are a lot of opportunities offered through the school and through connections. I benefited hugely from that. And if you’re looking to transfer, start early so you know how your credits will apply.”

Even as she prepares to graduate from MCLA in December and step into a professional role, Ogletree remains connected to her roots at STCC. She still talks with Professor Peron, works in her college’s gallery, and is preparing for an upcoming exhibition at the newly opened Sandisfield Arts Center next fall.

For Ogletree, art isn’t just a career – it’s the thread that ties her past, present, and future together. “I love waking up every day and having a project set out for me,” she said. “Everything I do feeds into the next thing. It’s very fluid. And even if it doesn’t lead to large exhibitions or large amounts of income, it’s rich in the fact that it genuinely feeds me as a person.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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