Up close and personal with Myron Covington, WCC communication professor

Illustration by Ian D. Loomis

A journey through his profession, passion, and purpose

Myron Covington sits at his new desk in the Liberal Arts building on WCC’s campus, Oct. 4. Brenda Anderson | Washtenaw Voice

by JAMES CASON
Deputy Editor

Myron Covington II becomes full-time staff at WCC after 11 years of part-time teaching as an adjunct professor, being named the Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts Department’s newest professional faculty member for the fall semester of 2021.

“This has always been my dream job since day one,” said Myron Covington, the newest communication professor at WCC. “I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”

Covington’s dream began as an undergraduate student at Central Michigan University, where he studied communication and English. He comes from a string of educators and has always had an affinity for education. Covington’s father was an educator at the collegiate level, his mother worked at the University of Michigan, and his grandmother was a school principal.

Covington later attended the University of Alabama for graduate school. He earned his master’s degree in communication and media studies, focusing on mentoring relationships and interpersonal communication.

“I worked my tail off for a scholarship,” said Covington. “I always wanted to live in a different region of the United States to experience a different cultural setting.”

Deciding to attend graduate school in Alabama was made more accessible with having family in that state; being a Crimson Tide football fan was a bonus.

Family

Covington has always been a family man. He grew up in Canton, as the eldest of four children and has one sister, two brothers.

Who would have known the lucky number four would find its way into Covington’s very own family?

Covington and his wife first met as undergrad students at CMU. She was a cheerleader, and Covington played football. The two wed in 2012 and are soon to celebrate their 10th anniversary. She was and continues to be his biggest cheerleader. The couple has created a full house with four children on deck – from eight months to eight years of age.

“Our two boys are the oldest, and our two girls are the youngest,” said Covington. “Those four kids motivate me to come here to WCC every single day.”

Savannah, Shira, Harrison, Max, Myron, and Madison. The Covington Family on Easter Sunday, Apr. 4. | Courtesy of Myron Covington

The setbacks and the blessings

“The road to get here has been very humbling but satisfying at the end,” said Covington.

After graduation, he returned home to Michigan, where he took care of his ailing father. As a part-time hustle in Detroit, he worked at Kroger as a customer service frontend manager, where he trained new employees. Covington’s father’s health improved, so he took a teaching job at Stony Brook University in New York. However, in 2010, Covington’s father suddenly passed.

After coming home to Michigan again, Covington resumed work at Kroger. He remained busy training employees, helping them to be promoted to even higher positions than himself. Covington experienced a great sense of fulfillment; however, classroom teaching still rang true to his heart. He later saw a posting for part-time positions at WCC.

“My wife said, ‘you really seem to be missing teaching. Just go ahead and apply.'”

After landing the part-time position at WCC, Covington was also hired for part-time teaching jobs at Jackson College, Lansing Community College, and Schoolcraft College. He soon found himself juggling his time between work at all four colleges as much as he was working at Kroger. Although Covington was successful in the business, he opted not to move up the corporate chain, with teaching still being center stage. Every month, Covington would visit the WCC website to see if a full-time spot would open in communication to no avail.

“These jobs don’t come up often. They’re very, very, rare,” said Covington. “I started interviewing and had a couple of offers from other places, but it didn’t work. I was ready to say ‘forget it.’ I’m just going to stay at Kroger and teach college at night.”

Covington then landed an English language arts teaching job in Taylor, where he had a successful year teaching 6th and 7th graders until the unexpected occurred; COVID-19 entered stage left, March 2020.

Covington was laid off from work for the first time in his life due to union bumping issues. In addition, a baby was on the way.

Amid a pandemic, Covington was interviewed by a rigorous panel of educators for a new job in Brownstown. He would soon realize that all his setbacks and opportunities were designed to prepare him for his dream job. Those closest to him, including his students and their parents, saw his passion for teaching students at the college level. Covington always talked about his love for higher education and teaching college students along every step of his journey.

“One of my student’s parents told me, ‘You’ve inspired my daughter to go to college in two years at Wayne County. My kid was not even talking about college.”

Covington’s perseverance and hard work finally paid off. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw WCC’s full-time online posting for his current position. He immediately applied, was selected for an interview, and was soon after hired.

Covington’s dream job come true affords him the opportunity to be firmly situated at one institution to educate adult students while leveraging his professional experience.

“Students are getting someone who is not just teaching from the textbook. I’m telling you with experience of being a manager, having seen the day-to-day struggles and successes,” said Covington.

Covington’s story is a genuine case of preparation meeting opportunity. The boy who won his first speaking competition in fifth grade was destined for his dream job at age 37 – to help pave the way for others.

“WCC saw something in me, and I have a lot of deference to this institution for choosing me,” said Covington. “Being around adult students, writing letters of recommendation, hearing my former students getting scholarships, some even going to Ivy League schools – that is the satisfaction I get.”

“I don’t even feel like I’m working; I’m just doing what’s my passion,” said Covington. “It’s still surreal for me. I wake up sometimes and slap myself.”

What makes WCC an exceptional institution for Covington?

“There is a seasoned staff who come in and have a love for teaching, are passionate, and committed,” said Covington. “We have a commitment to diversity and inclusion. When I walk around this campus, as a part of the DNA, everyone speaks to each other; it’s a very warm place.”