MMC Staffer Expands HEOP Leadership with Regional Appointment
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In MMC’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Taswya “Taz” Cambridge wears many hats. She is both the senior counselor and coordinator and resident big sister, encouraging students, keeping tabs on their progress, and doling out advice. A favorite line: “Get to class early, because to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.” Students are sure to hear the mantra throughout the week; at the start of the semester, as they gathered in the HEOP office, styled to give a homey feel and filled with snacks, she had freshmen repeat it back to her.
For the 47 students in the program, many of whom might not have attended college without HEOP’s support, it’s moments like these—along with HEOP’s academic and professional development initiatives—that make earning a degree not only possible but likely. “We’re here to grab these students and say, ‘Hey, we see you,’” Cambridge said. “We always tell them that the person to cure cancer could be within our HEOP population.”
And, as the staff member students encounter most, she plays a key role in bringing that potential to fruition.
“Taz has been a bedrock of our students’ success from the day they enter the program to the day they walk across the stage at graduation,” said Michael Salmon, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of academic excellence, who has worked closely with HEOP for over 20 years. “She gives them tough love when required and warm hugs when earned. For many, she is the reason they stay focused and resilient.”
Indeed, adds Tseday Alehegn, Ed.D., executive director of MMC’s program, “Taz’s dedication to HEOP is deep and inspiring,” and she has fully earned students’ trust and confidence.
Now in her fifth year with HEOP, Cambridge is expanding her impact beyond 71st Street. Last month, she began serving as regional secretary for the Higher Education Opportunity Program Professional Organization (HEOP-PO), an advocacy group that supports all 50 HEOP initiatives at independent colleges and universities across the state and the professionals who lead them. The organization was founded in 1979, a decade after legislation establishing the HEOP program in New York was passed.
Cambridge joined HEOP-PO at Salmon’s urging; the group offers workshops, training, and networking opportunities to help HEOP staff become even stronger resources for students. In time, she would impress officials with her commitment to HEOP-PO’s goals and her eager support for its projects. Last fall, the organization’s former president nominated her for the regional officer role, in which she’ll help support programs across New York City.
In many ways, the position was a natural fit, with HEOP-PO seeing the same spark in Cambridge that her 71st Street colleagues have come to know. Indeed, in November, MMC’s President’s Council for Belonging honored Cambridge with its Change Agent Award, recognizing faculty and staff who support the principles of belonging by promoting social justice, celebrating culture, and advancing inclusion.
Cambridge has also seen the power of HEOP-PO’s work firsthand. She attended her first HEOP-PO conference when she was new to counseling and searching for ways to better support students who were falling behind in their classes. “I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ My confidence as a counselor went way down,” she said. “But after attending HEOP-PO workshops and speaking to other professionals, I realized it was something we all experienced at some point.” She left not only feeling reassured but also equipped with practical tools to ensure better outcomes in the future. “What HEOP-PO offers is so important,” she said. “Being part of this larger community benefits both my students and me.”
Her appointment is also a win for MMC, Salmon added. “In her new role, she has elevated MMC in a way that brings us greater visibility and credibility among our peers as an institution committed to the HEOP mission,” he said.
Even so, Cambridge knew that becoming a HEOP-PO officer would require her to stretch. “My introverted side comes out a lot—I’m usually one to sit back and observe,” she said. “But I’m excited to push myself.”
In that sense, the position reflects another message she shares with students: growth requires challenge. “I always tell my kids, if the door opens, walk through it,” she said. “Try new opportunities and give them your best effort. It’s important that I practice what I preach.”
Helping to shape student stories
Though born in New York City, Cambridge spent her childhood in her family’s native St. Vincent, where she developed a strong sense of community. “Vincentians really believe it takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “That has shaped how I show up for my students.”
Her own college experience would also inform her work. As an underclassman, she struggled to find her footing, beginning her journey at the University of New Haven before transferring to SUNY Oswego, and ultimately landing at New Jersey’s Rowan University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She later completed her graduate studies overseas, at the University of Westminster, earning a master’s degree in Psychology.
Though her mother had returned to school and earned a college degree as an adult, Cambridge didn’t have anyone on campus to help her navigate the challenges she faced, which included academic setbacks, homesickness, feelings of isolation, and the complexities of federal financial aid. “I had to figure it out as I went along, which was really tough,” she said. “But because of that, I can help students move forward, if not perfectly, then in a way that brings them closer to their goals.”
That perspective sits at the heart of her work as a HEOP counselor. “I’ve seen such growth in my students,” she said. “I’ve seen kids come in closed off and uncertain and graduate confident and open to possibilities. At the end of the day, I want to help them follow their dreams and craft their own stories.”
Published: February 18, 2026
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