Carrie Carroll — Why I Give to Metro

My husband and I recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. Right after we returned from our honeymoon, I started my career in higher education. Through my work in admissions, I have had the privilege of connecting with countless students as they have pursued their educational goals. I have seen the transformational power of a college degree and have committed most of my career to ensuring access to education for all.

After working in private higher education for years, I came to Metro State in January of 2020. I was drawn to Metro because of our mission, vision, and values. I am committed to an anti-racist approach to higher education and to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for learning. Metro State educates students who have traditionally experienced barriers to higher education. Many of our students are first-generation (meaning that their parents did not have a college degree), just like me. Many of our students come from low-income backgrounds and many of our students identify as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color (BIPOC).

I love that we celebrate the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty. I love that we see differences as assets and that we are willing to be changed by embracing those differences. The education that our students receive because of this diversity is unique and critical in providing leadership for the 21^st century. And Metro provides a high-quality education at an accessible tuition. It is so important that students can obtain a degree without taking on insurmountable debt. I am so proud of our rank on the social mobility index. The CollegeNet Social Mobility Index (SMI) measures the extent to which a college or university educates more economically-disadvantaged students with family incomes below the national median at a lower tuition and graduates them into better-paying jobs.

So, why do I give to Metro? Well, how could I not give? The money we give each month to the general fund can be used for the most pressing needs at any given time. We have also added Metro State to our estate plans so that we can provide scholarships for students. Even though we do our best at Metro to keep our costs down, many of our students have exhausted their financial aid and/or have more needs than what their financial aid can cover. Pete and I are committed to making education accessible and affordable for our students.

My dad died when I was 12. I lost my mom to ALS in 2019. This has led me to think a lot about legacy. What do I want to be remembered for? What do I want to support long after I am gone? Making a commitment to an organization with shared values and commitments makes this an easy decision for me. I want Metro State to be a part of my legacy.