Stephanie Garcia and Devi Singh first crossed paths in 2011 when the computer courtyard and library merged.
Singh, an instructional assistant, took Garcia, who was then an associate instructor, under her wing.
They chatted about work, life—they both have two kids—and Singh’s passions, which include Buddhism and baking.
“My fondest memory was being her cubby mate,” said Garcia, who is now associate director of learning resources at North Campus. “We were like neighbors. Everyday, we would joke and say ‘we got to put a welcome mat and a ring doorbell.’”
Now Garcia, who has known her mentor for two decades, will have to lean on others for sage advice.
Singh, who is 61, is stepping into a new chapter in her life: she retired from Miami Dade College on Sept. 30 after 37 years at the college.
“It’s a good time for her to move on to greater things and enjoy life, to do everything she loves,” said Angel Hernandez, director of learning resources. “She has dedicated so much time to MDC.”
To celebrate Singh’s nearly four-decade run at North Campus, her colleagues hosted a retirement luncheon on Sept. 23.
It featured chicken, rice, kidney beans, mashed potatoes, salad and intimate speeches shared by Singh and her daughters—Darshani and Rishani—and a presentation spotlighting Singh’s influence and time spent at MDC.
She was also showered with gifts, cards and a sheet cake.
“Some of my fondest memories with my mom have been on this very campus,” said Singh’s oldest daughter, 30-year-old Darshani. “From take your child to work day to having lunch together.”
Born in Guyana in South America, Singh moved to the United States when she was 13.
She graduated from Miami Central High School in 1983 and enrolled at North Campus shortly after. Singh earned an associate of science degree in computer programming in 1986 before getting her bachelor’s degree in supervision management 32 years later.
Her professional journey at MDC started in 1987 as a part-time clerk in the physical education department.
She briefly left North Campus to work retail at Caswell Massey, a fragrance and personal care store, in Bayside, before returning as a secretary in the continuing education department.
A year later, she moved to the assessment center, processing promotional tests for police officers applying to advance in their careers.
The following year, she made her way to the library as a full-time clerk, writing payroll, requisitions and memos for the chairperson.
“Ever since, the library has been home,” Singh said.
In 1991, she became a library technician in learning resources, updating databases with journals and magazines and handled interlibrary loans.
After the courtyard and library merged, Singh became an instructional assistant and cataloger. She worked the service desk, greeting students and answering questions and cataloging books.
During her time in learning resources, she received the excellence award in 1992, 1997 and 2005.
“What I will carry with me is the way she consistently treated people with kindness, patience, and genuine care,” said Oxile Accius, instructional assistant in learning resources.
Singh started considering retirement in 2018 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following her diagnosis, she underwent chemotherapy before undergoing surgery in 2019.
“Her strength isn’t just that she survived difficult things, her strength is that she continued to have a good heart through them,” said Singh’s youngest daughter, Rishani, who is 23.
During retirement, Singh will continue baking, tend to her vegetable garden, catch up on reading non-fiction novels, paint and spend more time with her six siblings.
“For those of you wondering what I’m going to do in retirement, don’t worry. I’ll be practicing a new skill: doing absolutely nothing without feeling guilty about it,” Singh said.
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