MassBay Graduate Accelerates her Auto Tech Career

MassBay Community College Toyota Automotive Technology alum, Daria Litouka, poses in the Toyota lab on the Ashland campus, Ashland, MA, June 2026 (Photo / Bob Bolivar).

URL is: /press/massbay-graduate-accelerates-her-auto-tech-career-2026-08-28

MassBay Community College Toyota Automotive Technology alum, Daria Litouka, works on a vehicle at Toyota of Nashua, Nashua, NH, May 2026 (Photo / Daria Litouka).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

ASHLAND, Mass., (August 28, 2026) — When Daria Litouka arrived in the United States from her home in Belarus, she was not planning to become an automotive technician. With a background in linguistics and years spent teaching English, Litouka initially built her career around helping others learn and grow.

“I loved teaching, especially seeing people understand something new,” she said.

But a lifelong curiosity about how things work, especially cars, began to pull her in a different direction. That curiosity, combined with a noticeable lack of women in the automotive industry, inspired her to take a leap.

“I wasn’t just curious about how vehicles worked, I was also curious why there weren’t many women in the field. I didn’t know enough about cars to work on them, but I wanted to try. MassBay provided me with the opportunity to learn and grow in the automotive field,” said Daria.

Coming to the United States as an exchange student and later enrolling at MassBay Community College in the Automotive Technology Toyota and Lexus T-TEN program proved to be a great move. Though she entered the program with limited hands-on experience, she quickly excelled to the top of her classes.

At MassBay, Daria built her skills from the ground up through a hands-on curriculum that emphasized real-world experience. She graduated with high honors in 2026 and a 3.6 GPA, earning a spot on the President’s List in fall 2024. Through the program’s cooperative education component, she earned a paycheck while gaining valuable experience at Toyota of Nashua, where she now works full time as an automotive technician.

“As soon as I got an interview there, I knew that’s where I wanted to be,” she said. “It feels like a family. My mentor David Lentine and my supervisor Shane Crowley have supported me every step of the way. I received so much support from the day I started. I could always rely on a helping hand when I encountered any uncertainty, which is exactly what I needed entering with limited experience. Now, after almost two years of training, I’m left with no doubts. I’ve gained confidence, and there are so many opportunities in front of me that I know I can handle.”

One of the many meaningful parts of Daria’s journey has been connecting with other women in the automotive field. As a founding member of MassBay’s Women in Automotive Club, she found encouragement and motivation from her peers.

“I have been inspired and grateful for all the people that I’ve met along the way, I feel extremely fortunate,” she said. “Those relationships have had such an impact on my life, and they help me to keep going.”Daria Litouka  Photo / Bob Bolicar

Image

Daria credits MassBay’s supportive environment, particularly Automotive Technology Professor and Advisor Robert Bolivar, with helping her succeed. The college’s structured pathway, strong advising, and co-op experience helped ease her uncertainty about what would come after graduation.

“The co-op helped me find work gain experience the field in real-world scenarios, and I wasn’t stressed about what was next because I graduated with my degree and a job. My advisor has been my mentor, explaining everything and supporting me for the past two years. It was the best possible scenario for my success,” Daria added.

She also credits her family for their encouragement from afar.

“My family has provided me with a lot of support. Even though I don’t see them often, they are cheering me on. They were surprised by my decision to study automotive, but they are extremely proud of me,” she said.

Now working full time at Toyota of Nashua, Daria is focused on advancing her career, while completing her optional practical training. She plans to pursue additional certifications with Toyota of Nashua and ultimately become master technician. She is also considering continuing her education in a pre-engineering program.

“I want to go all the way in the auto field, but I have not lost my passion for teaching. I hope to combine my technical expertise with my love of education to come back to MassBay and teach automotive someday. I want to help others the way my professors helped me,” she said.

Daria encourages other students, especially women, to pursue careers in automotive technology.

“It’s a hard program, and it requires focus and effort, but you can do it. If you put in the effort, people will support you. I feel very confident about my future. MassBay made me realize I can do anything I put my mind to.”

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.