MassBay Graduate Balanced It All to Earn Her Degree

MassBay Community College student Dymund Lighten on the Wellesley Hills campus, Wellesley Hills, MA, May 2026 (Photo / Dymund Lighten).

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

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., (May 20, 2026) — MassBay General Studies graduate Dymund Lighten is focused on making the world a better place and ensuring everyone has a voice. A single parent and full-time student, Dymund is committed to advocating for others, especially those who feel unheard.

“Sometimes you have to speak up so that you can see you aren’t the only one in your situation,” said Dymund. “My ultimate career goal is to work in human resources and help shape the hiring process to make sure every voice has a place. I remember needing a chance at one point, and I want to be that person who makes people feel seen and heard.”

When Dymund’s daughter was diagnosed with autism, it was not feasible for her to work due to the level of care her daughter required. Motivated to build a more stable future for her family and find a path that would allow her to support her household while remaining present for her daughter, she enrolled at MassBay Community College.

While at MassBay, Dymund balanced her coursework with the demands of raising her daughter, Lotus, whose schedule includes school, applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, and speech therapy. Between appointments and caregiving responsibilities, Dymund often completed coursework whenever and wherever she could, even working from her car between commitments. To make ends meet, she also took on flexible work through delivery apps when time allowed. There were times she considered taking a semester off or stepping back, but her determination to create a better future kept her moving forward.

Despite these challenges, Dymund excelled academically, earning Dean’s List honors twice and being inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. She also found community and support through MassBay’s Single Mothers Support Group, led by staff members Amy Greif and Marybeth Fletcher, who helped guide and encourage her throughout her journey.

“Dymund is one of the most remarkable students I have had the privilege of advising,” said MassBay Academic Advisor Amy Greif. “She is an inspiring advocate for both her daughter and herself, navigating every obstacle with determination and grace while graduating with an outstanding GPA to prove it. She has a gift for lighting up every room she enters, bringing a contagious positivity that lifts those around her, and she has consistently shown up as a leader in our single parents support group, truly embodying what it means to start here and go anywhere.”

“Dymund is an extraordinary student who has balanced the responsibilities of single parenthood with a deep commitment to her education, demonstrating remarkable discipline, focus, and perseverance,” said MassBay Social Worker for Essential Student Resources Marybeth Fletcher. “As an active member of the single parent support group, she leads by example—offering encouragement, compassion and strength to those around her—while remaining steadfast in her goal of creating a better future for herself and her daughter. She is truly an inspiration.”

Dymund credits MassBay’s family-focused environment as a key factor in her success.

“MassBay is incredibly supportive of students with families, especially single parents trying to further their education,” she said. “From scholarships to flexible online classes and introductions to supportive programs like One Family Scholars, I never felt like I was doing this alone.”

Dymund will graduate in May with her Associate in Arts in General Studies. After graduating, she plans to transfer to UMass Amherst’s online program to study interdisciplinary studies, with the long-term goal of becoming a human resources manager. She hopes to create more equitable hiring practices and advocate for individuals who often feel overlooked.

“I want to be a voice for people who feel unheard in the workplace,” she said. “I want to be part of the change and help give people the chances they deserve, because I needed that chance once, too.”

Looking back on her journey, Dymund is proud of how far she has come. “There were times it felt like I was stuck with no clear path forward,” she said. “I’m proud that I kept going and made it to this point.”

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.