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Driven by faith, resilience and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education, Dr. Dee Dee (Tucci) Pfister ’88 has dedicated her life to helping others overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. From her early days in advertising to her current role as associate vice president at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), Pfister’s trajectory reflects a lifelong commitment to service, continuous learning and community impact.

 

Pfister credits her foundation at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ with expanding her horizons and pushing her past her self-imposed limits. Active in speech and debate and drama club with Gay Janis, and in the art room under Dale Slavin, she learned to find her voice early on.

"Drama club and speech and debate were a core foundation to building my confidence," Pfister recalls. "Frank McCamley was amazing with writing, and Nikki Emerson pushed me to my limits in terms of stretching me academically. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ foundation set me on a great trajectory for being an achiever and going beyond the limits that I would set for myself."

 

That spirit of leaning into challenges even extended to athletics, though not by choice. As a freshman, her "big sister" mentor, state champion runner Cindy Pickering ’86, recruited the self-described non-athlete to join cross country simply because the team needed a fifth runner to qualify for state. "I was always in last place... but I always finished," Pfister laughs. "It was all about pushing limits." Pfister also gained a deep appreciation for her time at the Academy through her work-study duties. "I didn't take my Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ education for granted. I dusted in the Tudor House to make my education happen. It wasn't just handed to me; I had to work really hard."

 

After Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, Pfister attended Ohio University, where her drive and resourcefulness were on full display. She became the first student in university history to earn both a bachelor’s degree (in studio art and organizational communication) and a master’s degree in communication in just four years, finishing her graduate degree at age 22.

 

She spent the next nine years in the corporate world, writing television and radio commercials for an advertising agency, including early commercials for local attorney Tim Misny and icon Florence Henderson, before moving into marketing and advertising at Fifth Third Bank. Yet, despite her corporate success, academia kept calling her back.

 

"I kept having this nudging feeling: I want to be in higher ed," she says. "That's really where I was happiest."

 

Pfister pivoted to higher education administration, spending 13 years at Ursuline College, where she served as director of faculty and curriculum and helped found the college's accelerated degree program for working adults. Her desire to champion open-access education eventually led her to Tri-C 15 years ago. Advancing through leadership roles, from assistant dean to associate vice president, Pfister found her true calling in supporting students from all walks of life.

 

While pursuing her Ph.D. in 2014, Pfister chose to focus her dissertation on the resilience of single mothers in community college settings. Midway through her program, personal upheaval struck when she faced an unexpected divorce. Suddenly, she found herself walking in the very shoes of the women she was researching.

 

Rather than stepping back, Pfister leaned into her faith and completed her study, titled "Singled Out for Success." Her research flipped prevailing negative stereotypes on their head, showcasing single mothers as resilient achievers. The impact of her work extended far beyond academia: after sharing her findings with the Tri-C Foundation, an anonymous donor was so inspired by the data and stories that they established a permanent, standing scholarship fund for single parents at Tri-C.

 

"Writing a dissertation is one thing, but having it carry a legacy is another," Pfister says. "To know there is now a standing scholarship for single parents — personally and professionally, that is truly a highlight of my career."

 

Today, Pfister continues to lead at Tri-C while staying grounded in her core values: faith, family and education. Outside of work, she and her husband, Paul, serve in marriage ministry at their church. An advocate for health and wellness, she has maintained a plant-based diet for 15 years and regularly speaks to the community about cardiovascular health, all while enjoying cooking traditional Italian meals for her family and traveling the world.

 

Looking back at her path, Pfister offers simple yet profound advice to current Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students and fellow alumni:

"No one can ever take your education away from you. A Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ education is truly a gift, so use that gift to serve others wisely. Ground yourself in faith, ground yourself in family and remember that whatever happens in life, God will be with you every step of the way."