Title: Career Adviser, Humanities Adjunct Professor

Company: Atlantic Cape Community College

Location: Atlantic City, N.J.

Initially, Dr. Alice Raney became involved in her profession after taking night courses, while working full time and raising her son. She did not receive any career advice from the school, and she saw a need for it. She was inspired to give other students the advice she never had. She attributes her success to the love and guidance of her mother, who was a single parent. She always stressed the importance of education. She separates herself from her peers because she has empathy and sympathy, but knows when to stand, caring, but firm. Dr. Rainey would like to quote her mother, who said, ‘You can lose your house, your car and your job, but you cannot lose your education. They cannot take that away from you.’

The highlight of her professional career was seeing the disadvantaged students she worked with for two to four years move on toward a bachelor’s degree. In her personal life, her greatest accomplishment was raising a well-adjusted, intelligent son who is now doing the same with his four children. Secondly, earning a first bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and then Ph.D. have been amazing, as well as seeing her mother’s face when she brought back the Ph.D. diploma from Costa Rica.She stands out because of her engaging personality. She calls herself ‘in your face with humor and grace.’ She is in education for the enjoyment of students becoming successful. In five years, Dr. Rainey aims to retire and pursue her love of writing and illustrating children’s stories.