WCC Student Finds Career
For 35-year-old Deverell (Dev) Baty, working as a horticulture specialist for a lawn care company was just another job. It provided a stable income for his family of nine, but the hours spent around chemicals each day worried him. So when he and his wife moved to Ann Arbor three years go, Baty knew he wanted to make a career change.
“I didn’t just want a paycheck,” said Baty, who looked at several WCC courses before deciding on his future line of work. “I wanted a career, and I wanted to get back into the workforce quickly.” He also knew he needed a school and occupation that would allow him to attend college and still spend time with his seven children.
That’s when he found WCC’s Dental Assisting Program. Living and working in a town known for world-class healthcare made his decision an easy one. Baty claims he “knew it would be a good fit.”
Starting Down the Path
He entered WCC’s program in 2010 and graduated in two years. Since that time, he has passed his State of Michigan RDA licensing exam and is currently employed at the University of Michigan Community Dental Clinic.
He attributes his successful career change to WCC and his instructors. “For me, I loved how hands-on my classes were. I was also able to have one- on-one time with the faculty. I didn’t feel disconnected from them or just like another number. If I ever had issues or questions I was able to go to them and find direction.”