Our Stories

Dr. Mark Hubley

Published May 3, 2024

This article was featured in the April edition of the PGCC Connect newsletter. Sign up for it here.

In higher education, there are individuals whose dedication, expertise, and leadership serve as guiding lights, illuminating the path for others. Dr. Mark Hubley is one such exemplary teacher and leader at Prince George's Community College. With a commitment to excellence, Dr. Hubley embodies the values of the institution and has made significant contributions to the academic and personal growth of students.

Dr. Hubley, a tenured professor in the Natural Sciences Department, is known for his love of students, passion for teaching, and championing PGCC students. Despite constantly being sought-after to serve on committees and assume leadership roles, Dr. Hubley prioritizes students first. For more than twenty years, he has effectively balanced service to students in the classroom and the greater college community.

In 2010, he became the chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. In 2016, that department merged with the Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering and became the Natural Sciences Department. Dr. Hubley continued to serve as chair through 2019. From 2010 to 2019, the department grew considerably in terms of faculty, the number of students enrolled, courses offered, and class locations. The department played an important role in the successful development of the Academy of Health Sciences, which is the first middle college formed in Maryland.

Dr. Hubley’s leadership style inspired confidence and teamwork in the department, creating an environment where his colleagues thrived. Under his leadership, programs were revised and new courses were created to serve PGCC students better. He also championed faculty excellence and professional development, leading to many faculty achieving tenure and promotion. Faculty in the department have become leaders across campus, playing key roles in the Middle States accreditation reviews, the Faculty Senate, promotion and tenure committees, assessment, and more. Though Dr. Hubley left the position as chair in 2019, his leadership effectiveness is still evident in how his colleagues speak about him—they "love" Mark (as he insists everyone calls him).

Dr. Hubley's influence extends far beyond the confines of his department, and his college-wide collaborations transcend the boundaries of his discipline. His college-wide engagements underscore his commitment to institutional advancement. Additionally, his broad knowledge of his discipline, experience with college operations, and affable personality make him one of the most sought-after members of the faculty to serve on committees and special projects. His success as a faculty leader began early in his career at PGCC when he served as president of the Faculty Organization for two terms from 2006 to 2010. That service established him as a campus leader, and his popularity with Prince George’s Community College faculty continues to shine today. It would require a lot of space to describe all of Dr. Hubley’s contributions to the College, but here are a few highlights: he has served as co-chair of the Academic Council, chair of the General Education Committee, a member of the College-wide Tenure Committee, two terms as the chair of the Promotion and Tenure Appeals Committee, co-chair of the Chairs Council, and a member of the Curriculum Committee.

Dr. Hubley has published articles and books in the areas of biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology. At various conferences, he has presented his work in those areas, along with innovations in classroom instruction. Recently, he has joined with colleagues at national conferences to present the College’s new program in micro-credentials.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hubley has successfully obtained grant funding from sources that include the National Institutes of Health and Merck. However, of all his accomplishments, Dr. Hubley says his greatest ones are the positive connections he made with students across thirty-five years of teaching. In any role he is serving the College, PGCC’s Core Commitment of Students First has always been Dr. Hubley’s core commitment. Dr. Hubley’s love for his students is reflected in the comments his students have made in their reviews of his performance.

Dr. Mark Hubley epitomizes the quintessential academic leader. His foundation is a deep knowledge and passion for his field, and for over thirty-five years, he has been dedicated to transferring that knowledge and passion to his students. Throughout his career, he has been a scholar, a biologist, and an educator. He is deeply familiar with the process of research, understands how to analyze data, and makes informed decisions. Throughout his time at PGCC, Dr. Hubley has formed relationships with his colleagues and put himself forward as a leader—a leader who has not been afraid of challenges but a leader who has demonstrated success in uniting those he serves and helping them to flourish. Dr. Hubley inspires those who seek excellence in academia.

As we celebrate Community College Month, let us recognize the invaluable contributions of institutions like Prince George’s Community College in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education. Additionally, we want to acknowledge and honor outstanding faculty members like Dr. Mark Hubley, whose dedication and leadership enrich the educational experience and shape the future of students. Through their efforts, community colleges continue to serve as beacons of opportunity, empowering individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Culinary arts grad caters to the allergen-friendly community

Published March 6, 2024

She is twenty-one years old and has never tasted chocolate. Born with over eight different allergies, Prince George’s Community College culinary arts student Royal Severe found a way to turn her life’s challenge into purpose, passion, and profit.

“Not being able to eat cake or any ice cream because you’re always worried about cross-contact with other foods built up an interest,” Chef Royal said. “I wanted to know what chocolate, cake, and frosting tasted like.”

With life-threatening allergic reactions to wheat, soy, eggs, seafood, peanuts, sesame, cats, and dogs, curiosity led her to explore desserts in a new way. She wanted to know more about life beyond food restrictions.

Her twin sister, Legacy Severe, and brother, Jeremiah Severe, share the same allergies. Chef Royal says they spent many childhood years being homeschooled, and when they did join public school, they were often isolated.

“In elementary we always had to sit at the peanut-free table and I was wondering why everyone goes crazy about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Chef Royal said. “A lot of times we felt like we were excluded from the party or our friends.”

For Chef Royal and her siblings, allergies affect their lives in dietary ways but also how they socialize because some of their allergies are airborne. They have had allergic reactions just walking into a Red Lobster restaurant or hugging family members after a seafood boil party.

EpiPens, packs of Benadryl, and inhalers have been a way of life. She credits her father, Jubner Severe, for being a proactive health advocate for her and her sibling’s safety and care. Chef Royal’s mother, Kabrena Severe, often experimented with other ingredients to make baked goods and bread for the family. Eventually, she continued her mother’s work to find a way to enjoy food.

“Even though we experienced the isolation and being excluded, we still found ways to come up with substitutions as well and learn more about food allergies,” Chef Royal said.

Her determination and initiative led her to entrepreneurship, launching Royal’s Rock N Recipes in 2018. She fell in love with making conscious baked goods after successfully perfecting a snickerdoodle cookie recipe while in high school.

“There were a lot of times where I thought ‘why me’ but then it changed to God thanks for choosing me and using what I thought was maybe a mistake to turn into a masterpiece,” Chef Royal said. “I was thinking that it was a dark place but it brought light to the situation. Serving other people is light. When I take the attention and put it on someone else, that’s when it creates something bigger than myself and it’s worth living for.”

In 2020, Royal enrolled at PGCC where she committed to learning more about her vocation as an allergy-friendly chef and business owner. She graduated with a culinary arts certificate in 2023.

“After learning about recipe costing in my culinary courses, I realized I had to add it to my business,” Chef Royal said. “I sat down with an Excel sheet and started doing the math on everything. My professors worked with me on my allergies and still made it possible for someone like me to enjoy class. I really enjoyed my time at Prince George’s Community College.”

At PGCC, Chef Royal has had the opportunity to be a DMV Black Restaurant Week demonstrator and showcase her baked goods at various PGCC events. In the future, she hopes to own a bakery and offer dessert shipping services all over the world.

“It’s important that people all over the world can celebrate their children or their birthdays even though they have allergies,” she said. “Everyone all over the world should be able to indulge in desserts worry-free.”

Chef Royal encourages others to push through difficult times and find joy in service to others.

“As I am baking and decorating the cakes, I’m thinking about how my actions are out of love,“ she said. “I know exactly what that other person is going through with an allergy. I understand them completely and with that understanding, I can give love and care. I love what I do, the process of it, and the impact it can create.”

To support Royal’s Rock N Recipes, visit www.rrrtreats.com or connect with her on Instagram.