Business Administration | Wealth Management Professional at Goldman Sachs

For Matthew Ackerman, attending Greenfield Community College was a transformational experience that helped shape both his personal and professional path. A 2019 graduate of the business administration program, Ackerman reflects on his time at GCC with deep gratitude and admiration.

“I still say attending GCC was one of the best choices I’ve made,” Ackerman said. “I always recommend it whenever I get the chance.”

Affordability initially drew Ackerman to GCC, but it was the flexibility and supportive environment that truly won him over. “GCC allowed me to explore my interests and easily switch concentrations when I wanted something new,” he said.

Though he once doubted his abilities as a student, Ackerman found encouragement and support from the faculty, who helped him realize his potential. “No matter your background, GCC will take you in and push you to strive to be a better you,” he said. “The faculty genuinely care about their students. They saw something in me I didn’t even realize I had. With their consistent encouragement and patience, I began to grow.”

He recalls learning not just how to be a good student, but how to be a lifelong learner. “GCC taught me to be a student of life as well as academia,” he said. “The lessons of patience, curiosity and dedication have continued to shape me long after graduation.”

Ackerman is now a wealth management professional at Goldman Sachs—an accomplishment he holds in high regard. “Earning a position at Goldman Sachs, a company with an acceptance rate lower than Harvard’s, is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

He also counts his personal life among his greatest accomplishments. “I’m happily married and a father to three wonderful furbabies.”

For current students, Ackerman offers heartfelt advice rooted in his own experience:

“Be unapologetically honest. Be honest with yourself, with your professors, and dig deep to move in a direction you truly want,” he said. “There were times I told professors, ‘I didn’t do the assignment because it was boring.’ They weren’t impressed—but that honesty opened up conversations. I got the help I needed, whether it was more tutoring or switching to a better-suited class. Professors aren’t just teachers; they’re professionals who are there to help. Take them up on it—you might find the spark you were missing.”