Northern Marianas College alumni Keane T. Palacios has gone from achieving an associate degree at home to playing a vital role in protecting our Commonwealth’s borders.
Palacios, an Associate in Liberal Arts graduate from NMC in 2002, a Bachelor in Business graduate from Boise State University in 2007, and a Masters in Business Administration graduate from the University of Phoenix in 2009, is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBP) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with duties that include the facilitation of lawful trade and travel and advancing National Security to protect the people and economy of the CNMI and the United States.
Prior to working at CBP, Palacios held positions in the fields of business and education, from Business Manager to HR Specialist, and numerous positions in customer service to Program Coordinator, Program Manager, and Adjunct instructor. He cites his time at NMC as a big contributor to learning the skills needed to fulfill those responsibilities in various sectors of his previous places of employment.
His pursuit of a Business Administration degree stemmed from being around a business-minded family background.
“I made the decision to pursue Business Administration because I was in that kind of environment growing up. My grandparents owned a business and I enjoyed assisting the family business and did see the benefits of owning your own business; especially a profitable one.”
When discussing how NMC has helped him in his current role at CBP, he mentions learning the fundamentals of the degree program he was going to pursue away from home at NMC.
“NMC prepared me in so many ways, including the fundamentals of critical thinking, writing, and communication skills. I graduated from NMC with an AA in Liberal Arts before studying abroad. NMC was a big part of building that foundation of skills and education I needed to be successful at the universities I attended,” said Palacios.
“It is very important to know that one of the requirements that qualifies a person for a decent job with decent pay is education,” he added.
Reminiscing about his favorite memories during his time as a Proa, he talks about the unique learning experience he was involved in with the classes he took, as well as the overall college experience.
“In terms of personal growth, I liked the experience of being a college student: making my own decision of what classes to take, meeting different people/classmates every semester, being my own person, and practicing the responsibility of keeping up with my studies. The journey is always the fun part. In terms of classes, I enjoyed a few science courses where the instructor took us on hiking trips; those were the most fun, and I also really enjoyed taking ceramics.”
Palacios’ advice to current students at the college revolves around enjoying the college journey, while at the same time doing their best.
“To future and new college students, your first choice of a field of study may or may not be right for you, but explore it anyway,” Palacios said. “During the journey, I hope you confirm what field you definitely are interested in. Take notice of what you enjoy in your personal and/or professional life and see if that applies to your current field of study or another and make any necessary changes. Enjoy the journey, but do your best.”
He also shares specific advice for students pursuing business administration.
“For those looking to pursue business administration, I advise you to think hard if you want general business management or an actual concentration: accounting, human resources, etc. The business field is one of the largest so make sure to make the right decision for yourself,” said Palacios.