As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers, and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
John Benjamin is Chief of Staff for General Motors’ Autonomous Vehicle Product Management team, a role that centers on relationship-building, coordinating across teams in Michigan and Silicon Valley, and advancing his leadership’s vision.
His path to the cutting edge of automotive technology wasn’t a straight line.
The Ypsilanti native’s teenage years were tumultuous. “School was not working for me,” Benjamin says. “I was not successful and I struggled through a lot of different courses.”
After attending multiple high schools, he dropped out and earned his GED at the age of 16 through Washtenaw Community College’s Adult Transitions Program.
For several years, he worked full-time and “did my own thing,” putting higher education aside until his mid-20s.
In 2007, Benjamin moved to Texas to pursue a career in hydraulics, but by 2010 he returned to the area determined to explore other opportunities. He turned to WCC with a plan to change his career focus to carpentry.
Skilled trades associate degree programs at WCC require some general education courses. It was in those classrooms that Benjamin discovered a surprising strength: math and science.
“I dove in, took practically every math course at WCC, and built up the resume needed to transfer to the University of Michigan,” he says.
For Benjamin, WCC was a place to rebuild confidence.
“I looked around the classroom and I wasn’t the old guy. I was surrounded by people coming back and trying to improve themselves,” he said. “It felt like a level plane to learn and grow in.”
Benjamin earned an Associate Degree in General Studies in Math & Natural Sciences before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he completed a Mechanical Engineering degree in 2016.
While attending U-M, Benjamin started an automotive engineering career that included stops with Nexteer Automotive, NSK America Corp, Adient and General Motors.
“If I could have just dropped straight into the University of Michigan, there’s no way I would have been successful,” he says. “I built the confidence I needed to succeed at WCC.”
Even with a white collar career, Benjamin hasn’t left his hands-on roots behind. He still spends time in workshops with friends on woodworking projects.
“I could have been equally happy if I had remained in carpentry. The only real difference is I can take nicer trips now,” he said with a laugh.
“My experience at Washtenaw was amazing. It gave me the ability to reset, take a step back and I’ve been forever grateful,” he says.
From GED student to organizational leader, Benjamin credits WCC with providing the foundation — and the confidence — to explore multiple paths and succeed on his own terms.
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Learn more about how WCC helps adult learners return to college.
Tags: 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Adult Learners, Adult Transitions Pathways, Alumni Profile, GED