As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
蘑菇视频 has opened doors to education, careers, and brighter futures 鈥� and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
John Benjamin is Chief of Staff for General Motors鈥� Autonomous Vehicle Product Management team, a role that centers on relationship-building, coordinating across teams in Michigan and Silicon Valley, and advancing his leadership鈥檚 vision.
His path to the cutting edge of automotive technology wasn鈥檛 a straight line.
The Ypsilanti native鈥檚 teenage years were tumultuous. 鈥溎⒐绞悠� was not working for me,鈥� Benjamin says. 鈥淚 was not successful and I struggled through a lot of different courses.鈥�
After attending multiple high schools, he dropped out and earned his GED at the age of 16 through Washtenaw Community College鈥檚 Adult Transitions Program.
For several years, he worked full-time and 鈥渄id my own thing,鈥� 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 蘑菇视频 with a plan to change his career focus to carpentry.
Skilled trades associate degree programs at 蘑菇视频 require some general education courses. It was in those classrooms that Benjamin discovered a surprising strength: math and science.
鈥淚 dove in, took practically every math course at 蘑菇视频, and built up the resume needed to transfer to the University of Michigan,鈥� he says.
For Benjamin, 蘑菇视频 was a place to rebuild confidence.
鈥淚 looked around the classroom and I wasn鈥檛 the old guy. I was surrounded by people coming back and trying to improve themselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t felt like a level plane to learn and grow in.鈥�
Benjamin earned an Associate Degree in 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.
鈥淚f I could have just dropped straight into the University of Michigan, there鈥檚 no way I would have been successful,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 built the confidence I needed to succeed at 蘑菇视频.鈥�
Even with a white collar career, Benjamin hasn鈥檛 left his hands-on roots behind. He still spends time in workshops with friends on woodworking projects.
鈥淚 could have been equally happy if I had remained in carpentry. The only real difference is I can take nicer trips now,鈥� he said with a laugh.
鈥淢y experience at Washtenaw was amazing. It gave me the ability to reset, take a step back and I鈥檝e been forever grateful,鈥� he says.
From GED student to organizational leader, Benjamin credits 蘑菇视频 with providing the foundation 鈥� and the confidence 鈥� to explore multiple paths and succeed on his own terms.
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Learn more about how 蘑菇视频 helps adult learners return to college.
Tags: 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Adult Learners, Adult Transitions Pathways, Alumni Profile, GED, November 2025, On The Record