Feature Stories Alumni: Bryce King ’19, MAT ’19: A legacy of success, painted in blue and gold

New Bedford native Bryce King ’19, MAT ’19 has blue and gold coursing through his veins, born and raised on riveting stories about UMass Dartmouth. They were spoon-fed directly from the heart by his mother, Clara King ’91, who journeyed from Cape Verde to Ring Road in pursuit of education, opportunity, and a promising future that would shape generations of her family. 

Throughout his childhood, King diligently listened to Clara’s anecdotes about being a Corsair, blending her Cape Verdean identity with the spirit of UMass Dartmouth to forge a new path of pride and community. She was the founding member of the Cape Verdean Student Association, an organization that is still a cornerstone of cultural representation and support on campus today. 

It was Clara’s ability to be herself on campus that most appealed to King when it came time for him to embark on his own higher education adventure: “Diversity always stood out to me when it came to UMass Dartmouth. The University provided my mom, her cousins, and other Cape Verdeans with a platform to promote our culture, both on campus and in the community. It showed me that you don’t have to conform to anything—you can simply be yourself. That’s how I knew UMass Dartmouth was the place for me.” 

Always drawn to history, King explored different career paths in the industry, beginning with his internship at the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives. Reflecting on his work with archival cases, he said, “At that point, I thought I’d become an archivist. But then, the Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) was put on my radar by faculty members, and I decided to double dip in history and teaching.” 

Each semester, King enrolled in extra courses and immersed himself in textbook after textbook, ultimately graduating with both his bachelor’s degree and MAT in just four and a half years. The University’s academic flexibility, adapting to students with unique goals, played a key role in helping him achieve this remarkable feat. In a way, King experienced diversity on another spectrum; it wasn’t just about cultural backgrounds, but also about how each individual’s road to success is never cookie-cutter. 

While teaching history wasn’t his original vision for the future, King’s time at UMass Dartmouth ignited a deep devotion to educating others. Finding a job as a history teacher proved challenging, but he stuck his foot in the door by teaching in other departments, such as special education and English Language Arts. He eventually taught social studies full-time for four years before transitioning into his current position as assistant principal at Fonseca Elementary School in Fall River, MA. 

“I give so much credit to UMass Dartmouth in everything that I do,” said King, who wouldn’t have unearthed this calling without fellow Corsairs encouraging his every step forward. “Everything I learned while a student transformed me into a better educator. As an administrator, I now get to help educators in the way that I was helped in my master’s program. I take what I learned while at UMass Dartmouth and utilize it in my feedback that I give to teachers every day. It’s all about fostering a positive learning environment for students.” 

For King, everything circles back to his alma mater, where the foundation of his family’s legacy was built brick by brick. It’s where his mother, Clara, paved her own path to success, and where King discovered his own—creating a lasting bond to the University that endures the tests of time.  

“Ever since I graduated, I’ve been promoting UMass Dartmouth to everybody I know, even my younger cousin, Nazyia Andrade ’27, who’s now studying at the Charlton College of Business,” said King. It only made sense for him to join the Alumni Association, continuing the work he’s already been doing on his own to promote the University as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. 

King is eager to strengthen the bond between alumni and students by serving as a mentor and participating in initiatives that connect students with valuable resources, such as internships and job opportunities, while establishing a sense of pride and community within the UMass Dartmouth network. 

“I never thought it was possible for me to join the Alumni Association, but here I am,” said King with a bright smile, beyond ecstatic to give back to the institution where it all began. “I’m so happy to be a Board member and look forward to upholding UMass Dartmouth’s mission and values in the best possible way.”