Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Michael Engs arrived at William & Mary in 1967 after transferring from Christopher Newport College, now University, where he had been the first African American student at the institution. During his two years at William & Mary, Engs was a member of the ROTC, the first African American to do so at the college, and participated in intramural sports. He also worked as a historical interpreter for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation during his time as a student. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1969, Engs was commissioned into the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Eustis, VA before deploying to Korea. After retiring from the service, Engs continued his academic career at the University of Arizona, receiving his Master of Education in 1977 and at Northern Arizona University, receiving his Doctorate in Education in 1996. He went on to work for the Pima Community College District for 32 years as an administrator, counselor, and instructor. During his tenure he received numerous awards including Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year in AZ and Administrator of the Year for Pima College. In his interview, Engs recounts his time as the “first African American male undergraduate for the College of William & Mary” in the 1960s. He expands on the hardships his parents endured as African Americans in the military and speaks on the racism he faced throughout his own schooling and career. He emphasizes the importance of history, research, and literature in his time at the College and how this pushed him towards working in higher education himself. William & Mary gave him invaluable exposure to the narratives of people of color, thus affecting his worldview.While he encountered many difficulties at the College, he claims the value of William & Mary has increased over the years for him, much like “currency.” From his time in ROTC and working in Williamsburg to his teaching career, Engs emphasizes the importance of African Americans in his growth. He owes his success to those people of “good will” surrounding him. He reflects the obstacles he faced and acknowledges that he paved the way for future African Americans at William & Mary.