Massachusetts, meet your future Secretary of Education. At least, that's the title college sophomore Megan Pierce hopes to hold one day, and so far she’s on the right trajectory.

Pierce, a Rochester resident, is probably one of the few college students in the state who could recognize the Secretary of Education.

Recently, Pierce saw the secretary, Matthew Malone (admit it, you didn’t know his name either), at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and chatted him up. In September, Malone invited her for a tour of the education department and lunch.

As a high school student, Pierce might not have been so forward, but her years in the Drama Club helped her take on leadership roles in college.

“Going into college after ORR, I was probably better prepared than most of my peers,” she said. “College wasn’t that intimidating. I learned a lot of life skills at ORR.”

Her first year at Fitchburg State University, Pierce hit the ground running.

“I pretty much dipped my fingers in everything my freshman year,” Pierce said.

She was elected president of her class and chosen as freshman of the year. Pierce became an orientation leader, a program director for the Special Olympics, attended Student Advocacy Day at the State House, and was one of several students who got dining hall hours extended.

As an education major with a focus on moderate disabilities, Pierce said her sister Haley – aka her “mini me” – has inspired her. Haley has moderate disabilities, including difficulties with speech and hand and eye coordination. Teachers at Rochester Memorial School have helped her all along the way, said Pierce.

As Pierce began her education studies this year, she said Haley was always on her mind.

“My sister is so much more than just her having special needs,” she said. “For me, everything comes back to my sister. The way I think about myself when I’m in my pre-practicum, I think how would I want someone to be doing this with her.”

Haley was also part of the reason Pierce decided to help with the Special Olympics.

“It was probably the most chaotic and awesome day of my life,” said Pierce.

The rising sophomore also cited her participation in the Student Advocacy Day on March 5 as a highlight of her freshman year. Held at the State House, the event was an opportunity for students at public universities to hear from the governor and push for state representatives to vote for Gov. Devol Patrick’s policy to increase the budget to mitigate tuition fees.

“I’m going to school and I have high dreams and I know that I can get them one day. But with all the debt I’m going to be in once I graduate with my bachelor’s, it makes it almost impossible to go to extra schooling,” she said.

A few months later Pierce heard the news that an additional $15 million was appropriated for state universities.

Advocacy Day was also when she heard Matthew Malone speak. Pierce, who is also going to minor in political science, wants to follow in the steps of the former teacher and superintendent.

“He’s not helping just a classroom of children, he’s helping a state. His viewpoint and what he’s bringing to the country is helping our country,” Pierce gushed.

She believes her life experiences would also contribute well to the position one day.

But until then, Pierce has found her niche at Fitchburg State. This school year she will be the treasurer of the Student Government Association, hopes to put together a volunteer program to visit sick children in the hospital, and will be one of 10 students who will participate in a humanitarian project to Nicaragua.

“I got my outgoing and ambitious side from my mom,” said Pierce. “I’m more like [my dad] in that you can never dream big enough.”