October 15
Massachusetts State Representative Dru Tarr ‘16 represents Essex, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Gloucester, freely admitting that his journey to the State House was an unexpected one.
“North Shore was certainly something that helped me find my path,” he said. "Both as a person going to college at 17 years old and someone returning to college around 27, it was accessible geographically, it was accessible financially, and it's a place and a process that I intensely recommend.”
In the liberal arts transfer program at NSCC, Tarr gained knowledge in a variety of disciplines that enriched his life and prepared him to serve the constituents of the 5th Essex District.
Ready When You Need It
Tarr’s NSCC education began early: high school wasn’t working out, so he enrolled in college classes. However, it turned out that 17-year-old Tarr wasn’t ready to take college seriously. Instead, he spent the next eight years working in retail.
“That's where I got the tempering that I needed, and when I decided to go back, North Shore was there for me again,” he said. "North Shore is there when you're ready for it.”
When he returned to NSCC, Tarr was ready. He earned his liberal arts transfer (LAT) degree in the political science pathway in 2016, and his liberal arts education provided a solid foundation—not just for future learning, but as a person.
“Liberal arts courses teach you to do your job as a citizen,” Tarr explained.
After graduation, Tarr knew that he wanted to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree. He took classes at a handful of colleges in the UMass system before settling into UMass Dartmouth.
“The transfer experience was seamless," he said. “I can't recommend it more: taking the path of community college first and utilizing the great resources that we have, tuition-free, then transferring to a four year college for that full degree.”
Serving the 5th Essex District
When he graduated with his associate degree in 2016, Tarr thought he would transfer, earn his bachelor’s, and then start his career, but life had other plans.
During his time at NSCC, he had the opportunity to pursue what he considered to be his “hobby of politics,” and after graduation, he worked on an ultimately unsuccessful local campaign. Shortly after the election season, however, he got a phone call that would change his life: State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante wanted to hire him.
Starting as a legislative aide and working his way up to becoming research and district director, Tarr worked for Ferrante for over nine years.
When Ferrante passed away in 2025, Tarr took up the mantle and ran for office.
“I felt that she had put so much into me, teaching me how to be a good leader, that I wanted to give back,” he said.
After a successful campaign, Tarr took office in April 2026. As a lifelong Gloucester resident, Tarr now represents the same district where he grew up.
Accessible College Education—Your Community, Your College
Tarr has seen firsthand how NSCC can change lives, and he is an advocate for community colleges—particularly Free Community College, which allows Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree to attend community college without tuition or fees.
“We're so lucky to have our community colleges—they're there, they're in our communities, they're accessible for people at whatever stage of life they're in. They're the foundation, I think, of what higher education is going to look like next,” he said.
“You don't have to be a 17 or 18 year old saying that you're going to do two years of community college. It can be a 27-year old saying, 'I need to go back.' It can be a 40-year old who says, 'I need a different path in life.' Now, more than ever, our community colleges are there for our residents.”
Learn more about the liberal arts transfer (LAT) program at NSCC.