Michael Mahoney, 34, graduated college thinking he would teach secondary education, but instead he found a teaching opportunity outside the classroom.

On April 13, Mahoney, a Westport native, assumed the role of executive director of Dartmouth’s YMCA branch. He replaced Derek Heim, who held the position for the past decade and is currently the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Brockton.

Mahoney graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as a history major and certified teacher. His career at the YMCA began in 2000 when he took a job as a camp councilor in Seekonk.

“I thought it was going to be a summer job, but then I never left,” he said.

Throughout his 15 years at the YMCA, he’s worked in Seekonk, Fall River, Wareham and North Attleboro, assuming different roles within the organization — everything from promoting community health to overseeing wellness programs.

Mahoney believes his background in teaching helped him excel in these various roles.

“It makes it easier for me to talk with people, to teach new concepts — it directly correlates,” he said.

Before joining the team in Dartmouth, he focused on community outreach through an initiative called Healthy Futures at the Hockomock Area YMCA.

“We taught every child and family we could connect with how to make smart decisions about exercise and eating right,” he said.

This included visiting third grade classrooms to teach students how to properly read food labels and avoid misleading marketing jargon.

Even the community gardens at his last job became a educational opportunity. In addition to being a teaching tool, the produce grown on site was donated to organizations in need, like food pantries and soup kitchens.

Mahoney said part of his excitement for his new position stems from the South Dartmouth YMCA’s focus on agriculture.

“We have the Sharing the Harvest Farm here, and they do such good work with educating the community, creating awareness and serving a need,” he said. “There’s a ton of hunger in our communities.”

He described the Sharing the Harvest Farm, a four-acre, volunteer run garden located on the premises, as the “lifeblood” of the Dartmouth branch. Since its formation in 2006, the farm has produced over 200,000 pounds of produce.

Community building, a large part of his previous work, is something he wants to see continue at his new location, whether it's at the school level or providing a way for seniors to connect and socialize.

In North Attleboro, he oversaw a senior group that met throughout the year to watch movies together, to go out to lunch or to plan trips to foreign countries like Italy and Costa Rica.

Though he feels the branch has accomplished a lot in the past, Mahoney has a lot to look forward to in the immediate future, particularly with Camp Metacomet’s summer sessions beginning in June.

“There’s nothing better than when Mom or Dad comes to pick up their kid, and they’re just tired, but you know that they’ve had a great day," he said. "They’re laughing and smiling, and they’re having new experiences.”

While Mahoney may not be teaching in a formal classroom setting, he believes his career at the YMCA has given him the chance to connect with young people — and teach.