Two new women CC presidents

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Public Affairs
Date: November 22, 1999

TWO WOMEN JOIN THE RANKS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS

RALEIGH – The number of women community college presidents in North Carolina has increased by 40%, going from five to seven. On Friday, November 19 the State Board of Community Colleges approved the appointment of two new women presidents, one for McDowell Technical Community College in Marion and the other for Nash Community College in Rocky Mount. An interim president of Southeastern Community College in Whiteville was also approved.

The State Board approved Dr. Katherine M. Johnson as the third president of Nash Community College, effective January 1, 2000. Dr. Johnson is presently vice president/provost at Indian River Community College in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Dr. Johnson replaces Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr. whose retirement after 19 years as president becomes effective December 31.

Dr. Johnson, who was present for the approval, said she is a "double product of community colleges," noting she is a graduate of the Florida Community College System and has spent more than 16 years of her professional career at Indian River Community College. She added she was happy to be returning to North Carolina. Dr. Johnson was born in Hamlet, but left North Carolina as a small child. She said the North Carolina Community College System has been well admired by the Florida System, especially in recognizing workforce development issues. "We are the niche, the perfect solution for workforce development in North Carolina," she added.

Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-2^nd) was on hand to witness and support the approval of Dr. Johnson as Nash president. "The Community College System is the people’s university," he said. "It is the open door and that door should never be closed to our people." Etheridge congratulated Nash Community College and the State Board for bringing Dr. Johnson back to North Carolina to help fulfill that mission.

The State Board also approved Dr. Virginia Mitchell as McDowell Technical Community College President, effective December 1. Dr. Mitchell is presently executive vice-president of Mitchell Community College in Statesville. She is a graduate of the Institute for Future Presidents, an internal training and mentoring program designed by and for the North Carolina Community College System Office to develop candidates for executive community college positions. Dr. Mitchell was unable to attend the State Board meeting.

Dr. Swanson Richards was approved as interim president for Southeastern Community College, effective November 22. Dr. Richards was president of Surry Community College in Dobson and retired after serving in that position for 22 years. He has also served as interim president of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro from July 1995 through March 1996. Dr. Richards was also unable to attend Friday’s meeting.

The five other women presidents in the North Carolina Community College System are: Ms. Mary Kirk, Montgomery Community College; Dr. Karin K. Pettit, Lenoir Community College; Dr. Patricia A. Skinner, Gaston College; Dr. Desna L. Wallin, Forsyth Technical Community College; and Dr. Mary T. Wood, James Sprunt Community College.

In other action, the State Board of Community Colleges presented a resolution honoring Lt. Governor Dennis A. Wicker for his twelve years of service to community colleges, six as a member of the Central Carolina Community College Board of Trustees and then as an ex officio member and chair of the State Board. In accepting the resolution, Wicker, whose third term as chair ended earlier this year, said of his work with community colleges, "Of all the things I have accomplished in public service, I will look back on his as being the finest thing I have ever done."

Also on Friday, Misty Faye Tart, student member of the State Board, presented a $1,000 check from the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA) for Hurricane Floyd flood relief efforts.

More than 700,000 students are served by the state’s 58 community colleges and the NC Center for Applied Textile Technology, making North Carolina one of the largest community college systems in the country. The NCCCS is the primary agency for delivery of job training, literacy and adult education in North Carolina.

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