State Board of Community Colleges Names Bill Carver Interim President

Carver returns as interim following retirement of President Jeff Cox

RALEIGH – The N.C. State Board of Community Colleges has voted to appoint William S. “Bill” Carver as interim president of the NC Community College System (NCCCS), effective July 1. Carver succeeds President Jeff Cox, who retires June 30 after more than 30 years of service to North Carolina.

Carver is no stranger to the role. He previously served as interim president of the NCCCS in 2020, following the departure of then-President Peter Hans, and again in 2022, following the resignation of President Thomas Stith III. His return brings continuity and experienced leadership as the System advances a national search for its next president.

“Bill Carver has proven himself more than capable in this role, and we are fortunate to have someone of his experience and dedication available to lead the System during this transition. We are confident in his ability to keep the work moving forward while we conduct a thorough search for our next permanent president,” said Tom Looney, Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. “On behalf of the Board, I also want to thank Jeff Cox for his years of service to North Carolina’s students and communities.”

Carver served as president of Nash Community College from 2005 to 2019, where he held a variety of roles before assuming the presidency, including instructor, director of the Small Business Center, director of business and industry services, dean of continuing education, and vice president of instruction. During his tenure, Nash Community College expanded its campus, grew enrollment by 42 percent, and increased online enrollment by 30 percent. He launched successful strategic planning and fundraising initiatives during that period.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from NC State University, a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University, and a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University.

The State Board of Community Colleges has retained national search firm Buffkin Baker to lead the presidential search.

About the North Carolina Community College System

The North Carolina Community College System is a network created to improve the quality of life across North Carolina by opening the door to opportunities that minimize barriers to post-secondary education, maximize student success, and develop a globally and multi-culturally competent workforce. The 58 institutions located throughout the state provide easy access to low-cost, high-quality educational opportunities and academic support that focuses on increasing employability. For more information, visit nccommunitycolleges.edu.