NC Career Coach Program Celebrates 10 Years, More Than 200,000 Students Served

The North Carolina Community College System is marking a decade of impact through its NC Career Coach Program, a statewide initiative designed to bridge the gap between high school education and workforce success. Since its establishment in 2015, the program has served more than 200,000 students, providing direct, one-on-one career guidance to help high schoolers navigate their futures. 

This 10-year milestone coincides with a record-breaking year of service. According to the 2024–25 Annual Report recently approved by the State Board of Community Colleges, Career Coaches guided 31,583 students in the last academic year alone—a 57% increase over the previous year. 

Dr. Jennifer McLean, State Director of Advising and Coaching at the System, took the helm of the NC Career Coach Program in November 2018.  

“When students receive personalized career advising early, they make more informed decisions, enroll in pathways that are relevant to their goals, and grow confidence toward college and careers,” McLean said. “That’s the power our Career Coaches bring to communities statewide.”  

A Decade of Growth and Investment  

By embedding community college-employed advisors directly into high schools, the program assists students in defining career interests and selecting appropriate high school and college courses, particularly through the Career and College Promise (CCP) dual enrollment program. 

Since its inception, the program has grown from a pilot initiative to a statewide force.  

The North Carolina General Assembly has steadily increased support, raising funding from $500,000 in 2015 to $5.6 million by 2022. Today, the program features 92 Career Coaches across 45 community colleges, serving 64 Local Education Agencies (LEAs). 

In the 2024-2025 academic year, coaches conducted nearly 40,000 one-on-one advising sessions and facilitated over 2,000 group sessions, directly contributing to increased enrollment in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. 

Real Student Success  

While the data highlights the program’s scale, the true impact is found in the individual lives changed by dedicated coaches.  
 
For Alena Oxendine, a current student at UNC Pembroke, the mentorship of her coach, Cheyene Lowery at Robeson Community College, was pivotal. Lowery helped Oxendine navigate a rigorous schedule, allowing her to graduate high school with a 4.5 GPA and 39 college credits. 
 
“Ms. Cheyene played a huge role in helping me reach this point. She guided me through choosing classes that would transfer smoothly to college, helped me stay organized when managing both high school and college work, and always reminded me to think ahead,” Oxendine said. “Because of her support and advice, I was able to start college ahead of schedule, confident in my abilities and already prepared for the next step toward becoming a teacher.” 

Success looks different for every student. Natalie, a homeschooled student, worked with coaches at Western Piedmont Community College to achieve a bold goal: completing high school while simultaneously finishing the college’s full-time Cosmetology program. 

While most high school students opt for a part-time track, Natalie was determined to take on the full course load. Connie Thompson, of Burke County Public Schools, said she initially wasn’t sure how Natalie would balance the intense commitment, but through late nights and early mornings, Natalie proved her dedication. 

This spring, she will graduate from high school and complete the Cosmetology program at the same time. 

“I am proud of the work I’ve put in, the growth I’ve achieved, and the future I am building one step, and one hairstyle, at a time, thanks to Western Piedmont Community College and the Career and College Promise Program,” Natalie said. 

Overcoming Barriers  

The impact of a Career Coach often extends beyond academics. Britt Church, a Career Coach at West Wilkes High School, works with students at Wilkes Community College, and describes her role not as a job, but a mission. 

Church recently assisted a student facing homelessness and a family health crisis. By helping the student secure employment, housing, and financial aid, Church ensured the student could continue her education against the odds. 

“I realized it is more valuable to have a career that allows me to make a significant difference in the lives of students rather than making a significant salary,” Church said. 

Future Priorities  

As the program enters its second decade, the System has outlined four strategic priorities to address current barriers, including rural funding challenges and staff turnover: 

• Expand Capacity: Ensuring every LEA in the state has at least one Career Coach.
• Address Rural Funding: Exploring support to ease local match requirements for rural counties.
• Improve Data Access: Streamlining reporting through better system integration.
• Develop a Retention Strategy: Focusing on competitive pay and professional development to retain top talent like Tracy Autry, the program’s longest-serving coach, who is moving into a supervisor role in 2026. 

“North Carolina was just named the number one state for workforce. Career Coaches don’t just help students, they engage local employers, champion regional workforce needs, and strengthen the talent pipeline that fuels North Carolina’s economic growth,” McLean said.  

By aligning student goals with workforce needs, the NC Career Coach Program continues to build a pipeline of skilled workers, proving that personalized guidance is the key to unlocking student potential.