NC Community College System Announces New Hires and Promotions Strengthening Statewide Leadership

Several key hires and promotions are enhancing statewide leadership across the North Carolina Community College System, reinforcing its ongoing focus on workforce development, credit mobility, and student success. 

These strategic staffing updates reflect the System’s commitment to expanding equitable access, strengthening workforce alignment, and advancing high-quality education throughout North Carolina. 

“Each of these new hires and promotions represents a strategic investment in the future of our state. We’re building a team with the vision, experience, and dedication needed to meet the evolving needs of North Carolina’s students, employers, and communities,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, System President. “From workforce innovation to federal program stewardship and student mobility, these leaders will help strengthen our capacity to deliver on our mission—to ensure access, excellence, and opportunity across all 58 colleges.”   

New Hires 

Kelli Reale joined the System in January 2025 as Vice President of Human Resources, bringing more than 25 years of HR leadership experience, primarily in the healthcare sector. She most recently served at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, a four-hospital system in South Carolina with nearly 6,000 employees and $1 billion in net revenue. Kelli is known for her focus on workplace culture, recruitment and retention, and talent development. She has led the integration of data analytics, AI, and digital tools into HR operations to improve onboarding, performance management, and employee engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University and a Master of Public Policy & Management from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.  

April Tibbs has been named Human Resources Director for the System, effective June 2. Tibbs brings more than two decades of HR experience, including 23 years previously spent at the System Office in a variety of roles. Her background spans key areas such as recruitment, benefits administration, salary and time management, employee relations, and policy compliance. Most recently, she served as Assistant HR Director at the Department of the Secretary of State, where she supported the agency’s HR operations. 

Dr. Nicole Ditillo has been named Program Director for Boost, North Carolina’s accelerated college-to-career initiative. Her career has been guided by a strong commitment to educational access, particularly for rural students. Dr. Ditillo began her journey with the Pennsylvania College Advising Corps, serving as a college adviser in rural central Pennsylvania, an experience that shaped her dedication to removing barriers to higher education. She later earned both her master’s and doctorate in Higher Education from NC State University, focusing her research on college access and success for rural populations. Prior to joining Boost, she led the NC State College Advising Corps for nearly seven years, working across education and workforce sectors to support postsecondary pathways in eastern North Carolina. 

In her new role, Dr. Ditillo oversees the implementation of Boost, a program based on CUNY’s nationally recognized ASAP model, which helps students graduate on time by providing comprehensive support for those pursuing high-demand, high-wage careers. Currently being piloted at 15 community colleges over two years across the North Carolina Community College System, Boost is designed to transform student outcomes across the state.  

The System also welcomed Dr. Seth Kamen in November 2024, who serves as the new State Director of Credit Mobility. With over 25 years in higher education, Dr. Kamen brings expertise in transfer services, credit for prior learning, and student mobility—especially for military-connected students. He recently defended his dissertation in Higher Education Leadership and will be instrumental in expanding access and streamlining credit pathways for students statewide.  

Promotions 

In addition to new hires, the System has elevated several internal leaders whose expertise and commitment will further strengthen statewide programs and initiatives. 

Arbony Cooper has been promoted to State Director of WIOA/Title II within the College and Career Readiness (CCR) department. With more than 13 years of experience in the community college system and federal education programs, Cooper brings deep expertise in Title II administration and compliance. Since joining the System Office in 2017, she has held multiple leadership roles, most recently serving as Assistant State Director for Monitoring & Compliance. Her professional background also includes work as a Title I provider and involvement with federal GEAR UP initiatives in Rockingham and Pamlico County Schools. 

In her new capacity, Cooper will serve as the state’s chief administrator for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). She will report directly to the Associate Vice President of Federal Programs as part of the department’s newly restructured leadership. 

Dr. Robert Van Dyke has been promoted to Associate Vice President of Federal Programs, where he will continue serving as the state’s chief postsecondary administrator for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act and will now lead the College & Career Readiness division. 

Dr. Van Dyke currently serves as Executive Director for Postsecondary Perkins Strategy and Grant Administration and has over a decade of leadership in Career and Technical Education at both the postsecondary and secondary levels. He previously served as Assistant CTE State Director at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he led curriculum redesign, budget strategy, and equity-focused initiatives. 

A strategic leader known for fostering innovation, managing multimillion-dollar grants, and building strong internal and external partnerships, Van Dyke has received national recognition for his work. He holds a Ph.D. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Texas Tech University. 

Retirements 

As the System welcomes new leadership, it also honors the legacy of two long-serving education leaders whose impact will be felt for years to come. 

Sandra Thompson, Associate Vice President of College and Career Readiness, will retire June 30 after a distinguished career spanning nearly five decades in education. With 32 years of service in Virginia’s K-12 and community college systems and 15 years in North Carolina, Thompson has been a steadfast advocate for adult education and workforce readiness. Since joining the North Carolina Community College System Office in 2022, she has served as WIOA Title II Assistant State Director and, most recently, as State Director. In this role, she has overseen adult education and literacy programs for 69 providers across the state funded under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which supports Adult Education, English as a Second Language, and Family Literacy.  

Dr. Bob Witchger, Executive Director of Perkins Career and Technical Education, retired in February 2025 after more than 40 years of dedicated service to workforce development and career and technical education. Known for his strategic leadership and commitment to equity, Witchger played a pivotal role in expanding CTE programs across North Carolina’s 58 community colleges and 100 school districts. His work has strengthened transitions from high school to college, modernized programs of study, and elevated the quality of career counseling and educator training statewide. Over the course of his career, he also held key roles within the North Carolina Department of Labor, and was recognized with numerous awards, including the NCCCS President’s Award.