North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation announces new Executive Director

Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) has named Katie Loovis as the organization’s first full-time executive director.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1986 to enhance the capacity of the North Carolina Community College System and its 58 community colleges, including providing public advocacy, encouraging innovation, recognizing excellence, and building leadership capacity. Under the leadership of Foundation Chair Donny Hicks and Interim Executive Director Grant Godwin, the Foundation Board of Directors launched a plan to hire the organization’s first career executive leader with a focus on active and effective support for the System.

“As the Foundation reenergizes and expands its support and collaboration with community colleges for increased student success, Katie Loovis’ multi-sector experience, knowledge of strategic planning, marketing and administration, and her passion for community colleges’ role in workforce development is the combination the Foundation needs to make an even bigger impact for our state,” said Donny Hicks, Foundation Chair.

Loovis brings 20 years of public service experience with executive leadership and management in government, business, and non-profit sectors, including roles at The White House, GlaxoSmithKline, and Achieving the Dream as well as with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and most recently as Vice President of Community, Economic and Workforce Development at The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

In addition to experience, Loovis brings a strong understanding of the North Carolina Community College System, nonprofit management, and workforce development. Loovis is completing a doctorate in Community College Leadership at North Carolina State University, teaches nonprofit management as adjunct faculty at the UNC School of Government, and helped develop and launch the Summer Careers Academy registered youth apprenticeship program.

In its search, the Foundation was supported by moss+ross, a Triangle-based firm that provides a wide range of consulting services for North Carolina nonprofits.

Loovis will work collaboratively with the Foundation Board of Directors to manage and lead the organization as it pivots to greater support for the System, including accelerating innovation and student success, and delivering an even greater value for the North Carolina economy. She will begin in the role on June 1.

For questions or information, contact Interim Executive Director Grant Godwin at (919) 889-8641 or ggodwin4725@gmail.com.

The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation: The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1986 to enhance the capacity of the North Carolina Community College System and its community colleges. The Foundation was designed to provide public advocacy, encourage innovation, recognize excellence, and build leadership capacity. Going forward, the Foundation’s Board of Directors will review its programs and operations to better deliver on the mission, and to accelerate innovation, build awareness, and raise funds to more actively and effectively support the NC Community College System, colleges, students, and the NC economy. Learn more at www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/foundation.