State Board of Community Colleges approves new president for Pitt Community College, interim leader for Edgecombe
RALEIGH – The State Board of Community Colleges today (May 18) approved the selection of Dr. Lawrence Rouse as president of Pitt Community College in Greenville.
Rouse has been president of James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville since 2005 and has more than 36 years of experience in higher education. He was the NC Community College System’s President of the Year in 2016.
Rouse will become president Aug. 1. He will succeed Dr. Dennis Massey, who is retiring after 15 years as president and 46 years in higher education.
“I am overjoyed to have Lawrence Rouse selected to lead Pitt Community College,” said State Board Chair Scott Shook. “He will be a tremendous addition to both the college and the community.
“I also want to thank Dennis Massey for his years of service and leadership,” Shook said. “He is a legend who has taken Pitt to great heights.”
In other actions, the board:
- Approved the appointment of Mark Lorence as interim president of Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro, effective June 1. Lorence, ECC’s general counsel, will lead the college as it searches for a successor to Dr. Deborah Lamm, who is retiring after 14 years as president and 39 years in the NC Community College System.
- Voted to begin rulemaking to establish a System Advisory Council to make recommendations to the State Board on issues of systemwide or inter-college importance. The council would consist of 14 members, including State Board members, community college trustees and presidents, and the president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association. The president of the NC Community College System would serve as a non-voting member, except in the case of a tie. The proposed rule establishing the council will be open for public comment from May 22-June 21.
- Approved the appointments of Kimberly Van Metre as associate vice president for state level accounting and operations, and Susan Barbitta as director of the Student Success Center. Both positions are with the NC Community College System Office.
- Approved a diploma program in collision repair and refinishing technology at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford. The program is scheduled to begin this fall.
- Approved an associate degree program in agribusiness technology at College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. The program is scheduled to begin this fall.
- Approved a new associate degree program in aviation management and career pilot technology at Craven Community College in New Bern. The program is scheduled to begin in spring 2019.
- Approved an associate degree program in applied engineering technology at Johnston Community College in Smithfield. The program is scheduled to begin this fall.
- Approved an associate degree program in agriculture education at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. The program is scheduled to begin this fall.
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