NC State Belk Center

The current NC Community College Leadership Program (NCCCLP) cohort recently had its fourth retreat at the Harris Conference Center. Over three days, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and had the opportunity to learn from inspirational guest speakers: ??Jairo (Hi-rrow) McMican (Mac-Mee-Kan) Ed.D., Associate Director of Equitable Programming and Holistic Student Supports at Achieving the Dream ??Kenyetta Richmond, M.S., Executive Director of Holistic Student Services at Forsyth Technical Community College ??Mark Short, Chief of Staff at Central Piedmont Community College Next up: Central Piedmont Community College will host the cohort again for the April retreat! We can't wait to see how this cohort continues to grow. https://lnkd.in/ei3AcKNc

Congratulations to Kyle Harris of Vance-Granville Community College for winning the North Carolina Community College System's 2025 Dallas Herring Student Achievement Award! This award recognizes a student who embodies Dr. Dallas Herring's philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” Kyle Harris is an embodiment of that philosophy. As a military veteran who has faced PTSD, addiction, homelessness and incarceration after his service, Kyle is now actively supporting fellow veterans by encouraging them to pursue education and employment. His resilience and commitment to growth stand as a testament to the transformative power of community colleges. Congratulations, Kyle! You are an inspiration to us all.

March 26 is #DayofGiving at North Carolina State University. It is a time for us to pause and express our gratitude to our NC State alumni, partners and friends. It's through your generous support we are able to continue our work helping community colleges and communities across North Carolina. You can contribute directly to the Belk Center through a dedicated link that will be posted right here on March 26. Check back then to show your support. Thank you for your impact!

Congratulations, Chancellor Kevin Howell! We are excited to welcome Kevin Howell as the new Chancellor of North Carolina State University. His leadership and dedication to the research community are inspiring, and we look forward to working together to continue driving impact across North Carolina. Welcome back to NC State!

Last week, seven of our 2025 Belk Center Fellows attended the League for Innovation in the Community College’s annual Innovations Conference in San Antonio, where they collaborated with national thought leaders, explored innovative community college practices and deepened their research interests on student success. Meet the Fellows and learn about their experience:?https://lnkd.in/eS7yt4uE Beth Bockoven Jennifer Wisely, Ed.D. Jennifer Campbell M. Ed. Tonya G. Elizabeth Ham Aaron Mabe Kerri Donohue

We are excited for NC Reconnect to launch its fifth cohort–creating new opportunities for adult learners to return to the classroom, secure in-demand jobs, and strengthen North Carolina's workforce. By earning their degrees, these learners improve the quality of life for themselves, families and communities across the state. We're proud to be part of this joint effort with the John M. Belk Endowment and myFutureNC and look forward to hearing success stories from Carteret Community College, Halifax Community College, Isothermal Community College and Southeastern Community College - NC.

Today’s higher education landscape requires a different approach to community college leadership. Our newly released research, “Leading Rural Innovation and Change Series: Becoming an Innovator,” explores the Innovator’s DNA model and key practices shaping the future of rural-serving community colleges. Based on insights from 17 rural-serving community college presidents, these insights are a must-read for those leading the way in our rural communities. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/eEYqg-wV

As the 2025 League for Innovation in the Community College Conference comes to an end, we're excited to spotlight two of our Belk Center Fellows who've been learning with us in San Antonio: Beth Bockoven of Sandhills Community College and Kerri Donohue of Fayetteville Technical Community College. The transformative practices and student success strategies learned this week have been immensely impactful and we are eager to see how they contribute to our fellow's leadership growth. We'll see everyone next year for the 2026 Innovations Conference!

It's been an inspiring few days at the 2025 League for Innovation in the Community College Conference and we're looking forward to the powerful insights in store for us today–as are our Belk Center Fellows Tonya G. of Wake Technical Community College and Jennifer Campbell M. Ed. of Davidson-Davie Community College. We're excited to have our Fellows and team engaged in this unique learning experience, gaining valuable insights and innovative practices to shape future work. If you're at the conference–say hi, we'd love to connect!

Why do adult learners return to the classroom? To make a difference. To help others. To pursue their dreams. “When I finish my classes, I would like to open my own shop and help people,” shares 46-year-old Graciela Ruiz, a student at James Sprunt Community College. Watch as students at Central Piedmont Community College, Haywood Community College, James Sprunt Community College, Robeson Community College and Wayne Community College share their inspiring goals for continuing their education and the resources driving their success. https://lnkd.in/ewYDzgTa