Search underway for the next president and CEO of the NC Community College System

During this meeting, the search committee discussed the search plan, guiding principles for the committee, the RFP process for search firms, and a detailed schedule for selecting the new president and CEO by April 2026. Although the new president and CEO will likely not be serving in the role by April 2026, Looney said the committee’s timeline should enable them to have the person identified and hired by April.

Here’s a look at who serves on the presidential search committee.

Kelly McManus, who leads the higher education portfolio at Arnold Ventures, moderated a panel for the legislators.

Boost, said McManus, started with one question: How do we make sure that every student that comes through our doors has economic mobility and opportunity when they leave?

“The obvious question given that we have legislators/appropriators here is, let’s assume for argument’s sake, that it’s a success here at Central Piedmont: How do we replicate it across North Carolina? Is it a question of funding, a question of buy-in?” asked Gabe Esparza, the North Carolina Secretary of Administration and a member of Central Piedmont’s board of trustees.

McManus said it is a question of funding. “That is the biggest challenge,” she said. “This is best practice. This is what every student should have.”

At the 2025 Dallas Herring Lecture on Tuesday, Wood delivered a keynote address that outlined a framework for designing the college experience around student success. He shared strategies for community college leaders to reimagine how they design programs, support individual students, and engage employers, all with a focus on helping the students who need it most.

During Wood’s tenure at Southwest Tech, a small, rural college located 70 miles outside of Madison, Wisconsin, the college won the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence — the nation’s highest honor for community colleges.

“Opportunity without outcomes is an unfulfilled promise, and the real question isn’t whether innovation is possible, it’s whether we’re willing to do it for the people who need it the most,” Wood said during his address.

“I don’t want you to underestimate the importance of your role — and Dr. Wood has given an example of how they made this happen in Wisconsin — of your influence on how wages are changed at a community level. You can influence that in partnership with businesses in your community,” Decker said during her response to this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture.

You can read her full remarks here.

A slew of strategies were approved in a voice vote that will be packaged into a comprehensive report to be sent to Gov. Josh Stein by Dec. 15. But “that does not end our work on this council,” said N.C. Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley. All strategies that were presented at the meeting were approved. The workforce goals are all on a four-year timeline, and the council will submit annual progress reports for the next three years. Lilley said the goals are time-limited, actionable, and measurable.

Gov. Josh Stein has directed one of his councils to make recommendations for the implementation of Workforce Pell Grants in North Carolina.

“North Carolina is committed to maximizing Workforce Pell to create new opportunities for learners, employers, and, ultimately, our economy,” said Stein in the release. “These funds will open up doors of opportunity for young people seeking training for high-skill, high-wage jobs.”

Helene recovery funding | The federal government will direct an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds for North Carolina’s Helene recovery efforts. Here is a list of the FEMA grants obligated to the state and communities. 

Protecting and supporting students | In this perspective, the Public School Forum writes about how the presence of ICE and Border Patrol is impacting the education, development, and mental health of students and families.

The Trump administration and community colleges | During an interview with NPR, three community college presidents from across the country discussed how the Trump Administration is affecting their schools. Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton spoke about the implications of federal funding cuts, including a freeze of adult education and literacy funds. Although the college has those back, it appears they are on the chopping block for next year, Buxton said. 

Workforce Pell Grants | IEI Director Sarah Hall and NCCCS Associate Vice President of Workforce Strategies Andrew Gardner recently spoke about Workforce Pell in this IEI podcast. The two also discussed the expansion of the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant, which will now include registered apprentices who are actively participating in an apprenticeship and are enrolled in workforce continuing education courses. 

President installation | South Piedmont Community College officially installed their new president, Dr. Stacy Waters-Bailey, last week. Be sure to check out this EdNC Read about Waters-Bailey.

Student stories | Otis Kinman is a veteran with 12 years of service and is a current welding degree-seeking student at Gaston College. Kinman said the college helped him convert his military discipline into a new mission and skilled trade he can build a future on, in this recent college press release.

New plan for Guilford County Schools | GCS recently launched a new plan — the Guilford Guarantee. The district will align its work and programming so that every student has the opportunity to: earn at least a semester’s worth of college credits up to an associate degree; obtain an industry-recognized credential; or participate in workplace learning experiences like an internship, apprenticeship, or job shadowing. Here’s more about the plan in the district’s press release.

Study abroad | Davidson-Davie Community College is offering a study abroad opportunity for students enrolled in one of the state’s 58 community colleges. Participants will spend two weeks in Bordeaux, France, from June 14 to June 28, 2026. Participants will be working, collaborating, and learning with students from IUT-University of Bordeaux. They will be housed in a dorm and attend classes or enrichment activities alongside French students in Bordeaux. Davidson-Davie asks that students’ home colleges pay $1,000 for each student they send. Each student also pays $2,775, for a total cost of $3,775. The program fee includes flights, housing, insurance, ground transportation, daily programming, breakfast, and several additional meals. Space is limited. Schools can request slots by emailing Sarah Wright at [email protected].

Forsyth Technical Community College is offering a study abroad experience in Costa Rica from June 24 to July 4, 2026. The cost is $3,000 and includes flights, 10-nights of housing, airport transportation in Costa Rica, all planned excursions, transportation in Costa Rica pertaining to the course, some meals, speakers, and a 3-credit course (HUM 180 or INT 180). Participants’ home base will be in the capital of Costa Rica: San Jose. Spanish is not a requirement to travel. The college can offer a payment schedule, with your initial (nonrefundable) deposit on or before Dec. 10. Questions can be directed to Dr. Renee Just at [email protected].

Fellowship opportunity | Applications for the John M. Belk Impact Fellowship are now open. The 10-month paid fellowship is a “training ground for future generations of social impact leaders” who will have the chance to deepen their experience across a wide array of focus area and gain marketable skills toward future employment. Full-time community college, undergraduate, or graduate students at an accredited North Carolina college or university interested in fields of education, public policy, political science, data analytics, psychology, or related fields can apply. The application portal closes March 20, 2026. You can find out more details about the fellowship and how to apply here.