Who is NC's youngest community college president?

After arriving, Miller remembers driving past a sign for Coastal Carolina Community College (CCCC). Up until that point, she wasn’t familiar with the community college system. She walked in and asked, “What does it take to work here?”

Her love of the community college system began shortly after she saw that sign for CCCC. After her first day of teaching, she went to the dean and said, “How do I stay here? I never want to leave the community college system,” she recalls.

Schnell, 36, is the youngest community college president in North Carolina, and as far as we know, the youngest sitting president of a public, two-year community college in the United States. Schnell has served as acting director of Pamlico Community College (PCC) since November 2024, and the State Board of Community Colleges approved Schnell’s appointment as president in January 2025.

As the state prepares to implement Workforce Pell and considers the N.C. Community College System’s (NCCCS) proposed funding model, Propel NC, colleges serving adult students in short-term, skills-based courses must consider how to leverage these new funding streams.

According to legislation, programs eligible for Workforce Pell Grants must be between 150 and 599 clock hours and run between eight and 15 weeks. Programs must also be delivered by an accredited institution, operate for at least one year, and not be a correspondence course.

Each state will set up a process to approve programs based on an additional set of eligibility criteria.

On Monday, Oct. 20, the 71st annual masonry apprentice contest kicked off a week of trade competitions at the North Carolina State Fair. Hosted by ApprenticeshipNC, the contests highlighted the skills and versatility of the state’s next generation of tradespeople. Organizers welcomed attendees with a message emphasizing the importance of work-based learning.

The initiative will allow students to take advantage of on-the-job training with local employers for learning experiences that develop skills and resources necessary to earn sustainable employment and join our area’s workforce. The initiative also promises to have a positive impact on local businesses by helping train and prepare students to enter the workforce.

“We open this year’s scholarship round with a deep sense of purpose,” said Gaby Pacheco, president and CEO of TheDream.US, in a press release. “In times of uncertainty, Dreamers have shown unshakable determination — and last year’s surge of applicants proved just that. They are not waiting for the world to change; they are ready to lead it. TheDream.US is here to ensure their talent and potential are not lost, because we know: talent knows no status, and the future of this country depends on unlocking the promise within every Dreamer.”

Veterans Day | Today is Veterans Day and we have several related readings linked below.

The UNC System recently highlighted three new laws that make a University of North Carolina System education more affordable and accessible for military families. You can read more about the laws in this UNC System press release.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced extended hours for NCServes and the launch of AskMeNC, “two initiatives that expand access to care for North Carolina’s veterans and their families,” according to a recent press release from Gov. Josh Stein.

And in this EdNC perspective, Western Governors University’s Ben Coulter writes about how colleges and employers can better support National Guard service members.

NCCCS presidential search | The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal “lists several questions that state decision-makers should pose to anyone who wishes to run the 58-campus system.”

Dallas Herring Lecture | Registration for the 11th annual Dallas Herring Lecture is now open. The virtual event, presented by the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, is scheduled for next Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. EST. Dr. Jason Wood, former president of the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence winner Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, will deliver the 2025 lecture, titled, “We Don’t Graduate People Into Poverty: Designing the College Experience Around Student Success.”

The Belk Center recently announced that Sharon Decker, former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce and current senior advisor to Gov. Stein on the long-term recovery of western North Carolina, will serve as the respondent for this year’s lecture. Read more about Decker here.

Student stories | At 73, John Mittman is in his third year of the autobody work program at Surry Community College. According to the press release, “he’s not only refining his craft but also inspiring classmates of all ages with his dedication, humor, and lifelong love of vehicles.”

Fayetteville Tech students Samuel Abling, Jacob Wright, and Megan Harris began their internships with NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) at the end of October. The FTCC trio make up one-third of the first cohort of interns through a new partnership between NCDIT and Carolina Cyber Network (CCN). The initiative, which creates a pipeline of interns educated at institutions in CCN’s 23-member collaborative, is designed to strengthen the state’s cybersecurity landscape and provide valuable experience to emerging talent in the workforce.

Programs | Last September, Mitchell Community College celebrated 15 years of Project Yellowstone. The college’s lead biology professor, Parks Collins, leads contextual learning and research projects with other faculty on campus and in the community. This year, the college will take another group of students to Yellowstone National Park where Collins will lead with other biologists within the National Park Service.

Guilford Technical Community College and Guilford County Schools are partnering to launch five new short-term, workforce pathways for Guilford County high school students through Career and College Promise (CCP) program. The pathways are in Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer, Aviation Manufacturing Quick Careers, Fire Academy, Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Pharmacy Technology programs.

Around campus | Leanne Morgan’s Netflix Comedy Special, filmed at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center, hits #1 on Netflix.

Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) organized and led “Harnessing the Power of Community,” a one-day event focused on strengthening collaboration, compassion, and communication among agencies and individuals working to address substance use disorder and systemic barriers within Robeson County. The event was held at Robeson Community College. 

Nash Community College welcomed chefs, influencers, and guests from across the nation to showcase creative dishes featuring the state’s official vegetable – the sweet potato. NCC’s culinary arts students worked alongside visiting chefs, dietitians, nutritionists, and influencers gaining valuable hands-on experience and insight into professional-level food preparation and presentation. The event was organized in partnership with the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission. 

Awards | Wayne Community College has been named a finalist selected to compete for the national Bellwether Award. The college is being considered for its role in implementing the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (SEED) initiative, a summer pre-apprenticeship program that builds a direct pipeline from high school to college-level training and registered apprenticeships.

Grants | Randolph Community College has been awarded $1.1 million grant by the National Science Foundation to lead ACCTION (Advancing Community College Teaching, Innovations to Overhaul Norms), “a five-year, national initiative to accelerate the shift from lecture-heavy instruction to active learning in foundational mathematics. RCC serves as the lead institution with Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona as a partner,” according to a recent college press release. 

Hurricane Helene | Open Campus recently profiled Mayland Community College’s critical role in its community more than a year after Helene.

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, 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].

Guilford Technical Community College is offering a study abroad opportunity for students enrolled in one of the state’s 58 community colleges. Program participants will spend 10 in days in Mendoza, Argentina in summer 2026 studying culture, sustainable development, and viticulture at la Universidad de Congreso. The participants will engage in an immersive homestay experience and learn about Argentine cuisine. The program fee is $5,420 and includes flights, housing, insurance, ground transportation, daily programming and cultural immersions, breakfast and dinner daily, and several group meals. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15, 2025. Click here for more information or to apply. All questions can be directed to Tiffany Overby-Bennett at taoverby@gtcc.edu.

Webinars | New America is hosting an online webinar about Workforce Pell on Dec. 1 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. The webinar will bring together experts from across higher education and workforce sectors to discuss why implementation matters, what quality and accountability should look like, and how states and institutions can prepare. Learn more about the webinar and registration here.