A search committee to find a new president of the North Carolina Community College System includes business leaders John Kane, Tom Looney, Ward Nye and Chris Chung.
The system’s board says it wants to hire “a visionary, results-driven leader who will accelerate modernization, strengthen workforce partnerships, and unite all 58 community colleges behind a shared mission of excellence,” according to a release. “The next president will lead the system’s efforts to move at the speed of business and innovation — ensuring North Carolina remains among the most competitive states in the nation for workforce development.”
More than 600,000 students are enrolled at the system, which has more than 30,000 employees and an annual operating budget of nearly $2 billion.
Its 58 campuses have historically operated with considerable autonomy, creating periodic challenges for the system president. That’s been reflected in the post’s frequent turnover.
Current President Jeff Cox is retiring next June after holding the post since June 2023. Thomas Stith was the president in 2021-22, Peter Hans had the job from 2018-20, and Jimmie Williamson had a 13-month tenure in 2016-17. Hans is now president of the UNC System.
“North Carolina’s economic success depends on the strength of our community colleges,” said Kane, a Raleigh developer known for his North Hills neighborhood properties. “This search will engage business and government leaders statewide to ensure the next President continues modernizing the System, strengthening workforce alignment, and expanding opportunities for every business, industry, and student across our state.”
Kane’s co-chair of the search committee is system board Chairman Tom Looney. Other State Board members on the committee are Chaz Beasley, State Treasurer Brad Briner, Lisa Estep, and Chris Lumsden. Lumsden is a retired hospital president in Mount Airy who once chaired the board of Virginia’s community college system.
“We intend to complete this search with both rigor and speed,” Looney said. “It will reflect the very best of this Board, this System, and this State.”
Other members of the search committee include:
- Amanda Lee, president of the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents
- Gene Rees, chairman of the N.C. Association of Community College Trustees
- Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of NC
- Ward Nye, Chairman & CEO, Martin Marietta
- Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County
- Rep. David Willis of Union County
- Seth Dearmin, chief of staff for N.C. Governor Josh Stein.
For 40 years, sharing the stories of North Carolina's dynamic business community.