Join us virtually Monday, September 18 from noon – 12:30 PM for Constitution Day. We will be showing the documentary A More Perfect Union: George Washington and the Making of the Constitution.

Join the Google Meet

Or, by phone: ‪+1 334-409-1196
PIN: ‪420 013 971#

For more information:

Robert Melton III

Outreach & Engagement Coordinator

Department: Student Development

Phone: (252) 246-1343

Email: rmelton@wilsoncc.edu

Office: F100k

Josh Harris

Recruitment Coordinator/Counselor

Department: Student Development

Phone: (252) 246-1435

Email: jharris@wilsoncc.edu

Office: F100c

Greetings, readers.  I am appreciative to have this forum to introduce myself to those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting.  It’s also gratifying to reconnect with the many colleagues, friends, and neighbors I have already met.  Let me say that I am extremely happy to be part of this wonderful community.

I began my presidency at Wilson Community College on June 1, 2023, and I have seen first-hand the energy and enthusiasm of the college employees.  We are dedicated to being of service to our many constituents—students, business and industry, the school system, higher education partners, city and county elected officials, and numerous others who support our mission.

The college’s mission is to provide “opportunities for academic excellence, student success, workforce development, and community partnerships.” This mission is one that we pursue daily while upholding our values of continuous improvement, integrity, compassion, and equity.  I consider myself extremely fortunate to work in a profession that empowers people through education.  It has been said that an education is an investment that pays lifelong dividends, and not only for the recipient, but for their family and those in their community.

From a broader perspective, we are cultivating the next generation of thinkers and leaders, people who must have the intellectual tools to ask good questions, to seek accurate, relevant information, and to recognize the importance of serving and contributing to the greater good.  While our work is challenging, it is critical.  I am humbled and inspired by this audacious responsibility every day.

I am especially grateful for our community of collaborators who unite to support our colleges, schools, students, and business and industry.  They give freely of their time and energy.  Wilson County is poised to reach a higher level of educational and economic achievement, and we are committed to ensuring that these advances are felt broadly throughout our communities.

I have met some of our students—and I plan to meet many more.  Their stories remind me that many among us travel a challenging road.   So many students aspire to earn a college degree, but this goal is too often deferred in light of overwhelming financial, social, and emotional demands.   We are focused on creating a culture of care that we hope will uphold our students when adversities threaten to derail their dreams.  So many challenges await the next generation of leaders, and we cannot afford to leave any talent behind.

And our students are not alone in facing challenges.  Higher education is facing quite a few of its own, particularly with regard to declining high school populations, lack of public trust, mental health and safety, competition, and scarcity of resources.   While these challenges can seem daunting, Wilson Community College has the employee dedication and drive, plus the community support, to turn these challenges into opportunities.  Working together, we will create the future that our students and citizens deserve.

What does this future look like? We will be adaptive and responsive, providing the programs and services that our students and partners need.  We will establish our value proposition to potential students through a focus on excellence in teaching and learning that is also grounded in concern and support for the whole student.

We will address gaps in student performance and strive to provide not just access but also success for every single student.  In short, we will honor the investment the community has made in Wilson Community College by investing fully in our students.

Thank you for all you have done to welcome, support, and encourage me in my new role.    Wilson County is a great place to live and work, and together we will claim an even brighter future!

Dr. Jami Woods

President

Department: President's Office

Phone: (252) 246-1202

Email: jwoods@wilsoncc.edu

Office: B100a

We are so excited to invite everyone to Wilson Community College for the second annual Registration Remix! Please join us on our main campus for this special event on Thursday, July 13, anytime between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. If you’re ready to become a new student or thinking about going back to school, this is the perfect time to check out all the programs we offer, meet our faculty and staff, and register for classes. There will also be giveaways, food, and games for all attendees. Come out and let us make your time on campus fun and productive. No need to RSVP – just show up, tell us how the WCC family can help you, and have fun!

There will be an open house where representatives from each of our academic and training programs will be ready to answer questions and give you first-hand information about being a WCC student. Members of the Admissions team, advisors, and Financial Aid staff will be ready to assist you and answer questions about completing the admissions process, submitting your FAFSA (also known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and registering for classes.

If you’re interested in hands-on skills and training, and have a heart for service, you don’t want to miss the live display of our public safety programs where you can take a peek inside a police car, fire truck, and ambulance. You’ll be able to talk with the first responders who have developed specialized skills and experience in their respective professions.

At the event, you can also take a campus tour to become familiar with the Learning Resource Center, Bookstore, and other key locations for student services and resources. Campus tours will be held at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. You can pick either time, or both! Just see a staff member to sign up for a time slot when you arrive. The Bookstore will be open for you to shop and buy books, supplies, and College merchandise.  We’ll also have fun and free swag like t-shirts, cups, koozies, and sunglasses. And of course, there will be lots of food, music, inflatables, lawn games, and more – so please bring your family and friends!

In the meantime, visit our website at www.wilsoncc.edu to view Fall courses and program information.  Or give us a call at (252) 291-1195.  If you aren’t already following WCC on social media, please follow us to stay up to date on the latest announcements, information, and events.   #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING – Fall Semester Registration
July 13 – Registration Remix/Open House

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a

Need help finding a job? Then check out the Wilson Workforce Center at Wilson Community College. You may know that the Wilson Workforce Center is currently located on Nash Street in the Business Development Center in downtown Wilson. But you might not know that starting July 1, the Workforce Center is moving to the Wilson Community College campus. And although the location of the Center is changing, the services provided by the Center are not.

On April 20, 2023, Wilson Community College received notification that it had been awarded a contract through the Turning Point Workforce Development Board (TPWDB), to provide career services to adults and dislocated workers (those who have lost their job).

WCC will now house the Wilson Workforce Center connecting job seekers with local business and industry job opportunities. This full-service center not only identifies local employment needs but also provides wrap-around services, such as assistance with resumes, interviewing techniques, training programs, and soft skills development.

Maybe you are looking for a new job or need to develop new skills to meet the ever-changing technology demands for employment.  Perhaps you are seeking a promotion or expanding your opportunities for higher wages. The Wilson Workforce Center can help.

This is also a great opportunity for local employers to connect to potential employees. Business and industry leaders can access resources to find workers that fit their needs through job and career fairs – which match the needs of everyone in our community.

The staff at the Wilson Workforce Center are able to focus on building connections for job seekers with employers – making an ideal partnership for job seekers to get good-paying, high-demand jobs.

So how do you get started? Visit the Wilson Workforce Center on the WCC main campus – located in building A on Herring Ave. The Center’s staff are eager to provide career advising to both the un-and under-employed, and can assist employers with recruiting and job referrals.

Rob Holsten, WCC Vice President for Academic Affairs shared, “We are excited to have received a contract from the Turning Point Workforce Development Board to provide career services. Serving our community is what we do best and to be able to provide career services for our residents is at the heart of our mission. We’re proud to be a part of strengthening our local workforce and serving our community.”

The Wilson Workforce Center is scheduled to open on July 1, 2023. For more information, give us a call at (252) 291-1195. #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.

What’s Happening
ONGOING – Fall Semester Registration
July 13 – Registration Remix from 1-7 PM

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a

Wilson Community College welcomed its sixth president, Dr. Jami Woods, on June 1, and she has hit the ground running since she got here.  She has been speaking with and listening to staff to discuss priorities, goals, and opportunities, and she’s offered a number of great suggestions that we’re excited to implement as we move into the next academic year.

Last week, the College held an Induction and Welcome Reception, where the NC Community College System President Dr. Jeff Cox officially swore in Dr. Woods. WCC Board of Trustees Chairman Charlie Farris, County Manager Ron Hunt, Wilson City Mayor Carlton Stevens, and WCC Foundation Chairman Matt Whitley gave remarks welcoming Dr. Woods to the College and the Wilson community.

Dr. Woods grew up in North Carolina and has spent her career in the community college system.  Woods began teaching as an adjunct in the community college system in 1995, and she began teaching full-time in 1998.  Her first administrative role was as a developmental chairperson in 2000.  She went on to serve as Dean of Arts and Sciences in 2003; and in 2007, she was appointed Chief Academic Officer.  Woods’ educational experience expanded in 2015 to include oversight for Student Services.  She has served as an accreditation liaison for over ten years, and she is also president of the North Carolina Association of Community College Instructional Administrators group.

Woods served as the Vice President of Instruction from 2009 to 2021 at Surry Community College in Dobson, NC with oversight for Student Services added to her responsibilities in 2015. And most recently, she was the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Roanoke-Chowan Community College in Ahoskie. She holds a BA in English from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, an MA in English from Appalachian State University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in adult and higher education from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

“I want to thank everyone in attendance and the entire community for such a warm welcome.  I am excited to be on this journey with you all because we are positively changing lives every day through the work of this college.  I appreciate in advance your support and your commitment to investing in and elevating our students, the college, and the county,” shared Dr. Woods.

Wilson Community College is thrilled to have Dr. Woods and excited to see where she takes the College under her leadership.  She is invested in our students, employees, our community, and business and industry.

What’s Happening
Ongoing – Fall Semester Registration
July 13 – Registration Remix

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a

This is something I’ve been dreading to write, but also looking forward to.  May 31 will officially be Wilson Community College President Tim Wright’s last day.  He is retiring after almost eight years of serving as the fifth president of WCC and more than 30 years in higher ed under his belt.

Dr. Wright came back to eastern NC in 2015 after serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Casper College in Wyoming. And he came back to NC ready to make a difference – which he absolutely did.  Since that time and under his leadership, the College has:

• Assisted over 200 small business owners with starting a business;
• Made major renovations to its library, biotechnology, and information technology labs;
• Completed, or nearly so, the construction of Building S at the Lee Technology Center that will soon house the Electrical, HVAC, and Building Construction Technology programs;
• Helped grow the Foundation by over $2 million;
• Awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships to students;
• Provided instruction to over 28,000 students; And in that instruction, provided college classes to some 3,000+ high school students through its Career and College Promise Program;
• Started 6 new programs under his leadership; and
• Rebranded the College, established a mascot, and set in place naming opportunities across campus.

That’s quite an impact in just eight short years.

If you ever had the pleasure of working with him, or maybe you served on the same boards or were members of the same civic club, then consider yourself lucky.  I know for me personally, he is the epitome of a great leader.  He hired me at the College.  From day one, he entrusted me to build the College’s image through marketing, and then he handed me the Foundation along with it several months later.  And I’ve learned so much in my role from him – from decision-making and research to rolling out the red carpet for any and all visitors to our campus.

On a personal side, what you might not know about Dr. Wright is that he loves music (from John Prine to Led Zeppelin), fishing, and he is an avid reader. He can quote Shakespeare, Twain, and nameless other writers and philosophers, and even pop culture references – and did in almost every meeting we had.

There’s one quote he often uses in reference to particularly complex challenges: “Just because a thing can’t be done perfectly, is no reason not to do it.”

A simple concept, but good advice for moving forward when things seem daunting.

In the last eight years, Dr. Wright has stayed true to the mission of the College and the Wilson community. He always refers to WCC students and employees as a family, and even though he may be leaving his post, he’ll always be a part of the Wilson Community College family.

What’s Happening
Ongoing – Fall Semester Registration
May 29 – Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a

It’s graduation week at Wilson Community College!  First up is our 121^st Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18.  It’s hard to believe we are wrapping up our 121st Academy!  We’ll have nine cadets graduate.

On Friday, May 19, our Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony will kick off the day, with 36 nursing students finishing their program.  The only thing left for them after graduation is the NCLEX test, and then they are officially off to work as registered nurses.  That same evening, the College will hold its annual commencement ceremony at Fike High School.  We have 274 students graduating this year, earning a diploma or a two-year degree.

Of the 274 graduates, many of them are Wilson Early College Academy (WECA) and Wilson Academy of Applied Technology (WAAT) students, who not only earned their high school diploma, but also received their associate’s degree diplomas – for free!  Our youngest graduates are only 17 years old – there are nine of them — and the oldest graduates this year are 60.

And each year at graduation, Wilson Community College faculty recognizes outstanding graduates through special awards in diploma and degree programs. Among these are the Faculty Cup, awards from the local community, and College departmental awards.

The Faculty Cup Award is given to associate degree and diploma graduates who have contributed to the betterment of all students at the College. This award is given by one of our standing governmental committees, the WCC Faculty Senate.  Recipients must have an overall GPA of 3.75, be outstanding students in all respects, and display good citizenship and consideration for their fellow students.

Christopher Talbot was chosen to receive the Faculty Cup Award in a degree program.  He’s graduating with an A.A.S. Degree in Information Technology – Networking and Cybersecurity.  He’s been the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, received several scholarships, and served as a panelist for Cyber Safe in the Gigabit City while attending WCC.

Paralegal student Lenora Streeter is this year’s recipient of the Dovey Kim Watson Award.  The award is given each year in memory of Kim Watson, a long-time Paralegal Technology instructor, to an outstanding graduate in the Paralegal curriculum and is chosen by the faculty.  Lenora was 50 years old when she decided to go back to school. Living and working in Kinston — and lucky for us — she chose Wilson Community College to seek out her education.  She was able to fit school into her schedule since the paralegal program is fully online.  Lenora also served as an officer in our Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society too, and she’s done an incredible job representing WCC.

We are so proud of each one of them, as well as all of our graduates, and wish them well in their next endeavors.

If you’re ready to earn your diploma, degree, or certificate, give us a call at (252) 291-1195.  Registration is open now.  You can also visit our website at www.wilsoncc.edu.  #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.

What’s Happening

Ongoing – Fall 2023 Registration
May 18 –Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy Graduation
May 19 – Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony
May 19 – WCC Graduation Ceremony

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a

It’s no secret that Wilson Community College, and every institution for that matter, is proud of its students.  Students are consistently recognized for a number of things, including state-level awards, honor societies, scholarships, and more.  WCC recently awarded two state-level awards.

Ray Celaya-Orozco was selected for the Dallas Herring Achievement Award.  This award was established by the North Carolina Community College System in 2010 to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, one of the state’s earliest advocates of community colleges.  It’s given each year to a current or former student who best embodies Dr. Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.”

Ray is a December 2022 graduate of WCC’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy.  Oftentimes, cadets come into the BLET program working in some fashion with law enforcement or have relatives or mentors that have had careers in the field. In Ray’s case, it was neither. He walked in on the first day of class with no job, with only a determined will to find a career to support his family.

After becoming a US citizen earlier in 2022, he knew he wanted to become a police officer. He secured his own law enforcement sponsor, a requirement to be enrolled in the program. There was no guarantee that he would have a job once he graduated.

The BLET program is both academically and physically demanding. Ray quickly adjusted to the rigors of the program, but not without his challenges. Financially, he found ways to pay for the over $500 per month insurance for his wife and newborn. Since the cost to add himself was so expensive, he chose to be uninsured throughout the program.  He excelled academically with BLET Coordinator Billy Radford, noting that he was a great student.

Ray was continually looking for ways to help his fellow cadets. He regularly met at a local gym to help encourage and increase the fitness level of a fellow classmate. Oftentimes, this was after demanding physical class days.

Through hard work, determination, and the opportunity provided to him by the BLET program, Ray succeeded in finding his career. He was hired by the Wilson Police Department when he graduated. All of his sacrifices to land his dream job and serve our community are just a few reasons why he was chosen for the Dallas Herring Award. We’re so honored to have him serve and protect our great city.

And the second state-level recognition is the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award.  One student from each of the 58 community colleges receives this award each year.  To be selected, students must be currently enrolled, have completed at least 12 hours in a degree program, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher.  WCC’s award winner this year is Karen Avellaneda-Robles, who is a senior at Wilson Academy of Applied Technology. She’ll graduate in a couple of weeks with her high school diploma and an A.A.S. in biotechnology.

Taking high school courses and college-level classes is a huge undertaking, but Karen has excelled in all of her classes.  And not only that, she is also working as an apprentice at Global Laboratory Services, Inc.  She will attend NC State University in the fall with plans to major in biochemistry in hopes of working in the pharmaceutical field upon graduation.

Karen began her journey at Wilson Community College amid a pandemic, which was a difficult time for many students, especially students in programs that require hands-on experience like biotechnology.  However, she has successfully demonstrated that hard work, dedication, and persistence pay off.

We’re so proud of all of our students, and we’re excited to celebrate these two in particular.

For more information about the awards or WCC, visit our website at www.wilsoncc.edu.  Don’t forget that registration is open. #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

NOW – Summer & Fall Registration
May 18 – Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy Graduation
May 19 – ADN Pinning Ceremony
May 19 – College Graduation

Jessica Griffin

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Department: Foundation Marketing/Public Relations

Phone: (252) 246-1271

Email: jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu

Office: C107a