Rowan-Cabarrus Community College President Named NC President of the Year for 2019

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College president Dr. Carol S. Spalding has been named President of the Year for 2019 by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. This is the first time in the history of the college that one of its leaders has received this honor.

Sponsored by Wells Fargo, the President of the Year Award was launched by the NC State Board in 2001 to encourage, recognize and reward outstanding leadership and commitment to North Carolina Community College System mission.

Spalding was nominated by Carl M. Short, chair of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees during a competitive selection process where an eight-page narrative is submitted and candidates are interviewed by an awards committee, according to Cabarrus Magazine.

The selection process focuses on the accomplishments that presidents have led at their institutions in the past three years.

“For the past decade, Dr. Carol Spalding has built the College’s capability, physical plant, and business proposition to serve the community,” said Short. “Dr. Spalding has dedicated her career to the mission of the community college and its service to students, and we are privileged to have her as our leader.”

Spalding has established a reputation as an advocate for student academic success and the institution’s role in developing North Carolina’s workforce and economy. Since being appointed president in 2008, Spalding has increased the college’s continuing education and training programs, and established a group of community leaders to align and influence Rowan County economic development efforts, the Cabarrus Magazine reported.

“I am honored and privileged to accept this award. I want to thank the incredible faculty and staff at Rowan-Cabarrus who have made this possible,” Spalding said. “We have an amazing team of people here who are committed to changing the lives of individuals in Rowan and Cabarrus counties.”

With the help of Spalding’s focus on student opportunities and partnerships with the community, Rowan-Cabarrus is a leader in workforce education and development. It is a state frontrunner in firefighter continuing education and certification and is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education, a distinguished recognition from the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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