Davidson County Community College academic programs and services are operating under a new organizational structure this fall that will more closely align the college with academic units at four-year colleges and universities.
Five new Schools of Learning have been created and will operate under the leadership of recently appointed deans.
The schools include Arts, Sciences and Education; Business, Engineering and Technical Studies; Health, Wellness and Public Safety; Community Education, Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship; and Foundational Studies and Academic Support.
Creation of the Schools of Learning is the result of a year-long planning process led by Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, vice president, Academic Programs and Services. Following her appointment in 2008, Deitemeyer was charged with developing a new organizational structure that would bring credit, continuing education, workforce development and basic skills together to serve as interactive units.
“The realignment of Academic Programs and Services into five Schools of Learning has been a collegial process with the faculty and staff,” Deitemyer, says.
“After much dialogue, it was clear we had an opportunity to realign all areas that are focused on learning in a much more effective and collaborative model.”
“We believe we have accomplished something that is unprecedented and will help shape the future of the college for years to come,” she adds.
The approved plan was announced to faculty and staff in early spring and is being implemented this fall following the appointment of deans for the schools. Two of the deans were appointed from within existing leadership, while two others were selected after an extensive search and join the college staff this fall.
The fifth school is operating under Deitemeyer’s direct leadership.
“This leadership team is exceptional,” Deitemeyer says. “Anytime you work to align an organizational model it is with the outcome in mind ó success! However, a model is just a model until you get an exceptional team to work hard to make it successful. That team is our faculty and staff in the five schools; the leadership we have in place now can help influence their success on a daily basis.”
The School of Arts and Sciences is led by Dr. Mark K. Branson. The school prepares students for transfer to baccalaureate programs at four-year colleges and universities, granting associate in arts, associate in science, associate in general education, and associate in fine arts degrees.
Branson joined the DCCC faculty in 1983 as an English instructor and was most recently associate dean, arts, humanities and social sciences. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from UNC-Greensboro
Julia A. Kennedy joins the DCCC staff this fall as dean of the School of Business, Engineering and Technical Studies. The school offers academic programs to prepare students for business, computer-related, engineering, industrial, transportation, criminal justice and legal careers.
Kennedy holds a bachelor of science in economics/business administration from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and master of arts in economics from the University of Akron (Ohio). She comes to DCCC after 10 years at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College where she served as an instructor, program head, assistant dean and as dean of business technologies.
Jeannine H. Woody provides leadership for the School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety. The school is home to all allied health and wellness technology programs, as well as programs that lead to careers in human services and public safety.
Woody has been with the college for 13 years, initially serving as an instructor for the associate degree nursing program. Since that time, she has assumed duties as chair, Health Technology Division and associate dean, Health Technology Division. She holds the bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing, both from UNC-Greensboro.
James L. Donnelly was recently named dean for the School of Community Education, Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship.The school houses the Small Business Center and provides workforce development and customized training opportunities for business and industry. In addition, a variety of non-credit community and continuing education programs are offered.
Donnelly earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering at Case Western Reserve University and master of public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill. He most recently worked with Piedmont Triad Partnership as vice president, Innovation and Outreach.
“I am so very excited to work with these individuals every day to bring the necessary educational and training opportunities to Davidson and Davie counties,” Deitemeyer says. “Mark, Jeannine, Jim and Julie have great talents that will work well and collaboratively together. They each have a vision of where the individual school can go; but collectively they understand how the schools have to collaborate to bring the best opportunities to the community.”
In addition to her role as vice president, Academic Programs and Services, Deitemeyer is overseeing the establishment of the School of Foundational Studies and Academic Support, on an interim basis. This unit is responsible for developmental education, basic skills, distance education, high school programs, library services, tutoring/coaching centers as well as the college’s other academic support services.
Deitemeyer earned an Ed.D. in higher education administration, a master of arts degree in counselor education and a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications, all from the University of South Florida. Prior to accepting her position, she served as provost of Gateway Community and Technical College in Kentucky.
While the Davidson Campus has realigned into five Schools of Learning, Deitemeyer also supervises the academic programs on the growing Davie Campus which is led by Teresa Kines, associate dean of Campus Operations and Christy Forrest, associate dean for Academic Programs.
The five Schools of Learning also include leadership from Susan Burleson, associate dean; and Laura Johnson, assistant dean (Arts, Sciences and Education); Randy Ledford, associate dean; and Robert Sweet, assistant dean (Business, Engineering and Technical Studies); Suzanne Rohrbaugh, associate dean and Rose McDaniel, assistant dean (Health, Wellness and Public Safety); and Pat Phillips, associate dean (Foundational Studies and Academic Support).
“The mid-level management team was also realigned during the changeover to the five Schools of Learning,” Deitemeyer says. “Each of these individuals bring energy and talent to the leadership team and have worked very hard over the summer to prepare for the return of faculty and students.”