By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
Dr. Carol Spalding said there’s a lot about being named president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College that excites her.
Not the least of which, she said, is the school’s association with the soon-to-be-completed N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis.
“That’s a huge opportunity for the college and community,” Spalding said.
Spalding, 58, was on Monday named president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. The vote of approval was unanimous by the school’s board of trustees. Spalding was recommended by RCCC’s personnel committee.
Approval by the N.C. Community College System is expected shortly.
“She’s got an impressive resume,” said Salisbury attorney and board member Chip Short. “She’s a very aggressive individual.”
Board Chairman Ray Paradowski referred to Spalding and RCCC as “a perfect fit.
“She will apply her knowledge and skills to continue the successes everyone at our college has been so instrumental in developing and will open new doors into our ever-changing world of technological advances,” Paradowski said.
“Personally, I’m excited,” he continued. “She’s got skills beyond the office walls.”
Spalding noted numerous correlations between her background and RCCC.
She’s held several jobs at Florida Community College in Jacksonville during her 30 years there. Spalding is currently president of the school’s Open College, one of the school’s branches.
Spalding said she hasn’t so much as interviewed for a job outside the school since going to work there three decades ago.
Likewise, Dr. Richard “Dick” Brownell is retiring from RCCC after 30 years.
“It’s not something they do lightly,” Spalding said of RCCC’s search for a new leader. “It’s not something I do lightly, either.”
Still, she said she was immediately interested when she learned that RCCC was accepting resumes for a president.
“It’s such a treasure for the community,” Spalding said of the school.
Reminded that North Carolina’s community college system has an excellent reputation, Spalding observed, “It’s deserved.”
Her appointment came during a called meeting of members of RCCC’s board of trustees. The affair was short, with Spalding’s hiring the only matter on the agenda.
Spalding has served as president of Florida Community College’s Open Campus since 1988. She also served as president of the Downtown Campus from 1998 to 2001 and as interim college president in 1997. Her other leadership experience includes serving as dean of the Open Campus, director of continuing education, program coordinator/ counselor and instructor of management.
Spalding holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Louisville in Kentucky and a master’s degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University in Santa Ana, Calif. She earned a doctorate in education from Columbia University in New York.
Paradowski said RCCC’s search was narrowed from a pool of 43 qualified applicants to five semi-finalists. From that group, three finalists were named.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.