The Rowan-Cabarrus Board of Trustees has voted to hire Carol S. Spalding, Ed.D., to be RCCC’s third and next president.
Spalding is president of the Open Campus of Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
During a called meeting today, board members approved a recommendation from its personnel committee to name Spalding president. The board now will seek final approval from the North Carolina Community College System. That endorsement is expected to come quickly.
The board’s action ends a search process that began late last year and attracted a candidate pool of 43 qualified applicants. Spalding was one of five finalists for the position who came to RCCC for interviews and campus tours in late April.
“I am excited the trustees of RCCC have unanimously chosen Dr. Spalding to be our next president,” said Ray Paradowski, chairman of the RCCC board.
“The board thanks a great number of people here at the college and throughout Cabarrus and Rowan counties who participated and contributed in many ways to our systematic and comprehensive search process to select someone for this important position. I believe all will be pleased with the result of their efforts.”
Spalding has worked as the Open Campus president of Florida Community College since 1988. She also served as the president of the Downtown Campus from 1998-2001 and as interim college president in 1997. Her other leadership experience includes being dean of the open campus, director of continuing education, program coordinator/counselor and instructor of management at Florida Community College.
She has been a board member of the American Association of Community Colleges since 2005. She also has held a number of community leadership positions in Jacksonville.
Spalding holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Louisville in Ky., 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.
“Dr. Spalding comes to RCCC not only as a perfect fit for the desired profile in our search, but also with extensive leadership knowledge and experience,” Paradowski said. “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.
“Her desire to create an environment of collaborative and cooperative initiatives to serve the educational needs of students and meet workforce demands is quite evident. Dr. Spalding has demonstrated she will move beyond the office walls, as shown by her external accomplishments establishing a large campus in an inactive shopping mall and working collaboratively with the U.S. Navy. I look forward to Dr. Spalding joining the team at RCCC,” Paradowski added.
Pending state approval, Spalding will succeed Richard L. Brownell, who retired May 31 after leading the college as president for more than 30 years. Longtime RCCC senior administrator Jarrett “Jerry” Chandler Jr. is interim president.
“Our presidential search is complete, and I am pleased with the success of the process and the selection of our new president,” said Pat Fulcher, RCCC trustee and chair of the board’s presidential search committee.
“I know the great work of the college will continue under the guidance of Carol Spalding and the other leaders of RCCC. I know the future of the college will be well planned to meet the new and expanding needs of the community and our students.”