The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College board of trustees has announced the reappointment of Dr. Darise D. Caldwell of Salisbury to the college’s board.

Caldwell was recently reappointed by the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to serve on the board through 2019.

“I am so pleased to get to continue to work with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. It’s been a real honor to be reappointed to sit on the board, and I appreciate the opportunity to continue giving back to the community and challenging myself in new areas,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell has served as a Rowan-Cabarrus trustee since February 2012, and her new term will expire in June 2019. She serves on the institutional advancement and legislative committee.

Rowan-Cabarrus board of trustees members are responsible for attending all board meetings and key Rowan-Cabarrus events. As a board, they are responsible for college policies.

“I am thrilled to have Dari staying on our board. She has been a wealth of expertise and has provided enormous insight to the work of the college,” said Carl M. Short, chairman of the Rowan-Cabarrus board of trustees.

Caldwell, a Concord native, is president of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. Caldwell earned a doctor of philosophy in health care administration from Columbia Pacific University, obtained a master of science in nursing from Duke University and completed a bachelor of science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has worked in health care for more than 36 years, holding clinical and leadership positions at facilities around the nation, including Seton Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, Cabarrus Memorial Hospital (NorthEast Medical Center) and White Plains Hospital Center.

“Dari’s experience in the health-care world makes her an excellent reappointment to the Rowan-Cabarrus board,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of the college. “She knows the demands and needs of this growing field that will greatly help the college train the workforce. We believe her extensive experience will continue to be a tremendous asset to the college.”

Caldwell said she wants to continue to serve as a trustee because the board takes an active role in the life of the community college.

“We need more jobs in Rowan County, and having a ready workforce through the community college is a very key element to that,” said Caldwell. “Because Rowan-Cabarrus is affordable, it is easily accessible for students.”

Caldwell recently gave a commencement speech to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s largest graduating class.

Her speech centered on three important pieces of advice: do the right thing, make a difference to someone each day, and know you are more capable than you think.

Board of trustees members are liaisons to the college’s entire service area and not just to the appointing entity. Once appointed, trustees are to carry out their duties as established by the General Statutes of North Carolina and the board’s bylaws and policies independent of concern for any group, organization, appointing board or political entity other than the students, citizens of the service area and the college.