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About NCCCLP’s Cohort Program

Our Purpose

The NCCCLP develops community college leaders who connect, care, and collaborate. Participants develop and enhance essential skills to support their current and future leadership roles in the North Carolina Community College System. The Leadership Program provides networking opportunities for participants to discover and apply best practices for current community college needs.

Our History

The program began when former governor and then-president of the North Carolina Community College System, Bob Scott, requested a program to develop leadership skills for the state’s community college employees. Scott was also interested in increasing the leadership skills of women and minorities who served in leadership positions across the state. Therefore, they requested the assistance of the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of Women in Junior and Community Colleges to help develop this ground-breaking program. The organization developed a curriculum intended to enhance the leadership skills of employees at all levels of a college.

Funding for this new program came from the state community college system. After just a few years, the program directors realized that it must become self-sustaining to survive. Supported by participant registration fees and projects, the directors of the program come from alumni who must apply for directors and co-director positions. The program typically runs from October through May each year and includes intensive two-day retreats.

The NCCCLP was established in 1989. 

Outcomes

Program graduates are equipped with leadership skills to become exceptional leaders and navigate the educational arena as presidents, executive vice presidents, vice presidents, executive directors, directors, deans and department chairs of community colleges in North Carolina or elsewhere.

Since then, we have trained over one thousand community college employees to be more effective leaders. 

The Leadership Program

The North Carolina Community College Leadership Program (NCCCLP) develops community college leaders who connect, care and collaborate. Participants will develop and enhance essential skills to support their current and future leadership roles in the North Carolina Community College System. The program provides networking opportunities for participants to discover and apply best practices to deal with current community college issues.

The tuition for the program is $1,200. The fee covers instruction, materials, inventories, all lunches, and single occupancy lodging at the first and last retreats. Select the button below for information about applying for the Class of 2024-2025.

NCCCLP Cohort Leaders

Robin Ross

Robin Ross

NCCCLP Facilitator
Vice President of K-64 & Talent Development

Catawba Valley Community College
828.327.7000 ext. 4462
rross@nccclp.com

Athena Smith

Athena Smith

NCCCLP Co-Director
Executive Director of Technology and Innovation
Director of the CyberSecurity Center of Excellence

Catawba Valley Community College
704.751.0033

Holly Ramsey

Holly Ramey

NCCCLP Co-Director
Department Chair, Life Sciences

Forsyth Technical Community College
336.963.2427

Bo Bennett

Bo Bennett

NCCCLP Director-in-Training
Associate Dean of Business, Arts & Sciences

McDowell Technical Community College
828.442.9117