-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College’s Board of Trustees has narrowed the search for the college’s next President to three candidates.
A search committee composed of six board members recommended five candidates from among nearly 90 applicants for the position, and the full board selected these finalists:
- Dr. Rachel M. Desmarais of Clemmons, who is currently serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem;
- Dr. Quentin J. Johnson of Mooresville, currently vice president of Student Support Services at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro; and
- Dr. Melanie W. Thornton of Albany, Ga., the vice president of academic affairs at Columbus Technical College in Columbus, Ga.
The action came Monday, Nov. 19, at the regular bimonthly meeting of the board on the college’s Main Campus.
Following protocol established by the North Carolina Community College System, the trustees now present the finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for vetting. The three candidates will be invited to the college for public forums individually on Nov. 30, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
“We are extremely pleased with the quality of the candidates who are interested in the position, and we are confident that we are on track to select an excellent leader to carry our college into our 50th year and beyond,” said Danny W. Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “We want for Vance-Granville a president with visionary leadership and a commitment to student access and success and economic development in the communities we serve.”
The board plans to have the new president in place early in 2019.
Invitations to the forums are being sent to county officials, school officials, area chambers, and VGCC faculty and staff, among other groups. The public is invited to attend. The forums will be held in the Civic Center on the Main Campus. Each will begin at 12:15 p.m. Dr. Johnson is scheduled to speak at the Friday, Nov. 30, forum; Dr. Thornton, on Monday, Dec. 3; and Dr. Desmarais, on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Dr. Desmarais earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Instructional Design and Technology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., in 2015. She earned her Master of Science degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Bachelor of Music degree from Mars Hill College. She was an Aspen Institute Community College Excellence Presidential Fellow in 2017-2018. She has been with Forsyth Technical Community College since 2002, starting as a department chair before becoming a vice president in information services and in planning.
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., in 2010. He earned his Master of Arts from Bowling Green State University and his Bachelor of Science from Defiance College in Ohio. Prior to beginning work at Guilford Technical Community College in July 2012, he worked with Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia in 2011-2012 and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore from 2004 to 2011.
Dr. Thornton earned her Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga., in 2007. She received her Education Specialist degree from Troy University in 2002, two Master of Education degrees from Georgia Southwestern State University in 1995 and 1997, and her Bachelor of Science degree from Albany State University in 1991. Prior to going to Columbus Technical College in 2013, she was vice president for Academic Affairs at Okefenokee Technical College in 2012-2013, and Dean and Professor of Reading at Darton State College in Albany, Ga., in 2007-2012.
The Board of Trustees began accepting applications for the position on Oct. 8 with a deadline of Nov. 9 for applications and nominations. A nationwide search was conducted under the guidance of the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLP of Emerald Isle. ELA, described as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence,” was selected by the Board of Trustees at its Sept. 17 meeting. The firm helped the Trustees by creating the presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, guiding the search process, and recruiting and screening applicants, as needed.
Serving on the Trustees’ presidential search committee were Trustees Deborah Brown, chair; Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.
Henderson Police seeking assistance locating Kesha Smith & Robert Shaheeh Bullock
/by jeannie rosePress Release-November 21, 2018
The Henderson Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Kesha Smith, 36, and Robert Shaheeh Bullock, 40. They were last seen driving a 2008 white four-door Buick LaCrosse with NC Registration AEM-7904.
Kesha Smith was originally reported missing to the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office on November 19, 2018 and members of the Henderson Police Department have been assisting with the investigation. During the course of the investigation it was determined that Kesha Smith was last seen on November 16, 2018 during the morning hours on Dabney Drive in Henderson, NC.
The Henderson Police Department has taken over the lead on the investigation. We ask if anyone was in the area of Dabney Drive on November 16, 2018 between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and may have seen this vehicle to contact the Department.
If anyone should have any information on the location of these individuals please contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141 or 252-492-0202. Callers may remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device.
Photograph provided for the Buick LaCrosse is not the actual vehicle, but is similar to the vehicle.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow
Coach’s Corner 11/21/18
/by LarryHome And Garden Show 11/20/18
/by LarryCooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 11/21/18
/by LarryNews 11/21/18
/by LarryTown Talk 11/21/18
/by LarryVGCC Trustees Narrow Presidential Search To Three Finalists
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College’s Board of Trustees has narrowed the search for the college’s next President to three candidates.
A search committee composed of six board members recommended five candidates from among nearly 90 applicants for the position, and the full board selected these finalists:
The action came Monday, Nov. 19, at the regular bimonthly meeting of the board on the college’s Main Campus.
Following protocol established by the North Carolina Community College System, the trustees now present the finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for vetting. The three candidates will be invited to the college for public forums individually on Nov. 30, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
“We are extremely pleased with the quality of the candidates who are interested in the position, and we are confident that we are on track to select an excellent leader to carry our college into our 50th year and beyond,” said Danny W. Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “We want for Vance-Granville a president with visionary leadership and a commitment to student access and success and economic development in the communities we serve.”
The board plans to have the new president in place early in 2019.
Invitations to the forums are being sent to county officials, school officials, area chambers, and VGCC faculty and staff, among other groups. The public is invited to attend. The forums will be held in the Civic Center on the Main Campus. Each will begin at 12:15 p.m. Dr. Johnson is scheduled to speak at the Friday, Nov. 30, forum; Dr. Thornton, on Monday, Dec. 3; and Dr. Desmarais, on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Dr. Desmarais earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Instructional Design and Technology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., in 2015. She earned her Master of Science degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Bachelor of Music degree from Mars Hill College. She was an Aspen Institute Community College Excellence Presidential Fellow in 2017-2018. She has been with Forsyth Technical Community College since 2002, starting as a department chair before becoming a vice president in information services and in planning.
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., in 2010. He earned his Master of Arts from Bowling Green State University and his Bachelor of Science from Defiance College in Ohio. Prior to beginning work at Guilford Technical Community College in July 2012, he worked with Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia in 2011-2012 and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore from 2004 to 2011.
Dr. Thornton earned her Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga., in 2007. She received her Education Specialist degree from Troy University in 2002, two Master of Education degrees from Georgia Southwestern State University in 1995 and 1997, and her Bachelor of Science degree from Albany State University in 1991. Prior to going to Columbus Technical College in 2013, she was vice president for Academic Affairs at Okefenokee Technical College in 2012-2013, and Dean and Professor of Reading at Darton State College in Albany, Ga., in 2007-2012.
The Board of Trustees began accepting applications for the position on Oct. 8 with a deadline of Nov. 9 for applications and nominations. A nationwide search was conducted under the guidance of the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLP of Emerald Isle. ELA, described as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence,” was selected by the Board of Trustees at its Sept. 17 meeting. The firm helped the Trustees by creating the presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, guiding the search process, and recruiting and screening applicants, as needed.
Serving on the Trustees’ presidential search committee were Trustees Deborah Brown, chair; Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.
Five-County Aging Agency Offers Chronic Pain/Disease Management Classes
/by Kelly BondurantRepresentatives from the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments (KTCOG) were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the Area Agency on Aging’s evidence-based chronic pain and disease management programs. The KTCOG represents the five-county area of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties.
Classes are currently offered to community members “age 60 and better” with chronic pain or chronic disease issues. These sessions consist of six-week, two-and-a-half hour workshops that are free to the qualifying public and their caregivers.
According to Jillian Hardin, aging director for KTCOG, classes will introduce tools that can be used to better manage pain and/or disease symptoms. “You will learn about exercise and walking,” Hardin said. “You will also learn about managing emotions because depression is a big part of chronic pain or chronic disease.”
The chronic disease self-management class, titled “Living Healthy” is currently offered at the Senior Center in Vance County for those with two or more chronic conditions. “We say you have a chronic condition if it lasts more than three months,” said Hardin. “People often say ‘I don’t have a chronic condition,’ but I have heart disease or diabetes; those are chronic conditions.”
Hardin said the importance of these classes demonstrating positive, evidence-based results cannot be discounted, “Evidence shows that when people take these six-week workshops, they have less pain, can better control their symptoms, have fewer trips to the doctor and hospital and save money in healthcare costs.”
Harvey Holmes, family caregiver specialist with the Area Agency on Aging, was also on the program to discuss the “huge” need for caregivers and caregiver support.
Holmes mentioned former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s famous quote about caregiving to sum up the importance of the role, “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”
Referred to by Holmes as the “godfather” of aging services in the five-county region, KTCOG offers services and classes to help participants cope with the emotional battlefield that is caregiving.
“You’re always going to have ups and downs, pitfalls and stumbles, and a lot of people can get discouraged,” said Holmes. “Your emotions do tend to change along the journey. Caregiving, as a whole, is a journey and the journey is different for each individual.
For more information on the chronic pain or disease classes or caregiver services, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at (252) 436-2040.
You may also call NC 2-1-1, a 24/7 information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina and supported by local United Ways and public and private partners across NC. Service is available in all NC counties.
Callers may dial 2-1-1 to obtain information on health and human services and resources within their community. The service is free, confidential, and available in most languages.
To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.
‘Shop Granville First’ on Small Business Saturday
/by WIZS Staff— Information and graphic courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com
It’s here! Shop Granville First and celebrate Small Business Saturday all across Granville County on Saturday, November 24. Get a tote bag at a Chamber office or at the Thanksgiving Breakfast to get first dibs on coupons, flyers, specials and more, and support the small business community in Granville County!
Click here to check out our Facebook video for more info!
Vance Co. Properties, Public Safety & Fire Commission to Meet Mon., Nov. 26
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners
Please be informed of the following committee meetings:
Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)
Monday, November 26 at 3 p.m.
Administrative Conference Room
Joint Meeting of the Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Faines) and the Vance County Fire Commission
Monday, November 26th at 3:30 p.m.
Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Room
All commissioners are invited to attend.