TCCC names new president

Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers

Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers was elected by the Tri-County Community College Board of Trustees Thursday as the next president of the community college, contingent on approval by the State Board of Community Colleges.

"I am very honored that the trustees have chosen me," said Tipton- Rogers. "I look forward to serving the community and advancing the mission of the college. I am truly excited about this opportunity."

Tipton-Rogers is currently vice president of Graham County Operations for the college, a position she has held since 2001. She is the first woman elected to the presidency in Tri- County's 43-year history. She succeeds Dr. Norman Oglesby, who was president from 1996-2006.

"The president of our community college is one of the most important positions in our region," said Larry Kernea, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank the community representatives from education, industry, economic development, government and the region at large that have given so much time and shared so much experience in our search over the last year. We have an experienced staff, dedicated faculty, and an involved student body that will be empowered and inspired to even greater heights of service and accomplishment by the passion and energy that Dr. Rogers will bring to the position of president."

A native of Cherokee County, Tipton-Rogers is a graduate of Murphy High School. She earned a B.A. in History and Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1991, an M.A. in History from the College of Charleston in 1997, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies in Higher Education from the University of Tennessee in 2004.

Tipton-Rogers started her career in higher education as director of TCCC's Graham County Center in 1996, where she oversaw the planning, resource development, construction, and operational phases of the satellite campus. She became Dean of the Graham County Center in 1998 and vice president in 2001.

Under her leadership, the Graham County Center has grown from a small location holding a few classes to a fully-functioning campus that serves an average of 1,500 students each year. She has extensive experience working in collaboration with local government officials, public schools, county health department and library, childcare centers and county agencies on grant projects and activities.

In her time at the Graham County Center, Tipton-Rogers has worked as an advocate for Graham County and worked to develop positive community relationships with local schools, businesses and industries.

Tipton-Rogers is married to Hayden Rogers and has two daughters, Torin, 3, and Lochlan, 2. She lives in Robbinsville.

The next meeting of the State Board of Community Colleges is scheduled for October 19.