Thomas Stith will be the next president of the North Carolina community college system, effective Jan. 11, The News & Observer reported.
Thomas StithStith previously worked as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s North Carolina district office director. He is also the co-founder of a business development consulting firm and was a senior adviser on investment, development and investor relations at Rivermont Capital.
Stith notably also served as Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s chief of staff, where he led initiatives on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“To me, an appropriate education is a key to opportunity,” Stith said. “My vision for the North Carolina Community College system is very clear. The system will lead the effort to rebuild North Carolina’s economy by providing affordable education and training to our diverse population across the state.”
Leading Republican legislators and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper are all in support of Stith’s appointment.
