DUBLIN — Dr. Amanda Lee will be the next president of Bladen Community College.
The announcement came from the school following Wednesday’s confirmation vote by the personnel committee of the state’s Board of Community Colleges, a trustees meeting Thursday morning and announcement to the faculty and staff at noon. She will be the college’s fifth president and the first female to hold the position.
The state board must still render formal approval. Lee’s official starting date is set for Feb. 1. Her annual salary, based on the state’s presidential salary schedule, is to be $142,039 annually.
Lee was most recently chief of staff and vice president of academic affairs at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. She also has previous connections to North Carolina.
She will succeed Dr. William Findt, who announced plans to retire in January and will officially end his duties Jan. 1.
“I think she’ll be a good fit going forward for the Bladen Community College family, based on our mission and objectives for the future,” said Dennis Troy, chairman of the college trustees. “She brings a wealth of knowledge.”
The process to a new president included an open solicitation for candidates, a narrowing to four finalists for formal interviews, and a chance for the finalists to meet members of the community including students at the college campus.
Other initial finalists were Dr. Jewel B. Cherry, Dr. Shannon L. Kennedy and Dr. Gene Smith. When Smith removed himself from consideration just before the final interviews, Carlton Bryan was added.
Throughout the process, those involved reiterated all would make excellent choices. Different groups to include faculty members and administration formed collective opinions and Lee had the backing of all.
The trustees’ vote was unanimous.
“I appreciate the process we took going forward,” Troy said. “The process worked.”
Lee has also been the president of Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington.
“Dr. Lee brings a vast amount of experience, not only in the classroom, but as an administrator within the community college system,” Troy said. “She has done an outstanding job engaging the community and growing the relationships necessary to make a community college thrive. We, as a family at Bladen Community College, are excited and confident that Dr. Lee will grow the college with continued success. We welcome Dr. Lee’s leadership as we enter the next era of BCC’s history.”
Lee earned a doctorate in communication arts from Regent University in Virginia Beach. Her master’s in communication studies and her undergraduate degrees are from Baylor University.
She worked at Cape Fear Community College for more than a decade, starting in 2003. She was an instructor and moved into administration as the college grew to more than 23,000 students annually.
The Advanced & Emerging Technologies building was among the new facilities to open under her watch. In addition, the school’s largest capital donation was given and a vocational technical high school opened.
Before her presidency at Cape Fear, she had responsibilities for planning the college’s academic divisions including arts and sciences, technical and vocational education, continuing education and two learning resource centers.
Lee has also worked at Nash Community College, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Texas A&M University and her alma mater, Baylor.
“I feel like students’ success is No. 1 with her, meaning if they come in, they take them as far as you can take them,” Troy said. “They mean something. It’s strong with her.”
Findt’s 10-year tenure followed Dr. John Darrell Page, who retired in June 2008.
Col. George Irving Resseguie was the college’s first president, serving from 1967 until retirement in September 1984. Lynn Greg King Sr. followed and served until retirement in May 1997.