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Shah Ardalan RCC president candidate

Incoming RCC president put new jobs on radar

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Shah Ardalan is RCC’s new president. 

ASHEBORO – Dr. Shah Ardalan has been looking for a new venture in education and he found it with Randolph Community College.

He was named as the seventh president of the school earlier this month.

Ardalan will come from Lone Star College-University Park in Houston. He has been president there since 2012.

But RCC wasn’t his only potential destination. Ardalan has been a finalist for at least two other college presidencies the past several years, including a candidate for a similar position in Wisconsin this spring.

About a week prior to visiting Asheboro for the RCC interview process and tour in April, Ardalan was among three finalists for the presidency of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. That job went to Dr. Kristen Raney, who has been Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.

Ardalan also was exploring other opportunities to leave LSC-University Park. In November 2020, he was identified as one of four finalists for the presidency at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla.

Ardalan has been involved in LSC-University since its infancy. In December, LSC-University Park celebrated its 10th anniversary.

“We are honored and proud of how our community leaders showed their unwavering support of Lone Star College-University Park,” Ardalan said amid the celebration. “This is the only college in the country built on an open Invitation to Innovate (i2i), which transformed the property into this community’s college.”

That 10-year mark came with quite a bit of fanfare.

“Congratulations to Lone Star College-University Park on achieving this significant milestone,” said Stephen C. Head, Lone Star College chancellor. “Since its beginning, this campus has laid the groundwork to transform higher education by taking a fresh look at how to best serve its students.”

At the time, Ardalan said “and the best is yet to come.” Now, he won’t be directly part of the next phase in Houston.

Even though its enrollment dropped from 11,201 to 10,416 from last spring to this spring, LSC-University Park is considerably larger than RCC – or about five times bigger in terms of enrollment. LSC-University Park offers 57 degrees and certificates.

Ardalan has been involved in a wide range of endeavors in the educational field. He has been on the Board of Trustees of the College Board, a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. That four-year term on the 31-member board runs through 2024. He was one of two board members from Texas when he took the post.

“It is an honor to serve such an esteemed organization as the College Board, which plays a pivotal role in creating pathways for students to pursue higher education,” Ardalan said.

Ardalan was selected among four finalists who visited RCC last month.

In a statement from RCC, Reynolds Lisk, board vice chair and chair of the presidential search committee, said: “The RCC Presidential search has been a long and arduous process. I sincerely believe that our efforts were all worthwhile with the hiring of Dr. Shah Ardalan. … Most importantly though, his passion for student success and empowering his staff and faculty is what makes him the right fit for Randolph Community College.”

Ardalan holds a doctorate in Community College Leadership from the John Roueche Graduate Center at National American University in Austin, Texas. He earned his master’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from UNC Greensboro.

Ardalan’s hiring came with several endorsements. Jay Box, chief leadership innovation officer at Higher Education Innovation, said that Ardalan “is an excellent leader who will continue the tradition of excellence at RCC.”

Gordon Freedman, who advises clients into higher education markets, said Ardalan “built and operated one of the most responsive, responsible and economically-engaged community college campuses in the U.S.”

Executive Leadership Associates served as consultants in the hiring process. ELA received more than 80 applications for the position, according to information from RCC.

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Finalists for next RCC president to visit

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ASHEBORO — Four finalists to fill the vacancy as Randolph Community College’s next president are expected to visit the campus next week. 

Based on the list of candidates released from the college, the next president will come from an out-of-state job, though one of them has ties to the Triad.

Here’s the list:

** John Grosskopf, president of North Florida College (in Madison, Fla.).

** Dr. Jeremy Thomas, provost of Oklahoma City College.

** Dr. Shah Ardalan, president of Lone Star College-University Park (in Houston).

** Dr. George McNulty, president of Gogebic Community College (in Ironwood, Mich).

 

In March, the four candidates were approved by the State Board of Community Colleges in March.

Their visits to campus are scheduled on consecutive days next week, beginning with Grosskopf on Monday. Thomas comes Tuesday, followed by Ardalan on Wednesday and McNulty on Thursday.

A forum will be held with each candidate.

Grosskopf has a master’s degree from Florida State and is finishing a doctorate from Aspen University. He also has held roles of director/dean of teaching and learning along with the vice president of academic affairs at North Florida College.

Thomas has a doctorate in developmental education from Grambling State, in addition to a master’s degree from Northwestern State. He has spent time working at colleges in Texas and Louisiana.

Ardalan received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. He holds a doctorate in community college leadership from National American University in Austin, Texas. He has worked at Prairie View A&M and San Juan College in Farmington, N.M. 

McNulty, an Army veteran, has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada. He previously worked at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan.

RCC has had a vacancy since last summer upon the retirement of Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr.

The new president will be the fifth in RCC’s more than 60 years. Enrollment at RCC has fluctuated in recent years, in part because of the pandemic, with numbers ranging from about 1,900 to 3,000.

Elbert Lassiter has been serving as interim president. Lassiter has noted the big opportunities ahead for RCC, including the incoming Toyota battery manufacturing plant, which is coming to the Greensboro-Randolph megasite.

“We have (up to 5,000) people to train for Toyota,” he said. “Randolph Community College is at the forefront of transforming our community. We’re excited about that.”

In January, RCC was named Business of the Year by the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting and awards dinner.

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RCC interim president named

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ASHEBORO — William Aiken, a veteran in community college administration in the state, will be the interim president of Randolph Community College after Robert Shackleford Jr. retires at the end of the month.

Aiken has been part of the North Carolina Community College System since 2000.

“Hopefully, I can continue the vital role the college plays in serving its many constituents,” Aiken said in a statement. “While I recognize that my appointment is temporary, I will make every effort to keep the college moving in a positive direction.”

Aiken was president of Sampson Community College from 2000-2012 years. Since then, he has been interim president at Wake Tech, Cleveland Community College, Haywood Community College, Rockingham Community College, Robeson Community College and Southeastern Community College in North Carolina along with Paul D. Camp Community College in Virginia.

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Randolph Community College, state honors Shackleford’s influence, passion

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ASHEBORO — Outgoing Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr. is leaving with more distinctions.

Shackleford was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on April 27.

That came as part of the ribbon cutting for the Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Allied Health Center.

Members of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board, faculty, staff, students, state legislators, and members of the Randolph County community were on hand on the front lawn and in the lobby of the Center.

“When (Board of Trustees Chair Mac Sherrill) announced they were going to name it the Robert Shackleford Jr. Allied Health Center, that was such a shock,” Shackleford said. “This whole thing has been a dream.” 

Sherrill said it was appropriate to recognize Shackleford in many ways.

“This is such a great day of celebration,” Sherrill said. “We’re finally celebrating the opening of this beautiful new building. We’re celebrating the great career of our president and friend, Dr. Robert Shackleford. So, it only seems fitting that we add one more reason to celebrate. It is a great honor that, on behalf of the Governor, I present you the Long Leaf Pine award to Dr. Robert Shackleford for all his years of service to Randolph Community College, the citizens of Randolph County, and the state of North Carolina.” 

Darrell Frye, who’s chair of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, said Shackleford promoted the college and backed that up with pushing for initiatives that helped RCC grow.

“His legacy will live on here long after any of us,” Frye said. “Not because his name is on the building, but because of what happens inside of this building. The teachers that work here are going to produce people that come out and save lives and change lives. When you take the work ethic of the Randolph County people and you couple that with the teaching that comes out of this campus, you’ve got a workforce that’s second to none.” 

The Center houses the College’s Associate Degree Nursing, Radiography, Medical Assisting, and Emergency Medical Services programs. The building has a two-story feature wall — a digital screen created by marketing agency Union that changes depending on the time of day and combines medical themes with RCC visuals. 

“You will never find a president more committed to the mission of the North Carolina Community College System than Dr. Shackleford,” said Suzanne Rohrbaugh, RCC’s vice president for instructional services. “It is about creating opportunities and about changing lives. That means something to him. He doesn’t take that lightly. You won’t find anybody that’s more willing to serve this county, this community, the region, and the state. And that’s really evident today as we celebrate this building.” 

North Carolina Community College System President Thomas Stith III and various legislators and school officials also spoke.

Here are comments from some of the other speakers:

* State Sen. Dave Craven: “We’re here today for workforce development. That’s what this building’s about. This is what our community colleges do across the state. Any company that you talk to now is short on labor. It’s facilities like this that train our medical professionals to be future leaders in this area, our region, and our great state.” 

* State Rep. Pat Hurley: “This building should be a shining example for everybody in North Carolina. They spent our money wisely. Dr. Shackleford went out as a one-man advocate for this tax because he didn’t want the taxes to go up for the people. … Everything that goes on at RCC — it is a bridge to success.” 

* State Rep. Allen McNeill: “The last 15 years have eclipsed the other 45 years. You have done a wonderful job. You took a good community college and made it great.” 

* RCC vice president for administrative services Daffie Garris: “It truly takes an army for a project like this. We kept the goals of creating a building that reflects our college’s commitment to student success. That’s truly what we thought about all the time as we were building this building. It’s more than fitting that this building is named after Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr.” 

Shackleford’s retirement is effective July 1. He has been in the position since 2007.

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Community College report shows major economic impact

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RALEIGH — A comprehensive new economic impact analysis finds that North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges have a $19 billion annual impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 320,000 jobs across the state.

The economic impact study found for every dollar the state invests in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, the state gains $7.50 in added incomes and social savings. The colleges generate nearly double the revenue from what they take in from the taxpayers. For every $1 the state invests, taxpayers get $1.90 back in added tax revenues and public sector savings, according to the study.

“The Community College System serves over half a million students each year and fuels North Carolina’s job engine,” said system president Thomas Stith. “Our strong partnerships with business and industry in our communities and around the globe are creating a demand for our community colleges to provide the unique and skilled workforce needed, and we are leading economic recovery efforts in North Carolina.”

The report was an exhaustive undertaking supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, leaders from the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents, N.C. State’s Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, and national research leader Emsi Burning Glass. 

“It’s been a privilege to have worked and supported our education partners on this study from the beginning as I was confident the results would blow us away. And it did. I think it’s fair to say not many government-funded programs generate more revenue than they take in from taxpayers,” said State Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), who chairs the Senate Education Committee. “It’s critical that our high school graduates and adults looking to gain new skills take advantage of the incredible opportunities that their local community college provides.”

The report also says that community college graduates have higher incomes that contribute to a larger tax base and a growing state. For example, students who graduate with an associate degree from a N.C. community college will see an increase in earnings of up to $7,000 or more each year compared to a person with a high school diploma or equivalent. If the student builds upon their associate degree to then earn a bachelor’s degree, their annual income also doubles on average.

The report also assesses the economic impact of five programs that each college offers on the area economy, the return on investment for students, and the benefits generated for N.C. taxpayers.

In Randolph County, the report showed over $100 million in annual economic impact from Randolph Community College. Local programs measure in the report included radiography, computer-integrated machining, basic law enforcement training, agribusiness technology, and welding. Overall, the report attributed a $101.4 million economic impact for the county with alumni impact at $75.9 million. 

The report also highlighted the economic impact of students on the county. Students from Randolph County would have left for other educational opportunities without the existence of RCC, according to the report. The students contributed $3.3 million in spending to the local economy.  

The operations of the college also contribute significantly to the local economy. RCC employs 770 people full-time with $22.3 million in total economic impact when the day-to-day operating expenses of $10.3 million per year are included. 

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RCC president to retire

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Community Colleges president Thomas Stith and RCC president Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (Photos courtesy of Randolph Community College)

 

Bob Shackleford

ASHEBORO – Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring after slightly more than 15 years in the position and more than two decades at the two-year school.

Shackleford notified the board of trustees and later emailed a letter to faculty and staff Jan. 20 to notify them of his intentions.

“These 15 years you have granted me the opportunity to serve as President of RCC have been the experience of a lifetime and far exceeds anything I ever dreamed would be possible through all the years I grew up in poverty, moved around constantly, and struggled to keep up in my ever-changing schools,” he said. “When my mother promised me I could be anything in the world I wanted to be if I got my education and worked hard, I never imagined this.

Board members then expressed their heartfelt thanks to Shackleford, including Chair Mac Sherrill.

“You have been a blessing to our college and we can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done,” he said, according to information from RCC. “We’ll miss you. You’re retiring at the top of your game.”

Shackleford assumed leadership of RCC on Jan. 1, 2007, and was officially inaugurated as the fourth president of the college on March 8 of the same year.

Shackleford formerly served as dean of student services at RCC from 2000-2003 before taking the vice president of student services position at Rockingham Community College. He first joined Randolph Community College in 1998 as the program head for the Early Childhood Associate curriculum and eventually became chair of the Human Services department. He also taught early childhood education, human development, family studies, sociology, human relations, and leadership development at UNC Greensboro, High Point University and Gardner-Webb University.

Shackleford earned an associate degree in secondary education from Bluefield College in Bluefield, Va., and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the School of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. He completed his master’s degree in child development and family studies and a doctorate in human development and family studies at UNCG. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

A member of the U.S. Army Reserves from 1985-1992, Shackleford served as battalion chaplain and assistant division chaplain. He served as a chaplain in the North Carolina Air National Guard from 1992 until his retirement in January 2008. From 1997 until his retirement, he was the Wing Chaplain (senior supervisory chaplain) for the 145th Airlift Wing.

Since returning to Randolph Community College, he served as 2013 chair for the board of directors of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, 2011-2012 chair for the Randolph County United Way campaign, 2010-2011 president of the Randolph Rotary Club, and 2015-2016 president of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. He’s a member of the Randolph Health Board of Directors and corporate membership board, the Randolph County School System advisory council, and the government committee of the Asheboro Randolph Chamber of Commerce.

In 2011, Shackleford received the Citizen of the Year award from The Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. This recognition is the Chamber’s top award annually for service to the community. In 2013, he was named President of the Year by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges, and in 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Archdale Trinity Chamber of Commerce. Shackleford was selected as one of the Triad Business Journal’s C-Suite Award winners in 2021.

Shackleford and his wife, Teresa, live in Randleman with their son, Will. He also has two grown children, Kristi and Kori, and one granddaughter, Brianna.

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First scholarship awarded honoring long-time deputy

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Colonel Fred “Freddie” Wilson Rutledge, II created a legacy of service during his 38 years of law enforcement service. Following his death in July of 2020, Rutledge’s friends and family ensured that his legacy would extend to future generations with the founding of a scholarship fund in his memory. 

Last week, the first Fred Rutledge scholarship at Randolph Community College was awarded to Cadet Justice McDaniel. He will be part of the 89th Basic Law Enforcement Training class at RCC. 

Randolph County District Attorney Andy Gregson began promoting the scholarship fund, along with other friends and family of Rutledge, just days after Rutledge died on July 8, 2020. Just two months after Rutledge died, the Randolph County community had raised the necessary funds, exceeding $10,000, to fully fund the scholarship which is now permanently funded. 

“I met Freddie Rutledge 26 years ago. He was a witness in one of my first trials in Randolph County,” said Gregson shortly after Rutledge’s death. “I spent countless hours eating lunch with him in the tower at the Training Center while I was teaching BLET. Freddie was a man of integrity and honor. He always did things the right way. He was always willing to help others.”

Rutledge began his career in the Patrol Division of the Sheriff’s Department in 1977 and was promoted consistently until reaching the level of Colonel — the chief deputy. Rutledge received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Pat McCrory following his retirement in 2015. 

“Freddie was always what a law enforcement officer should aspire to be,” said Gregson. “He leaves a legacy in the lives of so many officers.” 

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RCC honor society welcomes new members

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ASHEBORO — On Dec. 8 Randolph Community College hosted a virtual ceremony to induct new members to Beta Theta Rho, the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a national higher education honor society. With 1,280 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, membership in PTK is by invitation only. Students must complete 12 hours of coursework toward an associate degree, 6 hours toward a one-year certificate, or 12 hours toward a bachelor’s degree and have a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

The newly inducted students — identified by hometowns — are:

Asheboro: Joshua Brian Davis, Maria Guzman, Alexa Shay Huggins, Aisha Kashif, Sarah Rae Kearns, Allison Kay Lamm, Avery James LeGlue, Alexandra Lopez Perez, Jacob Lee Parrish, Salamatou Warilha Mohamed

Bennett:  Charlise Kyndall Phillips

Denton: Rachel Elizabeth Davis

Greensboro: Ashley Kay Mann, Rebekah Ruth Murphy

Pleasant Garden: Aleah Kendall Batten, Zachary D. Rumley, Zoe C. Rumley

Randleman: Wendi Michelle Peele, Elijah Edward Shafer, Shelby Saleen Vest

Seagrove:  Madison Rae Rich, Kimberly Diane Taylor

Sophia:  Kenneth Austin Gatlin, Skylar Grace Sexton

Thomasville: Montgomery Lee McGee

Trinity: Gabriell Rose McArthur

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Apprenticeship Randolph honors first graduates, signs 14 more

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ASHEBORO — Apprenticeship Randolph, a local initiative from local businesses, Randolph Community College, Randolph County Schools and Asheboro City Schools, celebrated its inaugural class of graduates earlier this month.

Apprenticeship Randolph began in June 2016 as a collaboration among Randolph Community College, the Randolph County School System, Asheboro City Schools, the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturers. The goal was to bridge both the interest and skill gaps in modern manufacturing and provide a vehicle for expanding the workforce pool for advance manufacturing in the county. The program allows participants a debt-free education.

The program is for high school juniors and seniors and begins with a six-week, pre-apprenticeship summer program that consists of RCC classes and 40 hours per week of on-the-job training. Once a business selects its apprentice after this trial period, the program is spread over four years with students receiving paid, on-the-job training while earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology or Information Technology through RCC and a Journeyworker Certificate from the N.C. Community College System and U.S. Department of Labor.

At a celebratory dinner honoring the first eight graduates on August 10, 14 new apprentices were announced. Business and civic leaders joined the celebration.

Chris Harrington, Director of Operations at Elastic Therapy Inc., opened the dinner welcoming everyone in attendance, noting that every company represented at the event were founding partners that helped start the program. He then introduced the eight graduates, having them stand to be recognized as their name was called.

“It wasn’t too long ago when we kicked off this thing called Apprenticeship Randolph,” Harrington said. “We had some mentors that helped guide us, but we built the car as we were driving down the road. We’re very proud of this first cohort. It took a lot of flexibility and adaptability. I also want to thank everyone that helped the program and these eight gentlemen — they didn’t do it by themselves. In addition to the schools, the College, the companies, and other community organizations, we want to recognize the family members, the mentors, and the people in the support network that’s so critical to success.”

Brandon Hill, who boasted the highest GPA of the graduates, addressed the group. “I just want to say what a ride it’s been the past four years,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. To our families and significant others, thank you. Your support throughout this whole process has gotten us to where we are today.” Hill said he glad the program was created to give students an alternative pathway to successful career beyond a four-year university. “Thanks to you, the eight of us graduating are not buried under student loans and have a college degree and great career.”

New apprentices are introduced. (Photo Courtesy of Randolph Community College)

Following the dinner, a graduation and signing ceremony was held at the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium. The 14 pre-apprentices each came onstage to sign their apprenticeship contracts with industry partner representatives.

“I knew I wanted to do something with my hands and didn’t want to go a university for another four years. This is perfect,” said new apprentice, Reece Beeson, who signed with United Brass Works Inc. “I was able to meet [United Brass Works] early on multiple times. I feel like they’re a good company, very family-oriented. I love to tinker. I love to take stuff apart and put it together and see how things work.”

Beeson said he wasn’t concerned about a four-year commitment.

“It’s just a number,” he said. “If you’re doing something you like, it won’t take long.”

The evening ended with a celebration of the eight graduates who turned their tassels ready for their careers.

 

 

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RCC cancels live graduation ceremony

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ASHEBORO — A planned in-person graduation ceremony at Randolph Community College scheduled for Aug. 27 has been cancelled. The event was intended to celebrate students who completed degree programs in Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021.

The ceremony was optional for graduates. The school made the cancellation announcement Monday saying they based their decision on “new information.”

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