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College of The Albemarle (COA) launched a new program last year, President’s Next Generation Leadership Academy. The program allows faculty and staff to learn more about themselves, their colleagues, the college and collaborative leadership, ultimately building the COA leadership pipeline. This is an eight-month commitment that involves group and individual conversations with the president, team-building activities and field trips to various meetings throughout our service area. The conversations and discussions, both as a group and individually, are designed to encourage participants to see community college leadership through a broad lens. Participants also learn about the NC Community College System and how it supports and impacts the 58 community colleges throughout the state.

“I am very pleased with our first cohort of this program,” shared COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell. “We held many in-depth, philosophical discussions as a group, and when I met with each participant individually. I learned much from this group during our discussions, and I hope they felt the same.  Our human resources team and I developed this program to give participants experiences to help them truly understand COA, the communities we serve and the community college system as a whole. I look forward to seeing the success and accomplishments of this great group of COA faculty and staff.”

A ceremony was held in April to celebrate our graduates. “We were pleased and honored to have Senator Bobby Hanig share remarks during the event,” noted a COA press release.

Graduates from the 2022-23 President’s Next Generation Leadership Academy are: Joshua Alcocer, Dannette Bowe, Anna Boyce, Dr. Felix Buabeng, Tiffany Elmore, Christopher Robertson and Jessica Buckley-Williams. Adrian Knight was also a program graduate; however, he accepted a position at another NC community college in April “and we wish him all the best,” stated the COA release.

Alcocer is the institutional researcher for COA. He joined the COA family as an employee in 2021. Before his employment with COA, Joshua served as a machinery technician 2nd class in the United States Coast Guard. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elizabeth City State University.

Bowe is the COA student support services coordinator and administrative assistant to the vice-president of student success and enrollment management.  She joined the COA family as an employee in 2015, serving as a part-time instructor for the Basic and Transitional Studies Department, now known as College and Career Readiness.  In February 2020, she began serving full-time as a financial aid advisor with the college until transitioning to her current position in July 2022. Bowe attended COA, completing the nurse aide I and II programs in 1997. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Elizabeth City State University.

Boyce is the COA – Edenton-Chowan administrative assistant, cashier and receptionist. She joined the COA family as an employee in 1997 as a part-time financial aid assistant, later transitioning to the COA Admissions Office. She transferred to COA – Edenton-Chowan in February 2012, becoming a full-time employee shortly after. Boyce is a COA alum, graduating in 1993 with an associate in information systems technology.

Buabeng is a COA assistant professor and program coordinator for agribusiness technology. He joined the COA family as an employee in 2019. Before serving at COA, Buabeng worked with the Maryland Cooperative Extension. He is from Ghana in West Africa, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in general agriculture. He later earned his doctorate in food science and technology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Buabeng is a trained food safety and security specialist internationally recognized for his contribution to ensuring sustainable food security.

Elmore is the COA College and Career Readiness instructional lead and professional development facilitator. She is also an adjunct communications instructor. Elmore joined the COA family in 2019 as a part-time ESL and GED math and science instructor in the College and Career Readiness Department, becoming full-time in 2022 in her current role. She is a COA alum, graduating in 2016 with an associate in general education. She also holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications from East Carolina University.

Robertson is the COA simulation instructor and director of health sciences and wellness programs admissions and advisement. Robertson joined the COA family as an employee in 2006 as an associate degree nursing program instructor. He taught at COA until 2010, returning in 2017 in his current position. He holds an associate degree in nursing from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Western Carolina University and a master’s degree in nursing from Robert Morris University.

Buckley-Williams is the COA program coordinator for business programs. She joined the COA family as an employee in 2020, serving as an adjunct business instructor. She transitioned to full-time in 2020 as a business instructor, becoming the program coordinator in 2023. Buckley-Williams holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business administration from Elizabeth City State University. She also has a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University.

College of The Albemarle is planning for the 2023-2024 academy and is currently accepting applications from employees. The new cohort will be announced soon.

For information, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA director of communications and marketing, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2420 or tammy_sawyer32@albemarle.edu.

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