Retired Educator Elected Trustees Chairman

WINTERVILLE�Even though he is officially a retired educator, Randy Collier hasn�t strayed from his educational roots.

In fact, just last month, the former principal and Pitt County Schools administrator assumed the role of chairman of the Pitt Community College Board of Trustees. Collier, 59, recently began his second term on PCC�s governing board after being appointed four years ago by the Pitt County Board of Education.

�Serving as a PCC Trustee is a very rewarding opportunity for me and a great way to volunteer in the community �,� Collier said. �The trustee appointment is a natural transition for me as an educator who has had an enjoyable working relationship with PCC for over 30 years.�

A Wilson County native who has lived in Greenville since 1971, Collier is a graduate of Chowan Junior College and Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College). He also holds a pair of graduate degrees from East Carolina University.

During his 35 years as an educator, Collier served in a variety of capacities. He was a high school vocational business education teacher, assistant principal and principal. As a central office administrator, he was director of high schools and career/technical education and also oversaw Pitt County�s Health Sciences Academy.

As PCC�s new trustees chairman, Collier said one of his main responsibilities would be to lead his fellow board members in helping the school achieve its mission to educate and empower students for success.

�PCC has a strong trustee board with a great variety of individual experiences that come together as a great team,� Collier said. �My job is to encourage and support the teamwork of the trustees.�

Collier also said he would strive to support the college�s administration, faculty and staff as they serve the educational needs of Pitt County and the surrounding region.

�PCC�s greatest assets are its human resources, who provide solid instruction, creative learning and workforce development skills and retraining,� he said, adding that Pitt had �responded quickly and effectively� to help address the nation�s current economic downturn.

�PCC has been and continues to be a strong institution and pillar for the community through all of its programs and activities that serve all ages,� Collier said.

With a record enrollment this fall of 7,710 students, Collier said Pitt�s greatest challenge in the years ahead would be to overcome a shortage of classroom space. As chairman, he will help implement a facilities master plan for the school that calls for a 20 percent increase in space on the main campus over the next three years.

09/03/2009