Monty Sullivan Appointed as New President of North Carolina’s Community College System
Amidst a competitive national search, the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges has appointed Monty Sullivan to lead the state’s extensive network of community colleges. Sullivan, who has previously helmed the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, is set to bring his expertise to a new educational frontier.
The system, encompassing 58 colleges and serving 600,000 students, will benefit from Sullivan’s decade-long leadership experience in Louisiana, where he significantly enhanced educational outcomes. Under his guidance, the number of annual graduates nearly doubled, and foundation assets saw a threefold increase, as highlighted in a recent press release.
“North Carolina’s Community College System has built something the rest of the country watches,” remarked Sullivan in the release. He emphasized the importance of practical education, noting, “That work happens across North Carolina — in welding labs, nursing programs, and early college classrooms. I’m committed to reaching every student who wants a better job and every employer who can’t find enough skilled workers.”
During a recent state board meeting, Board Chair Tom Looney discussed the qualities they sought in candidates, emphasizing the need for a proactive, collaborative leader who is both courageous and humble. “I think most of our college presidents, if you look at them, if not all, are humble leaders, and that was one of the things we looked hard at as we made this decision as a board,” Looney stated.
Sullivan’s appointment is pending approval from the North Carolina General Assembly, with his start date yet to be determined.
