NCC Plans 2017 Commencement Exercises
Pam Gould
Nash Community College celebrates 50 years of student success this year, and is planning once again record commencement exercises for May.
The Adult High School and High School Equivalency commencement ceremony will be held Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the Nash Community College Brown Auditorium. Pam Gould, Executive Director of Strategic Twin-Counties Educational Partnership (STEP), will deliver the address for the Adult High School and High School Equivalency graduation ceremony.
Gould began her career as a middle school teacher and coach and has worked as a counselor, Crisis Intervention Specialist, Educational Consultant and Director of the Redirections Day Treatment Program. Under her leadership at Redirections, the program was recognized as a state model day treatment facility. Gould continued her interest in nontraditional programs serving as a counselor and advisor at Edgecombe Early College High School and Nash Rocky Mount Early College High School. Most recently, she worked as College and Career Readiness Director at Nash Community College. Throughout her career, she has been a presenter at state and national level conferences and has provided professional development to hundreds of local educators. Gould has over thirty years of experience in education.
Pam Gould has served on the Jim Clack & Friends Foundation board and volunteered locally and regionally with American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and completed her Master of Arts degree in Education at East Carolina University. Gould is a lifelong resident of Edgecombe County.
The Associate Degree Nursing graduate pinning ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 11 at 7:45 PM, immediately following the Adult High School/High School Equivalency graduation in the Brown Auditorium. This time-honored tradition connects past nursing traditions with today’s healthcare professional. Program graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr.
Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr., President Emeritus, and the college’s second President, will deliver the address at the Nash Community College curriculum commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 6:00 PM in Brown Auditorium. President William S. Carver, II, Ed.D. and Board of Trustees Chair Samuel Dickens III will preside over the ceremony.
Dr. Parrott earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies in 1960 at East Carolina University and began his educational career as a teacher in the Wayne County, Lenoir County and Kinston City School Systems. In 1962, he graduated again from East Carolina University with a Master of Arts degree in Education and a minor in History. He earned his Doctorate in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Parrott joined the N. C. Department of Community Colleges as a State-Federal Relations Coordinator where he identified state, federal and private funds for expansion initiatives. He was appointed Vice President for Institutional Services in 1972. He was later named Senior Vice President for Educational Programs with additional responsibilities of serving as departmental liaison between the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System. In 1980, he joined Nash Community College as its second President until his retirement in 1999.
Dr. Parrott was awarded the 2008 Nash Community College President’s Cup which is the highest and most prestigious award given each year to someone affiliated with Nash Community College who has truly made an indelible mark on the institution. Upon Dr. Parrott’s retirement to recognize his distinguished educational career and service, the NCC Board of Trustees bestowed the title of President Emeritus to him to honor his outstanding contributions to the college. Known for his ease at the podium, Dr. Parrott has shared his wit and wisdom as the commencement speaker with numerous North Carolina Community Colleges. Parrott was honored in 2015 with The Order of the Longleaf Pine Award.
Each ceremony will be held in the Nash Community College Business and Industry Center Brown Auditorium, and streamed live online via the Nash Community College YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/NashComCollege. For more information, call 252-451-8219.
