NCC Foundation Announces Owens-Latham Endowment
From left, NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt, Robin Latham, Mike Latham, Pam Ballew
The Nash Community College Foundation has announced the establishment of a new endowed scholarship by two longtime college employees who will soon be retiring. The Owens-Latham Endowment, created by David Michael “Mike” Latham, Vice President of Student Services and his wife, Robin Owens Latham, English Professor, serves as a permanent legacy to the Latham family’s long tradition of support of the endeavors of Nash Community College.
The Lathams have established five scholarships during their careers at the college. These include the Louise and David Latham Memorial Scholarship, the Annette Poirier Wolfe Memorial Scholarship, the Gilbert and Kathleen Snell Memorial Scholarship, the Billie Pate Memorial Scholarship and the Latham Family South Rocky Mount Scholarship. The endowment will ensure the perpetual funding of these scholarships established by the Lathams.
“It has long been our plan to set up an endowment upon retirement so that our scholarships will live on,” Mike Latham said. Mike will retire in October 2022 and Robin will retire in December 2022.
A Rocky Mount native, Robin Owens Latham began her involvement at Nash Community College as a student in 1984. During her time as a student, she received a number of scholarships, including the Gamma Beta Phi Award and the Nash Community College Trustees Award. She worked as an English and Math tutor and served as assistant for the English Faculty from 1985-1986. In 1992, Robin began her career at NCC as a part-time Tutorial Coordinator and Instructor. She began working full-time at NCC in the fall of 1993 and has since served as Tutorial Coordinator, Transfer Specialist, Instructor and Professional Development Coordinator. Robin was also awarded the title of professor in 2016.
A native of eastern North Carolina, Mike Latham began his career with NCC in 1993 as a History Instructor. He won the Nash Community College Excellence in Teaching Award in 1995, the first year he was eligible for consideration. Mike also helped create the Nash Community College Faculty Senate as a recognized body at the college and served as its first president from 1996-1999. He became Humanities and Social Sciences Department Chair in 1999. He won the NCC Instructional Achievement Award in 2006 for his work creating, directing and producing the college TV show, Nash in Action. Mike has served in curriculum and student services roles as Associate Dean of Transfer Programs, Dean of Instruction, Associate Vice President of Curriculum Instruction and now Vice President of Student Services.
Both Lathams are involved in civic and service organizations in our community and state. Robin has recently served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the local nonprofit organization My Sister’s House and also serves as President of the Nash County Democratic Women, First Vice Chair of the Nash County Democratic Party, and is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Committee. She also is a resident artist at the Tar River Arts Collaborative. Mike is a member and Chair of the City of Rocky Mount Historic Preservation Commission, and a member and past president of the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club.
The Lathams have generously supported many college events through the years through their gifts and attendance.
For more information about the NCC Foundation, please contact Pam Ballew, Vice President of Advancement, at 252-451-8329.
