Williamsburg Tech president Cox to lead N.C. college

KINGSTREE — Williamsburg Technical College’s seventh president, Dr. Cleve H. Cox, will leave the Pee Dee at the end of July to become president of Pamlico Community College in Grantsboro, N.C.

Dr. Cheryl A. Cox of Columbia will serve Williamsburg Tech as interim president while the college’s area commission seeks to fill the position.

Cleve Cox assumed his presidency at Williamsburg Tech in January 2004 after more than 20 years with Wilson (N.C.) Community College, where he served as director of administrative services, dean of student services, vice president for student services and institutional development, and vice president for instruction and student services.

During his time at Williamsburg Tech, Cox has served in various civic leadership capacities including on the Kingstree Rotary Club, the Williamsburg Regional Hospital Board of Directors and the Waccamaw Council of Governments Workforce Investment Board. He also served as a Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 358 and written a weekly column, “Your College, Your Future,” for The News in Kingstree.

“My years here have given me a valuable knowledge of serving as president during trying economic times,” Cleve Cox said in a press release issued by the college. “I have made lifelong friends in Williamsburg County and I know that Williamsburg Technical College will continue to change the lives of the people here in the county and beyond.”

Cleve Cox will succeed Dr. Marion Altman, who retired June 30 after 10 years, at Pamlico Community College on Aug. 3, according to Pamlico Community College’s Web site, http://www.pamlico.cc.nc.us/presidential_search.html.

“Under Cleve’s leadership Williamsburg Tech has realized an increase in enrollment and has successfully started a strong nursing program. His enthusiasm and humor have made even these tough budget times less painful,” Williamsburg Tech Area Commission Chair Greg Askins said in the release. “We are also confident that Dr. Cheryl Cox is the right person to take us through the interim as we search for the eighth president of Williamsburg Technical College.”

Cheryl Cox comes to Williamsburg Tech from the South Carolina Technical College System office in Columbia where she serves as vice president for academic affairs. Among the many endeavors she has undertaken in that role are the development of a $1.47 million grant to develop technical college-based training programs and centers to support the federal Weatherization Assistance Program; collaborating with various agencies to develop a grant-funded pilot program to move individuals quickly into high demand occupations while providing them with a GED and a WorkKeys Career Readiness Certificate; directing the development of a Web-based system for grant administration and management; collaborating with the Commission on Higher Education for the development of a statewide course articulation and transfer system; and developing ways to provide more comprehensive and affordable training in the realms of motorcycle and commercial truck driving, cosmetology continuing education certification, and pharmacy technician certification.

Her previous positions include senior manager for curriculum with the system office and educator in K-12, college and university settings. She and her husband, William Powell, have two children.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from Murray State University in Murray, Ky., and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of South Carolina. She has made many professional presentations and collaborated on various publications during her years of experience in both the K-12 and higher education realms.

“I look forward to keeping Williamsburg Technical College moving ahead in a smooth transition to the new president,” she said in the release.