Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

A reception for outgoing Richmond Community College President Dr. Sharon Morrissey is scheduled for Thursday between 4 and 6 p.m. at Cole Auditorium.

The event will be hosted by the Richmond Community College Foundation to honor Morrissey, the sixth president of the college.

“I am very sad to be leaving this wonderful community college,” Morrissey said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the faculty, staff and students. They are the most wonderful people in the world.”

She called serving as RCC President, “the highlight of my career thus far.”

“I believe I have made a difference in helping the college plan for the future and will always continue to support RCC from my new position in Raleigh,” Morrissey said.

She began her tenure at RCC in February 2008, and announced her resignation last September. She will become Vice President for Academic and Student Services and Chief Academic Officer of the North Carolina College System at its headquarters in Raleigh.

Her resignation is effective at the end of the month. She is the shortest-tenured president in the college’s history.

RCC Foundation Executive Director Bill Council explained the role of the foundation in the reception.

“The RCC Foundation is pleased to be able to support the college and the Board of Trustees by providing the community a chance to say good-bye to Dr. Morrissey and wish her well as she moves on to Raleigh,” he said.

Morrissey came to RCC from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, where she served as Vice President for Instructional Services. Her previous experience includes being an English Instructor at Central Carolina Community College, Vice President for Academic and Student Services at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Program Coordinator and Associate Vice President for the state community college system.

Born and raised in Franklin, Morrissey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s degree in English from Western Carolina University and a Doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University.

She and her husband Tim have one daughter, Maggie, who is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The first RCC President was Dr. Samuel Morgan, who served from 1964 to 1969. Since then, the college has had five presidents, beginning with Joseph Nanney from 1970 to 1977, then Dr. Ken Melvin until 1985, Joe Grimsley until 2001, Dr. Diane Honeycutt until 2008 and most recently Morrissey.

RCC Executive Vice President Dr. Dale McInnis was approved by the state in January to become Morrissey’s replacement.

He will take office in March.

There is no admission for today’s reception, and the public is invited to attend.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.