An eastern North Carolina native and an experienced educator who has been working in a high-level position for Connecticut State Community College is returning to the region to serve as the new vice president of student services at Nash Community College.
“I’m a very mission-driven, connect-to-the-vision type of leader and individual,” Dr. Levy Brown said in a phone interview Thursday.
Brown emphasized that he is coming in to support NCC President Lew Hunnicutt’s vision for the community college’s future in terms of helping students graduate and land successful careers, as well as in terms of having an impact on the community college’s service area.
The vice president of student services reports to Hunnicutt and supervises the student services team. More specifically, the vice president of student services sets the direction for student services programs and activities that enhance opportunities for students to succeed.
Brown said that he is going to be reporting for work on June 3 and that he is going to be commuting from Franklin County.
He had kind words for his future employer.
“Nash Community College has a storied history within the community college system of focusing on students’ success, but also workforce development and making sure that they’re meeting the needs of the communities in which they serve,” Brown said.
Additionally, Brown said that in his previous roles as an educator in North Carolina, he had the chance to visit, observe, learn about and meet many colleagues from NCC.
Brown also said that he believes the community college has a great reputation under the leadership of Hunnicutt, whom he believes is “a top-tier leader” within higher education.
Brown said that he told the community college’s hiring committee that if he had the privilege of being hired, then NCC would be getting someone who is dedicated to students, to building leaders, to being engaged and to leading, listening and learning as a new leader to the organization.
Brown also noted that he has been fortunate to help some community colleges grow in enrollment.
For nearly a year, he has been at Connecticut State Community College and is currently serving as the provost and vice president of academic affairs, student affairs and workforce innovations.
Generally, a provost is the chief academic officer of a college or a university.
Before Brown reported for work in Connecticut, he worked about a year and a half as senior vice president and chief academic officer of the N.C. Community College System.
Before that, Brown worked more than 4½ years at Vance-Granville Community College, with his most recent position there as chief academic and student affairs officer.
He also worked a few years at Lenoir Community College as dean of arts and sciences.
Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in library science from N.C. Central University and a doctorate in educational leadership from ECU.
A native of Craven County who is in his mid-40s, Brown spoke Thursday of being the first one in his family’s household to attend and graduate from a college.
He said his education had a profound impact on him.
Hunnicutt, in a phone interview Thursday, said that Brown has an incredible way of engaging with co-workers and students.
“So, we think we’re just going to take off with him in charge of student services,” Hunnicutt said.
Mike Latham had been working as vice president of student services before retiring in 2022. Latham started his career with NCC in 1993 as an instructor in history and from there worked his way up the ranks.
According to the N.C. Community College System, NCC has a student population of 5,787 students with 420 employees as of Fall 2023.
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