SCC’s Pennington selected for statewide leadership program

Laura Pennington, director of community and resource development at Southwestern Community College, was selected as one of 36 participants in N.C. Community College Leadership Program’s class of 2004-2005.

Laura Pennington

The statewide program was developed 16 years ago to provide leadership training to faculty and staff from the 59 institutions comprising the N.C. Community College System, as well as from the System Office. To date, this program has provided leadership training and skill development for more than 500 participants.

Pennington, who has spent nearly all of her professional life in diverse roles at the community college level, will attend three retreats and two seminars throughout the academic year. A graduation ceremony will be held in April.

Partially funded by a grant from the N.C. Community College System and with roots stemming from the N.C. Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, NCCCLP’s purpose is to develop future community college leaders in North Carolina. During the year-long program, participants engage in enhancing skills in team building, conflict management, problem solving and career planning. Information topics covered include diversity, governance and budgeting issues, and the changing Community College System.

Pennington is an active leader in the conceptual development of college initiatives and an integral part of the Institutional Advancement Team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Legal Studies from the University of San Diego (1989), and a master’s degree in Education from the Oklahoma State University (1995). She is a National Institute for Leadership Development Scholar, a contributing author for the book Embracing the Tiger—the Effectiveness Debate and the Community Colleges, has been honored as a Master Presenter by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, was included in the 1996 edition of the International Who’s Who of Professionals, and was a graduate of the 1999 Council for Resource Development Intern program.

With her guidance, Southwestern has raised more than $18 million in external funding during her tenure with the college. While she has called the Philippines, Hawaii, California, Washington, Tennessee and many other places home, she now lives in Sylva with her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Sarah. She serves on many local, regional, and state boards and is active in promoting children’s issues and animal welfare.

Back to News Index