Longtime Swain County educator and administrator Gerald G. McKinney was sworn in as a member of Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees on March 28 in the Slagle Board Room on SCC’s Jackson Campus.
McKinney was appointed to SCC’s board by the Swain County Board of Education.
“I am excited and overwhelmed to join the Board of Trustees for Southwestern,” said McKinney, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Carolina University. “SCC has always been highly respected.”
A resident of Bryson City, McKinney retired from Swain County Schools in 1996 after a 30-year career as a teacher and administrator (transportation director, assistant principal and Swain County High School principal).
He and his wife, Norma, have two daughters and two grandchildren.
He has served on the Swain County School Board since 2008, including five years as chair. He also previously served as chair of the Swain County Economic Development Committee and as a trustee for Westcare Health from 2000-10. He’s been a Rotary member for 25 years and previously served on the board for Midwest Health (2000-04) and chaired the Westcare Health System for two years.
He has been on the board for Smoky Mountain Health Foundation since 2004.
McKinney’s term on SCC’s board runs through June 30.
“We are honored that Mr. McKinney is joining our Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Don Tomas. “Since his appointment, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him. We traveled to Raleigh earlier this year, and he advocated strongly for our elected officials to support Southwestern and all of the state’s community colleges. He understands our mission and how vital SCC is to our local economy.”
