SANFORD - Dr. Sara Newcomb, Central Carolina Community College Executive Director of Secondary Partnerships, has been named recipient of the North Carolina Community College System's Staff of the Year award for 2023.

"It is truly an honor to receive this award," said Dr. Newcomb, who advanced after being selected as the CCCC Staff Member of the Year. "I am so fortunate to work alongside such amazing and dedicated people every day at CCCC that contribute to changing students' lives through educational opportunities. I would not be able to do my job without the strong partnership of our local school systems and our community partners we have in our three-county service area.

"I love the work I get to do every single day. Nothing is more exciting than helping high school students explore and understand options for their future. My team and I not only help students take college classes, but we are helping the students leverage and maximize access to higher education, explore meaningful short-term career training and help them think about a pipeline to sustained long-term employment opportunities," said Dr. Newcomb.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said of Dr. Newcomb, "While CCCC has a storied history of consistent engagement with our K-12 colleagues, development and maintaining relationships with all the right individuals in a very dynamic environment is challenging, but absolutely essential. Sara navigates this challenge as effectively as I have seen it done. She builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with stakeholders from all public, charter, and private schools in the college's service area, as well as supporting our home school students, whose network continues to grow."

"Sara doesn't simply do the right things because they are the right things to do, she does the right things in the right ways because she believes in our students and because their success matters to her. She exemplifies the best of the North Carolina Community College System as well as the best of CCCC," said Dr. Chapman.

Dr. Kristi Short, CCCC's Vice President, said of Dr. Newcomb, "The skill most imperative to Sara's success is communication, and she excels at building trusting relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

"I cannot fully express how much the college appreciates her contributions, can-do attitude, and collaborative nature," said Dr. Short. "She is one of a kind and we are extraordinarily fortunate to have her at CCCC."

Dr. Andy Bryan, Superintendent for Lee County Schools, says Dr. Newcomb is an outstanding leader who understands the issues that impact the education and betterment of the communities she serves. "In her current role, Dr. Newcomb provides strong leadership for our community college and empowers others to be part of these efforts. In all interactions, Dr. Newcomb nurtures positive relationships that are proactive and fair. Most importantly Dr. Newcomb maintains an individual perspective that is necessary to preserve and enhance the future of education, economic development, and community betterment in our state and country," said Dr. Bryan.

Justin Wilkinson, Director of Career and Technical Education for Harnett County Schools, says of Dr. Newcomb: "In her role as Executive Director of Secondary Partnerships, Dr. Newcomb diligently works to serve student needs and meet the needs of partner districts. She equips all members of her team to make a positive impact across the service area. ... She exudes professionalism and enthusiasm in all she does."

Dr. Newcomb received her Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies degree, her Master of Business Administration and her MBA-Plus Post-Grad Certificate in Marketing from Gardner-Webb University, and her Doctor of Education in Higher Education from Western Carolina University.