SANFORD - Virginia Mallory, Director of Secondary Partnerships, has been named Central Carolina Community College's Staff Member of the Year for 2015-2016.

Mrs. Mallory is the college's nominee for the North Carolina Community College System's 2016 Staff Member of the Year Award and is a state finalist for the honor.

"Mrs. Mallory has been a superb leader in her role as Central Carolina Community College's Director of Secondary Partnerships, as she has led the successful efforts to bring the innovative Central Carolina Works program to fruition," said CCCC President Dr. T.E. Marchant. "In fact, with thanks to her guidance, the program exceeded its first-year enrollment goal."

The success of Central Carolina Works led State Senator Chad Barefoot to sponsor Senate Bill 535, which establishes the NC Works Career Coach Program placing community college career coaches in high schools statewide.

"As Central Carolina Community College's leader of all high school cooperative programs, Ms. Mallory also has served in other key roles at the college -- Career and College Promise Coordinator and Lee Early College Liaison, and Liaison for Vocational and Technical programs. In each of these areas, Mrs. Mallory has excelled and these areas are stronger thanks to her efforts," said Dr. Marchant.

Kirk Bradley, Chairman, President & C.E.O. of Lee-Moore Capital Company, who led the intensive fund-raising to launch the CCW initiative, also praises Mrs. Mallory's efforts. "You will not find a more committed staff member to mission of Central Carolina Community College or to the mission of the North Carolina Community College System," said Mr. Bradley.

"Virginia's tireless devotion to lead the expansion and enhancement to career and college pathways for high school students in our service area has been outstanding," said Mr. Bradley. "Over the past year, via the CCW initiative, Virginia has assumed management of over $1.3 million in grant, private, and public dollars. She worked with secondary partners to hire and place advisors in each of the nine area public high schools."

Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC's Vice President of Student Learning, said Mrs. Mallory is a "game changer." "Virginia is a genuine and intelligent professional who has a true passion for the college student learning environment and the mission of the North Carolina Community College System," he said.

Lynn D. Hartley, Harnett County Schools' Career & Technical Education Director, said of Mrs. Mallory: "These opportunities of working with Mrs. Mallory have allowed me to witness her high level of professionalism, innovative leadership style, and unselfish devotion to her job. These are all attributes that set Mrs. Mallory apart from others and ensure that the students of Central Carolina Community College are being served in an exemplary manner."

"I was completely shocked to learn that I had been chosen as Staff Person of the Year. To say I am honored is an understatement," said Mrs. Mallory. "I absolutely love working at CCCC and I truly feel we are a family here. I think I have come to know and feel that more over the past couple of years especially. I consider myself fortunate to have been here for over seven years and learn from everyone from faculty, staff, and administration. I am proud to work here."

Mrs. Mallory is a graduate of the North Carolina Community College System, having received her Associate of Arts degree from Blue Ridge Community College. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her Master of Arts in Education in Community College Administration from Western Carolina University.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.