Dr. T. Eston "Bud" Marchant has announced his retirement as President of Central Carolina Community College, effective April 1, 2019.

In announcing his retirement to the CCCC Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening, July 25, Dr. Marchant's letter said, in part:

"Being President of Central Carolina Community College has been the highlight of my professional career. Your support, and that of past trustees, has enabled us to establish one of the best community colleges in the State of North Carolina. Without exception you have the best faculty and staff in the community college system.

"While my passion for all things connected with Central Carolina Community College remains strong, it is time to let someone new lead this wonderful and unique institution.

"In retirement, I will be returning to my native South Carolina. You can rest assured, however, that the students, faculty and staff, as well as the wonderful supportive people of Chatham, Harnett and Lee Counties, will forever remain in my heart."

Mr. Julian Philpott, Chairman of the CCCC Board of Trustees, said of Dr. Marchant: "We are extremely grateful to Dr. Marchant for the decade of outstanding leadership and service he has provided to Central Carolina Community College as its President and we look forward to his continued service until his retirement date of April 1, 2019. Under Dr. Marchant's presidency, Central Carolina Community College has flourished to become North Carolina's largest non-urban community college with many nationally recognized programs. He has had great vision for CCCC and has been able to work successfully with the Board of Trustees to build outstanding relationships with the elected officials and business and industry leaders in Lee, Chatham and Harnett counties. These relationships have resulted in strong support for the College throughout the service area. Under Dr. Marchant's leadership, CCCC has truly become one of "crown jewels" in the North Carolina Community College System. As successful leaders strive to do, Dr. Marchant will retire from his presidency leaving CCCC in even better shape than when he accepted his presidency here, and he has positioned the College to successfully attract outstanding candidates to follow him. The Trustees expressed their sincere gratitude to Dr. Marchant for his service to the College at our organizational meeting on July 25th, and we continue to wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Upon the retirement announcement, the CCCC Board of Trustees approved a resolution to "formally express our gratitude to Dr. Marchant, recognize him for his decade of outstanding service to Central Carolina Community College and designate him as a 'Central Carolina Community College Cougar for Life.'"

The resolution noted, in part:

• "Central Carolina Community College has flourished under the outstanding guidance and leadership of Dr. Marchant, with continued growth in enrollment during his tenure and the increase in nationally recognized programs, such as CCCC's Vet Tech program in Lee County, the Laser and Photonics program in Harnett County, and the Sustainable Agriculture Program in Chatham County ..."
• "Dr. Marchant has successfully led Central Carolina Community College to become the largest non-urban community college in the North Carolina Community College System ..."
• "Dr. Marchant has made outstanding administrative and faculty hires during his tenure at Central Carolina Community College ... and two of Dr. Marchant's vice presidential hires becoming college presidents in the North Carolina Community College System ..."
• "Dr. Marchant has developed outstanding relationships for Central Carolina Community College with its elected officials from Lee, Chatham and Harnett Counties and has fostered a strong working relationship with the business and industry leaders in the College's service area ..."
• "Dr. Marchant spearheaded the implementation of Central Carolina Community College's Central Carolina Works Program, the Caterpillar Apprentice Program, and the upcoming K-14 Program, which have resulted in CCCC's recognition as an innovative community college in industrial and manufacturing curricula, as well as college transfer courses ..."
• "Dr. Marchant has worked tirelessly during his outstanding tenure to develop a positive working relationship with the Board of Trustees of Central Carolina Community College to the extend that the College has become one of the 'Crown Jewels' of the community college system nationwide ..."

During Dr. Marchant's time at CCCC, the college has seen much growth with new college facilities in Lee, Chatham, and Harnett Counties. The new facilities include four bond projects approved by Lee County voters in November 2014. They include a new Health Sciences Center, a new Veterinary Medical Technology facility, expansion of the Emergency Services Training Center, and new construction and renovation at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Also among new college facilities are plans for a new Chatham Health Sciences Center. A new Harnett Health Sciences Center came on line during Dr. Marchant's tenure.

Also, during Dr. Marchant's tenure, Central Carolina Community College has been awarded a $9.2 million First in the World grant by the U.S. Department of Education. The four-year grant is the largest in the history of the college.

In addition, during Dr. Marchant's tenure, CCCC became the first community college in the nation to establish a Confucius Classroom.

Dr. Marchant became President of Central Carolina Community College in August 2008, bringing a strong background in both academics and economic development.

Prior to coming to Central Carolina, he served as Vice President for Educational Affairs at Piedmont Technical College, South Carolina; Vice President of Educational Programs at South Piedmont Community College; Dean of Union Technical Education Center at Anson and Stanly community colleges, North Carolina; and Director of Continuing Education at the College of Charleston, S.C.

Before that, he served at Beaufort Technical College, S.C., as Dean of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs, Dean of Business, and Director of BTC's Hilton Head Center. Dr. Marchant, a native of Columbia, S.C., began his career in education as a Social Studies teacher and, later, junior high school principal, in South Carolina.

Dr. Marchant has a strong background and interest in community economic development, having served, among other positions, as Secretary/Treasurer of the Lee County, N.C., Economic Development Board; member of the Chatham County, N.C., Economic Development Corporation board of directors; Executive Director of the Greater Beaufort, S.C., Chamber of Commerce; on the Board of Directors of the City of Charleston, S.C., Downtown Revitalization Commission; and Chairman of the Laurens County, S.C., Chamber of Commerce.

During his career, Dr. Marchant has received a number of honors, including 2013 Sanford Herald Citizen of the Year, 2008 Citizen of the Year in Clinton, S.C. (named by the Clinton Chronicle), South Carolina Technical Education Association 2005 Administrator of the Year; Phi Theta Kappa 2003 Distinguished College Administrator of The Carolinas Region; Union County, N.C., Chamber of Commerce 2003 Volunteer of the Year; and the Charleston, S.C., Convention and Visitors Bureau 1998 Tourism Development Award.

Dr. Marchant earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota, Fla.; Certificate from the Institute for Management of Lifelong Education from Harvard University; Specialist in Education from The Citadel, S.C.; Master of Education from Winthrop College, S.C.; and Bachelor of Science from the University of South Carolina.