SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College was pleased to recently host Delores P. Ali, Executive Director of the North Carolina Student Success Center (NC SSC).

The SSC is housed at and works collaboratively with the N.C. Community College System Office to implement its equity efforts and strategic plan, which focuses on helping colleges improve success and attain more equitable results for students. The NC SSC delivers guidance, technical support, and professional development to community colleges as they work to improve completion rates.

The NC SSC is a part of the nationwide Student Success Center Network.

Ms. Ali's visit - which was her first to one of the state's 58 community colleges since becoming NC SSC Executive Director -- was coordinated by Jairo McMican, CCCC Dean of Student Learning. McMican also serves as Director of Equity & Pathways with the NC SSC.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman noted it was a pleasure meeting with Ms. Ali. "Clearly, she is focused on student success. She brings both a local perspective, as someone who has worked in education in several N.C. communities, and she brings a statewide perspective based on her experience working with Career and Technical Education for several years at DPI (Department of Public Instruction)," said Dr. Chapman. "I found her to be a great listener and a ready advocate for the work of our colleges and I look forward to supporting her in her leadership of our N.C. Student Success Center."

"It was a pleasure to host Dolores Ali, the new Executive Director of the North Carolina Student Success Center, at CCCC," said Dr. Kristi Short, CCCC Vice President/Chief Academic Officer. "Delores shares Central Carolina's dedication to student success and brings innovative ideas and a fresh perspective to the System Office. We are excited to continue our participation in Student Success Center programming to support the professional development of our faculty and staff, who are key to the success of our students."

Ms. Ali said her visit to Central Carolina Community College was a reminder of trailblazing. "Dr. Chapman and Dr. Short shared encouraging words for how the North Carolina Student Success Center owns its reputation of trailblazing," said Ms. Ali. "As a convenor of guidance, professional development, and technical support, the center will continue listening, supporting, and evolving to adopt approaches to help students succeed."