SANFORD - Dr. Kim Browning, department chair of Veterinary Medical Technology at Central Carolina Community College, has been chosen as a semi-finalist for the 2013 North Carolina Community College System's Excellence in Teaching Award.

"Dr. Browning is a respected veterinarian whose helpful demeanor makes her a great leader inside and outside of the classroom," said CCCC President Dr. Bud Marchant. "She works closely with our students to ensure that they have the academic and professional skill sets to be successful and pursue their dreams."

In September, Browning was chosen by the full-time faculty at CCCC as the winner of the college's 2012 Instructor of the Year Award. She then competed against the winners from the other 58 community colleges in the NCCCS for the honor of being named the top instructor in the state. She reached the semi-finalist stage of the award process.

"Becoming the CCCC Instructor of the Year is truly an amazing award for me as an instructor," Browning said. "Advancing to the semi-final round of the NCCCS selection process was beyond belief. If the entire community college system has as vast a pool of talent as CCCC has, then I competed with some of the best in the world."

Browning, of Sanford, has been part of the college's VMT department for five years and the department chair since February. She teaches on the Lee County Campus.

"As a current instructor, I hope I never forget what it feels like to be sitting in a classroom, seeing a 'light at the end of the tunnel' and hoping it wasn't the light of an oncoming train, but instead the beacon of a bright future ahead of me," Browning said. "I hope to always be a 'beacon' that keeps my students moving forward and loving to learn."

At CCCC, Browning is also the chair of the Animal Care Committee and the lead for the VMT Writing Works Quality Enhancement Plan and the Annual Progress and Improvement Plan. She is a member of the VMT Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the VMT Advisory Committee.

Browning is also the owner and manager of her own part-time large animal veterinary practice. Her ongoing industry experience adds integrity and credence to her instruction on what students can expect in their future careers. She is also a Business Selective guest lecturer at the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Her professional memberships include the American Veterinary Medical Association, the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and the N.C. Academy of Small Animal Medicine.

Browning hosts local animal science and Future Farmers of America high school students in her classes to give them a chance to see what veterinary medicine is about. She is also a career coach for the Futures for Kids program.

The NCCCS Excellence in Teaching award was established in 1985 to acknowledge the outstanding instruction and high standards of the teaching faculty at the 58 institutions of the NCCCS.

For information about CCCC's Veterinary Medical Technology program, visit https://www.cccc.edu.