Grissom retires from VGCC after more than 20 years

Susan (“Sue”) Wooten Grissom, a resident of Creedmoor and Yanceyville, recently retired as Director of Basic Skills at Vance-Granville Community College. Grissom’s family joined her colleagues at a retirement reception held in her honor on Jan. 19 at the college’s main campus. She first joined VGCC on a part-time basis in 1989 helping to coordinate special cultural events for the then-new VGCC Civic Center. In 1991, Grissom started her long career in the college’s Adult Basic Skills department when she became the full-time coordinator of special populations, overseeing compensatory education classes and programs at John Umstead Hospital, among others. Holding various titles, she has administered VGCC programs including those that help adults improve their reading, writing and math skills, earn a GED or Adult High School diploma , or master English as a second language . Under Grissom’s leadership, VGCC made these programs more accessible by offering them at various community locations and online.

Grissom’s career in education started well before her arrival at VGCC. She previously worked for Wayne Community College, Montgomery Community College and Sampson Community College, and taught in the Granville County Schools and Orange County Schools, where she was named county-wide Teacher of the Year. Grissom earned a bachelor’s degree at North Carolina Wesleyan College and later gained certifications as a Reading Specialist at East Carolina University and as a Resource Specialist in Adult Basic Skills Professional Development at Appalachian State University. She is also certified as a reality therapist from the William Glasser Institute.

Pictured above, VGCC Vice President of Community and Economic Development Vanessa Jones (left) makes remarks paying tribute to Grissom (right) at her retirement reception. (VGCC photo)