VGCC Names New Dean of Applied Technologies
A new Dean of Applied Technologies & Public Service is on the job this fall at Vance-Granville Community College. VGCC named Bobby Van Brunt to succeed Dean James Wheeler, who returned to the classroom. As Dean, Van Brunt will oversee the college’s eleven applied technologies and public service programs, which include Automotive Systems Technology, Basic Law Enforcement Training and Welding. For the past four years, Van Brunt has been Dean of Business Technology and Industrial Programs at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.
Van Brunt started his new position on August 7. “I’ve never experienced such an easy transition to a new job, and that’s because of the people and the family-oriented atmosphere at Vance-Granville,” he said. “I’m very happy I made the decision to come here.”
“We are thrilled to have Bobby Van Brunt join us at Vance-Granville,” VGCC President Randy Parker said. “He has a clear vision of where he wants his division to go, and the experience to realize that vision.”
Van Brunt believes his division is poised for growth. “I want to be a part of Vance-Granville providing even greater opportunities for the new generation of students,” he said. “As a region and as a nation, we are facing unique pressures that put tremendous demands on our young people. They must be able to perform in a high-tech environment. The jobs of the future require training after high school. Vance-Granville must recruit and retain the best students. We can’t build factories, but we can educate our people. The economic viability of our country is at stake.”
Van Brunt, a U.S. Army veteran, graduated from Raleigh’s Broughton High School, and later earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Carolina University. “Education has always been near and dear to me,” he recalled. As a teenager, he first aspired to become a high school teacher. In college, however, he switched his major from History to Business Administration, and found that he enjoyed it. After working in the apparel industry for several years, Van Brunt “fell in love” with commercial fishing. He spent thirteen years on the water, and earned a captain’s license. “Working on the boat was the most fun I had ever had, but I couldn’t see it paying the bills down the line,” he said. Once again, his thoughts turned to high school teaching, but an advisor at East Carolina University recommended that he think about teaching at the community college level. “That was the best career move I’ve ever made,” he observed.
His community college career began when he taught marketing and business courses, part-time, at Pitt Community College and at LCC. Van Brunt then served as Occupation Extension Coordinator at LCC for five years before being named Dean. There, he worked with future VGCC President Randy Parker. “This position at Vance-Granville was more attractive because of President Parker being here,” Van Brunt said. “He has the qualities of fairness, consistency, and professionalism in abundance. That made the decision easier.”
Van Brunt has been able to continue going on fishing trips regularly throughout his community college career, but he has recently given up that activity, after a total of twenty-four years on the water. “I may still fish on some weekends, though,” he added. In his spare time, he also reads for business and for pleasure. Van Brunt recently moved to Henderson.
