VGCC Names Vice President, Two Deans

Vance-Granville Community College President Robert A. Miller has appointed Frederick H. Wilson Jr. as vice president of the college, and he also has named Marsha J. Nelson dean of curriculum and Vanessa Jones dean of student development and advancement services.

Wilson replaces Miller, who was promoted to VGCC president on Feb. 1. Nelson moves into Wilson’s former position, and Jones will fill a newly-created position. From left in the photo at right are Miller, Wilson, Jones and Nelson.

“These appointments will position us for a smooth transition and help guarantee the success of our efforts,” Miller said.

Nelson and Jones join Maria B. Bailey, dean of Student Services, Terry E. Garrison, dean of Workforce Development, Daniel W. Guin, dean of College Services, and Leo Kelly Jr., dean of Continuing Education, as deans at the college.

The vice president is responsible for overseeing the college curriculum, student development and advancement, college services, continuing education, day care and student services. He also deals with industry contacts in the four counties served by the college, and he is involved in college construction projects.

Fred Wilson began at VGCC in 1974 after earning his bachelor’s degree from N.C. State University and serving three years in the U.S. Army. He was program head and instructor for the Recreation program until 1982.

After completing his master of science degree at N.C. Central University, Wilson was named chairman of the Public Service and Vocational Education department in 1982. Six years later, he was appointed dean of instruction, the capacity in which he served until his recent appointment.

Wilson said he looked forward to his new responsibilities and added, “The challenges facing us, such as continuing to find the necessary resources to meet our ever-increasing demands for courses, are positive ones that I welcome.”

A Vance County native, Wilson lives in Henderson.

The dean of curriculum is the administrator of instruction in the associate degree and diploma programs at Vance-Granville. Nelson is responsible for scheduling, budgeting, supervision of instructional staff and recommendations concerning personnel in the instructional programs.

Marsha Nelson, who also lives in Henderson, started at VGCC in 1972 as an instructor in the Secretarial Sciences program and became head of that program in 1979. She was selected as the college’s instructor of the year in 1989.

She earned a bachelor of science from East Carolina University and a master’s of education from N.C. State University. She was an active member of the N.C. Community College Association of Business Chairmen and Department Heads and helped plan program sessions for state community college conferences and was a featured speaker at several of them. On her new job, Nelson said: “In order to meet the diverse needs of our students, it is essential that we be innovative in our instructional delivery systems. I feel with innovation we must also have efficiency, quality and effectiveness.”

The dean of student development and advancement services is a new position, and Jones has overall responsibility for the college’s counseling services and Career Center and supervision of the coordinators of VGCC’s satellite campuses in Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. She also oversees articulation agreements with area public schools for college-level courses taught at those schools.

A Palmer Springs, Va., native and resident of Norlina, Vanessa Jones earned a bachelor of arts degree from N.C. A&T University and a masters of art from N.C. Central University. She worked in the Vance County school system five years before joining the VGCC staff in 1988 as assistant coordinator and advisor at the Warren Campus.

In 1996, Jones became a counselor at VGCC’s main campus. She recently passed the National Board Certification exam in counseling.

Emphasizing the importance of being available for all VGCC students, Jones said, “Motivating students and encouraging them to focus on their goals at VGCC has always been my priority.”