Featured Photo: Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood greets employees at the Fall 2026 Convocation event. (Photo by: Rich Keen.)
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“Education that works – those three words capture the heart of who we are and why Blue Ridge exists,” Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College, said during the College’s annual convocation.
On Aug. 10, more than 220 employees gathered in Flat Rock for the College’s fifth annual convocation, an event that brings together employees and prepares them for the year ahead. Faculty and staff reflected on their shared purpose, celebrated accomplishments from the past year, and looked ahead to the opportunities of the new academic year.
Convocation Recap
Dr. Chad Merrill, executive vice president and chief operations officer, kicked off the event and later provided campus and facilities updates. Director of Human Resources Lorri Allison welcomed new employees and introduced SWARM, a new leadership development program for new and aspiring leaders that focuses on stewardship, workforce development, accountability, resolution, and mastery. Allison also led an icebreaker where employees at each table discussed how their roles support student success.
Executive Vice President for Programs Dr. Connie Wolfe provided academic and program updates. Dr. Sarah Parlier, director of teaching and learning, gave an update on myCanvas, Blue Ridge’s new Learning Management system launching this fall. Jamie Wiener, executive director of the Educational Foundation shared updates on the foundation and its role in supporting the College and its students. Finally, Chris White, chief of police, provided campus safety updates and reminded employees to sign up for Blue Ridge Alert notifications ahead of the new semester.
Highlights from this past year included the launch of several new programs, including
Level Up: Core Construction, an accelerated workforce training program, practical nursing, an LPN-to-RN Bridge program, and the STEP class, a pilot program designed to help working-age parents and adult learners complete their first college course. The summer STEP class provided family dinners and supervised activities for children, helping alleviate barriers for students balancing college and family responsibilities.
Scholarship awards also reached an all-time high. During the 2025-26 academic year, the College connected 390 students with more than $663,000 in scholarship support. In addition, the College awarded approximately $2.5 million in recovery grants and scholarships to nearly 1,700 students following Hurricane Helene.
Leatherwood recognized departments and employees throughout the College for contributions during the past year, with special recognition for the maintenance, grounds, and facilities teams for their tireless work restoring campuses following the storm.
She also recognized faculty and staff who helped transition to myCanvas as its new learning management system. Leatherwood also recognized IT Instructor Tonya Stephens, who recently received the Statewide Excellence in Teaching Award.
Learning for the Future
As the College prepares for the 2026 fall semester, it is building momentum with new opportunities focused on student success, workforce needs, and the continued recovery and growth of the region.
New developments for the coming year include the creation of an Advising & Career Center, the groundbreaking for the College’s new Maintenance Building, expanded partnerships with public schools, and continued growth of Blue Ridge’s skilled trades programs, including the College’s participation in the Good Jobs initiative.
“Here, learning isn’t for its own sake,” Leatherwood said. “It’s preparation for what’s next.”
Expanding on this year’s theme, Leatherwood said education that works means education with purpose, learning that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve goals. Those goals can range from earning a credential, transferring to a university, advancing in a career, or discovering an entirely new path.
But education that works for students must also work for employers. The College remains committed to responding to the evolving needs of local and regional employers and preparing students for careers that strengthen the region.
“Together, we are creating opportunities that change lives, strengthen our region, and fulfill our promise of Education that Works,” Leatherwood said.
Fall classes at Blue Ridge Community College begin Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
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