Louisiana leader picked to head NC Community College System

The State Board of Community Colleges has picked its new leader.

Monty Sullivan, who recently retired from the same position in Louisiana, will serve as acting president of the North Carolina Community College System until he's confirmed for the job by state lawmakers, the system announced Thursday. This will be the first time lawmakers have had the authority to confirm a presidential appointment to the system since passing a law in 2023 that gave them that power.

If confirmed, Sullivan would serve as the system's president and chief executive.

Until retiring this past winter, Sullivan had served as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System since 2014. Before that, according to the North Carolina system and news reports, he'd been chancellor of Delgado Community College in New Orleans and had worked as an administrator at other colleges and universities, including in Virginia.

Annual graduates nearly doubled during Sullivan's tenure as Louisiana Community and Technical College System president, according to the North Carolina Community College System's announcement. Foundation assets tripled.

"Dr. Monty Sullivan has the passion, experience, vision, character, and proven record to lead our Community College System at the speed of business and innovation," Tom Looney, Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, said in the system's announcement. "We are confident he is the right leader to strengthen our 58 colleges, serve our students and employers, and build on North Carolina’s extraordinary momentum."

The board approved Sullivan's appointment during its meeting July 17.

Sullivan was unanimously recommended by the two internal search groups.

"North Carolina’s Community College System has built something the rest of the country watches," Sullivan said in the system's announcement. "That work happens across North Carolina — in welding labs, nursing programs, and early college classrooms. I’m committed to reaching every student who wants a better job and every employer who can’t find enough skilled workers. I'm grateful to the State Board for its confidence, and we will deliver."

Prior system president Jeff Cox retired effective June 30 after serving three years in the role.

The state's community college system has been expanding workforce programs, partnerships with universities for credit transfer and partnerships with public schools for dual enrollment programs.

Recently, lawmakers approved a funding overhaul for community colleges that would provide more money for programs with higher workforce demand.

The state has 58 community colleges — about one in every other county — and serves about 600,000 students.