05/30/2026
EMPLOYEES COMPLETE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
In a press release from Southwestern Community College Five of the college's employees recently completed nine months of training and graduated from the Western Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA).
SCC’s participants this year were Norrie Meus, History Instructor and Social Sciences Department Chair; Carly Messer, Director of Nursing; Sheryl Monroe, Employment & Benefits Specialist; Erin McCully, Director of Instructional Development; and John Robinson Culinary Arts Program Coordinator.
Formed in 2021, WCCLA aims to form values-driven, high-potential, high-performing leaders who think and collaborate in new and different ways with people within their colleges and across the region. The academy is a collaboration between A-B Tech Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, Haywood Community College, Isothermal Community College, McDowell Technical Community College, Southwestern and Western Piedmont Community College.
“I’m extremely proud of all our employees who undertook this endeavor while continuing to excel in their respective roles at Southwestern,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC’s President. “I’m pleased that SCC continues to work alongside our neighboring community colleges to offer this academy. Partnerships like this ultimately benefit all of our students and communities.”
Barb Cooney, Director of Professional Development at A-B Tech, served as the academy’s lead facilitator alongside human resources representatives from the participating colleges. Erin See, Southwestern’s Director of Human Resources, represented SCC in that capacity.
For more information about Southwestern and the programs it offers, visit www.SouthwesternCC.edu, call 828.339.4000 or drop by your nearest SCC location.
