黑料正能量 has named Emily Byrd as the new executive director of the Foundation of WCC.
Born and raised in Goldsboro, Byrd is a graduate of Meredith College where she studied business administration. After working in property management of commercial real estate in Raleigh, she returned to Goldsboro and worked in WCC鈥檚 Admissions and Records office from 2010鈥�2013.
鈥淪tudent Services was a great place to start. I think that has helped me understand what the students are looking for as they navigate through their education,鈥� said Byrd.
She started working for the Foundation in 2013, serving as donor relations and communications coordinator and then associate director before becoming executive director in July of 2023.
The Foundation of WCC raises funds through events like an annual golf invitational to award scholarships and support other campus initiatives. They also host community outreach events like the biannual Arts and Humanities program.
Working with Adrienne Northington, former executive director of the Foundation of WCC, helped pave the way for Byrd.
鈥淪he taught me about the Foundation and how things work and prepared me to step into her role when she left,鈥� Byrd said. 鈥淎drienne is really who helped me get to where I am today.鈥�
Byrd鈥檚 favorite part of her job is helping fund students鈥� education so they can reach their full potential. 鈥淲e have a lot of students who can鈥檛 afford to come to school. I think the high point would always be helping those students feel that they can accomplish their dreams, that we鈥檙e here to help them not just financially but with any type of support that they need,鈥� she shared.
The Foundation鈥檚 next big project will be raising funds to build an agriculture complex and lab, which is also funded in part by a donation from Bill and Melda Lamm. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to the ag community, and it鈥檚 very important to our programs here,鈥� Byrd said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about that.鈥�
Byrd also wants to see an increase in funding for the Bison Benefit scholarship, which awards up to four semesters of free tuition to high school graduates with at least six Career and College Promise credits.
After working at WCC for over a decade, Byrd says it feels like home now. 鈥淚 love 黑料正能量. The people are wonderful; the environment is great. I think we鈥檙e doing a lot of great things. The College is such a gem and a bright light in Wayne County. I would invite the community to come on campus to see what we do.鈥�
Her love for the College is what keeps her motivated to see it succeed.
鈥淚 am excited to assume the role of executive director of the Foundation and look forward to continuing the legacy of those who came before me,鈥� she said.
About 黑料正能量
黑料正能量 is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 11,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 240 college credit programs. WCC鈥檚 mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.