The Brunswick Community College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Gene Smith to be the next BCC president.

Trustees voted approval during their monthly meeting on Thursday.

Smith has been the vice president of academic and student services at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro since 2013. He served on Wayne Community College’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Leadership Team and Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee.

His span of control included oversight of 235 employees, a $22.6 million budget and 39 degree, 16 diploma and 83 certificate programs. In addition to academic programs, Smith was responsible for workforce development and continuing education programs.

He has served as instructor of biology, department chair of math and science, division chair of arts and sciences, director of special instructional projects, associate vice president of academic and student services and interim president, all at Wayne Community College.

In October Smith was elected president of the North Carolina Association of Community College Instructional Administrators during the association’s meeting in Raleigh. The mission of the NCACCIA is to support instructional leadership in the N.C. Community College System by promoting excellence in learning and instruction.

Smith is a member of a number of community college-related professional organizations and committees, including the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Structured Pathways, the North Carolina Community College System Curriculum Review Committee, the NCCCS Student Conduct and Title IX Advisory Council and the N.C. LIVE Open Educational Resources Advisory Committee. He completed the AACC Future Presidents Institute in 2017.

A native a native of Kenly, Smith received his bachelor of science in biology, master of science in biology and doctor of education in educational leadership, all from East Carolina University.

Smith has been a finalist for four other community college president jobs since 2017. In March 2017, he was one of four finalists for president of the College of The Albemarle. In November 2017, Smith was one of three finalists for president of Sampson Community College. In June 2018, Smith was one of three finalists for president of Edgecombe Community College. Earlier this month, Bladen Community College named him as one of four finalists for president.

Dr. Susanne H. Adams announced her retirement in February, effective in January 2019. She has been president since July 2011.

In its meeting in April, the board of trustees formed a search committee. Dr. Gene Steadman was the chairman. Other members of the committee were chairman Alan Holden and trustees Doug Terhune, Sheila Grady and Michael Norton.

All applicants—80 were received—were first screened by presidential search firm Executive Leadership Associates. Applications of 11 finalists were further screened by an advisory panel comprising four members of the BCC Board of Trustees, four staff members from the college and four at-large members of the community. The advisory panel recommended six semifinalists, and the board of trustees selected three to be interviewed.

The base salary, supported by the state, to be offered the president is $142,282, with the offer of supplements.