Stacy Buff, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development at McDowell Tech, just completed his first full month as the new president of the North Carolina Community College Adult Educators Association, a group composed of continuing education and workforce development instructors, administrators and support staff in the North Carolina Community College System. He is the 58th president in the Association’s history, succeeding Renita D. Allen Dawson, Vice-President of Workforce Continuing Education Services and Community Engagement at Wayne Community College.
“I truly enjoy serving on the North Carolina Community College Adult Educators Association Board of Directors and look forward to leading this group over the next two years,” said Buff. He was first elected to the board in 2019 as one of two senior continuing education representatives, and in 2020, he was elected to serve as president-elect for the Association. He assumed his new role as president on January 1st of this year.
“I am honored to be given this opportunity and will strive to continue to build upon the great organization that those before me have created,” he said. “As we move forward in 2023, it is my goal to update our association website, bring back our quarterly newsletter and build upon engagement with all of our members across the state’s 58 community colleges.”
“Our association will also serve as your catalyst to the North Carolina Community College System Office,” he told the Association members. “We have already re-initiated regional Senior Continuing Education Administrators meetings and have scheduled 2023 regional meetings.
There is still much work to be done, but I know that your association board of directors is up to the challenge. Again, I look forward to serving as your NCCCAEA president for 2023-2024.”
About the NC Community College Adult Educators Association
According to the group’s website, the NC Community College System Adult Educator’s Association was established in 1965 with Fodie Hodges of Lenoir Community College serving as the group’s first president. Since its establishment, the association has remained the premiere organization representing North Carolina’s community college adult educators in continuing education, workforce development, customized industry training, small business education, college and career readiness, public safety education, and human resource development training.
The Association provides leadership for the advancement of adult education in North Carolina; to vigorously promote the concept of continued, lifelong learning for all citizens; to promote sound management practices in the areas of the adult education curriculum, instructor training, certification, accreditation, and permanent record-keeping; and to encourage quality work performance and professionalism by all adult educators.
Full membership is open to full-time or part-time continuing education instructors, administrators, and support staff employed in the North Carolina Community College System. Associate, and honorary memberships are also available.
As president of the group, Buff will lead the Association’s board of directors, who are responsible for adopting policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure the continuing responsible and effective operation of the Association.
McDowell Tech Leadership
McDowell Tech has taken on an increasing leadership role with NCCCAEA. Currently, Buff is joined on the Association board by another McDowell Tech employee, Tabitha Buff (no relation), who serves as a member-at-large representative on the board.
Also serving as a standing member of the board is a former McDowell Tech employee, Barbara Boyce, who currently serves as Interim Associate Vice-President of Workforce and Continuing Education for the NC Community College System. While at McDowell Tech, Boyce served as Director of Human Resources Development.
About Buff
From 1993 until 2011, Buff held progressively responsible positions in law enforcement in Western North Carolina and throughout the state, working with Morganton Department of Public Safety, Burke County Sheriff’s Office, NC State Attorney General’s Office and the NC Division of Motor Vehicles: License and Theft Bureau. During that time, Buff also held teaching appointments at both McDowell Technical Community College and Western Piedmont Community College in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Training programs.
In 2011, Buff was named the Program Director/Administrator of Law Enforcement Training and Emergency Management Training at McDowell Tech, a position he held until 2018 when he was named Dean of Career and Technical Education, a position he held until his current appointment as Associate Vice-President for Workforce Development.
As Associate Vice-President, Buff has primary responsibility for all targeted aspects of Workforce Education, including:
- Work-Based Learning
- Industry Engagement
- Emergency Medical Science Training Programs
- Fire and Rescue Programs
- Basic Law Enforcement Training
- Small Business Center
- College and Career Readiness and Human Resources Development
- Adult Basic Education and Adult Secondary Education
Professionally, Buff has served on a number of boards and professional associations over the years, including:
- North Carolina Community College Adult Educators Association—Board of Directors, President Elect and President
- NC Private Protective Services Board—a NC Senate Appointment—Screening Committee Chair
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators—Member
- McDowell County Workforce Pipeline—Chair
- Region C Workforce Board—Member
- McDowell Chamber of Commerce—Board of Directors, Executive Officer, Chair
- Workforce Development Leadership Committee, NC Department of Community Colleges
- National Association of Workforce Development Professionals—Member
- Association of Career and Technical Educators—Member
- NC Association for Career and Technical Education—Member
- Freedom Life Ministries—Board of Directors
- NC Community College System Office—Performance Measures Review Committee
- Rotary International of Marion—Member
Buff holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Western Piedmont Community College (1993), a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Lees McCrae College (1999), a Master’s Degree in Higher Education, University and College Leadership from Appalachian State University (2018), and an Educational Specialist Degree, University and College Leadership from Appalachian State University (2020). He anticipates completing his Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Appalachian State University later this year.
The Endgame
“We are delighted to have Stacy step into the leadership role as NCCCAEA president for the next two years,” said Dr. Brian S. Merritt, MTCC President. “One of our goals at McDowell Tech is to train and develop strong leaders and administrators who can help shape our college and influence our System, and who help us carry out our mission to promote excellence in workforce and continuing education as a means to grow businesses and industries that pay family-sustaining wages and grow our state’s economy. I am confident that Stacy’s track record of creative workforce solutions and his energy and enthusiasm will serve the Association well moving forward.”
