Veteran educator chosen as next president of Columbia college

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Midlands Technical College college’s seventh president, Gregory D. Little, will replace Ronald L. Rhames on July 1.

The MTC Commission selected Little after four finalists visited campuses and participated in open forums in late March, according to a news release. Little is a veteran educator with almost three decades of experience across the Carolinas.

“Faculty, staff and stakeholders in the MTC community provided generous and valuable feedback to commissioners,” MTC Commission Chair Sandra Jackson said in the release. “That input was instrumental in our decision to hire Dr. Little, and we are confident that he will guide the college in future success.”

Rhames in August announced his retirement plans. He was a student at Midlands Technical College before beginning his 34-year career as an employee, the last nine as president.

Related story: MTC president expresses pride in college’s legacy

Little goes to Midlands Technical Collage from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education where he was acting executive director/president. Other previous roles include vice president for strategic partnerships and innovation for the South Carolina Technical College System and superintendent for Mount Airy City Schools in North Carolina and Lexington County School District One in South Carolina.

He comes from a family of educators and has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master’s and doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Midlands Technical College is the second school this week in the South Carolina Technical College System to announce its next president. Trident Technical College will have its first new leader since 1991 when Vicky Wood takes over the role from Mary Thornley, who brings her 50-year career to a close.

Related story: Trident Technical College chooses new president

The Association of Community College Trustees assisted the MTC Commission’s search committee in finding Little. In all, 58 candidates from 30 states and a foreign country were vetted for the post, the release said.

Midlands Technical College is a six-campus community college serving Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties.