DR. RALPH SONEY NAMED VP OF CORPORATE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

DR. RALPH SONEY

JAMESTOWN, N.C. – Dr. Ralph Soney has been named vice president of Corporate and Continuing Education at Guilford Technical Community College, effective Aug. 1, 2014. Soney has been serving as interim vice president of Corporate and Continuing Education at GTCC since Aug. 20, 2013.

“Dr. Soney comes to GTCC with a multitude of experiences from his over 30 years in the North Carolina Community College system that range from his time as a faculty member, director of curriculum programs, chief academic officer, executive vice president and president that will be very beneficial to our college going forward,” said GTCC President Dr. Randy Parker.

“I share President Parker’s vision that we are America’s community college,” Soney said. “We try to be there for individuals, organizations and businesses wherever and however we can. My goal is to make sure that Corporate and Continuing Education is responsive, collaborative and on the cutting edge.”

GTCC’s Corporate and Continuing Education division serves approximately 27,000 students annually and encompasses a variety of areas at the college including personal enrichment courses, adult education, and business and industry training.

“There are thousands of jobs out there, but few people qualify because they do not have the skill set to do the job,” Soney said. “This is why the work of GTCC is so vital. We want to match employers, jobs and workers to each other. We are successful when our community is successful.”

In addition to Soney’s role as vice president of corporate and continuing education, he also will continue as division chair for aviation until a new chair is appointed. 

“Aviation is important to the Triad, which means we have to be very particular and specific in understanding what is needed and how we can be supportive as the lead training operation in the state and the region,” Soney said.

Soney spent 30 years in various leadership roles in the North Carolina Community College System. Before coming to GTCC last year, he served as president of Roanoke-Chowan Community College in Ahoskie, N.C. for seven years as well as vice president of Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C., where he also served as chief academic officer of a curriculum program and continuing education program. He also was vice president for instruction at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, N.C. as well as dean of general education, human services and agriculture/natural sciences at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, N.C.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Soney is a graduate of Appalachian State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in psychology and history. He received a doctorate in higher education/adult and community college education from North Carolina State University.

Guilford Technical Community College is the third largest of 58 institutions in the NC Community College System. GTCC serves more than 40,000 students annually from four major campuses and three specialized centers. Learn more at www.gtcc.edu.

- A Press Release