Board of Trustees changes
Aug 9, 2024The Rockingham Community College Board of Trustees has bid farewell to one of its long-time members, who served for more than two decades, and welcomed a new member.
Thomas Schoolfield was appointed trustee in 2003. He served through June 2024, helping set policies during the tenures of three College presidents.
He was a strong advocate for the Connect NC Bond Referendum that brought $6.8 million to the College for facility renovations. He was an advocate for the passage of the quarter-cent sales tax in May 2018 that brought needed revenue for new construction and renovations to the College for addressing workforce issues in the county. In fact, he served as treasurer for the Citizens for the One-Fourth Cent Sales Tax to Benefit RCC, a bi-partisan committee in the community that led the effort to get the quarter-cent sales tax passed.
Schoolfield served on the Board of Trustees during numerous campus improvements including the renovation of the N. Jerry Owens, Jr. Health Sciences Building, the Industrial Technologies II Building for welding, the Advanced Technologies Building, the Whitcomb Student Center, the James Library, the Humanities Building, new biology and chemistry labs in the Science Building, a new Horticulture Building that also includes a new greenhouse, refurbishment of an old greenhouse and a new storage facility all to support a new degree program in Agribusiness Technology, improvements to the Gilliland Baseball Field, paving of the walking track, construction of a new outdoor exercise area, resurfacing of the tennis courts, and many other campus improvements; and most recently, the construction of the Center for Workforce Development.
“He’s been incredibly supportive of this college, and financial mind has just been incredible,” said RCC President Dr. Mark Kinlaw.
Schoolfield recalled former trustees W.B Apple Jr., Jack Webster, and Garland Rakestraw as “some of the best tutors you could possibly have had” as a new trustee. He encouraged current, more experienced trustees to share what they have learned with new board members.
“I think that makes a world of difference,” he said.
New and returning board members
With Schoolfield’s departure, the Board of Trustees welcomed Amy Brown, who took her oath of office on July 23.
A resident of Eden, Brown is market manager for First National Bank, covering Rockingham, Stokes, Guilford, and Alamance counties.
She continues to serve as president of the RCC Foundation and serves on the boards of Rockingham County Economic Development and Tourism, and Junior Achievement of the Triad. Also, she works with the Nussbaum Entrepreneurial Center. Her past roles include twice serving as president of Reidsville Rotary, serving on the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce board, and serving as an RCC Foundation board member and vice chair of multiple divisions.
In addition, the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners reappointed R. Scott Barham, and the N.C. Senate reappointed Elaine V. McCollum.
