College bids farewell to Dr. Kinlaw
Feb 28, 2025Rockingham Community College, the local community, family, friends and colleagues from near and far gathered on Feb. 18 to celebrate Dr. Mark Kinlaw’s retirement as the college president.
Dr. Kinlaw has led RCC for 10 years, and has been with the N.C. Community College system a total of 40 years.
RCC Board of Trustees Chair Randy Judkins headed to the podium first, to wish Kinlaw well.
“Much like in golf, leadership is not just about power, it’s about precision and patience ,playing with integrity. After years of dedicated service to Rockingham Community College, our esteemed president, Dr. Mark Kinlaw, is heading to the 19th hole for a well-earned retirement filled with fairways, friendships, and hopefully very few sand traps,” she said. “Having a steady hand, a sharp eye for opportunity, and an unwavering commitment to the long game, he has driven this college forward, never losing sight of the flag.
“As you enter this next chapter, Dr. Kinlaw, we hope that retirement brings the joy of long walks on the course, the satisfaction of a well-played round, and the freedom to take a few mulligans,” she said. “Thank you for your service to our college.”
RCC Foundation Executive Director Paul Farrar spoke in the absence of the Foundation chair. While he’s only been on the job a few weeks, he said the fact that everyone was so nice during his interviews speaks volumes about Dr. Kinlaw’s leadership.
While Sen. Phil Berger and Rep. Reece Pyrtle were unable to attend the celebration, they sent their congratulations in a short video, each thanking him for his service to North Carolina and RCC, and the work he’s done to advance the college. County Commissioners Chair Kevin Berger then presented Dr. Kinlaw with a certificate of acknowledgement on behalf of the state legislators.
County Manager Lance Metzler read a statement from County Economic Development Director Leigh Cockram.
“I met you in 2019, and you’ve been an incredible partner and collaborator, recognizing that strong workforce is the foundation of successful economic development. Your dedication to establishing the Workforce Development Center, securing state recognition for continuing education and certificate programs … and expanding college access in our high schools will leave an everlasting impact on Rockingham County for generations to come. I’m grateful for your leadership and friendship.”
Turning to his own thoughts, Metzler said he and Dr. Kinlaw had a good working relationship.
“Mark championed a lot of projects to improve the facilities and campus. We want to make sure we have a place to work and be a positive environment, and Mark did a great job here,” he said, adding that campus improvements attract large industries to the county. “It’s been an honor and pleasure to work with you, Mark. Godspeed.”
Sheila Regan, RCC’s vice president for Academic Affairs, fought off tears as she spoke about the colleague she’s known for 24 years and who brought her to RCC on his heels. They had worked in the same division at Robeson Community College.
“I told his neighbors before we got started today that this is the longest relationship I’ve ever been in in my life. Now I feel like we’re divorcing or something,” she said with a chuckle.
Regan said she admires in Dr. Kinlaw in many ways.
“He’s a man of faith, and his actions and demeanor speak to that. He’s a nice guy and is kind and humble and gives his team credit for the wins, and when we don’t quite get it right, he takes responsibility for that and supports us in correcting it. His leadership team trusts him because he listens. He supports and he leads with honesty and integrity,” she said. “Mark’s leadership style reflects his ability to manage both praise and criticism with a calm, common sense approach. He is not quick to react or make hasty decisions. He solicited his team’s input, contemplated, and made informed decisions.”
Regan touted Dr. Kinlaw’s work to get the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot in 2018.
“We have [the Center for Workforce Development] and equipment all over campus because we have a steady revenue stream. And that’s Mark’s business sense, his tenacity and vision. I think Mark’s legacy at this institution will be the transformation of our college campus grounds, the physical infrastructure under his leadership, renovations, new furniture, and lots of new equipment upgrades. He understands, and I think most importantly makes others understand, that the physical space is critical to student motivation and success.”
Regan said she has always appreciated Dr. Kinlaw’s commitment to maintaining a strong work-life balance, adding that he was a ‘girl dad’ before it was a thing. She said she has no regrets following him to Rockingham Community College.
“It’s been an absolute honor to be on this journey with you. Thank you,” she said to him.
On behalf of the faculty, Regan presented Dr. Kinlaw with a gift – a mixed-media architectural drawing of the Center for Workforce Development, the first commissioned piece by Fine Arts student John Hart, who aims for a career as a studio artist.
Charles Rakestraw, vice president of the RCC Board of Trustees, then presented a framed resolution to Dr. Kinlaw that highlighted his accomplishments in the last decade, and a check from the Trustees.
Dr. Kinlaw’s wife Julia said these 10 years went by fast for their family.
“We left our home where we lived our entire lives and set out for an adventure here in Rockingham County. We did not know what to expect. It has been 10 years full of learning, growth, new friends, new adventures, and experiences that we will cherish for years to come,” she said. “For it is in these moments when we step outside of our area of comfort and safety that we learn and grow. We love the Triad and look forward to continuing our journey here, and to continuing to support this local college in this community.”
On behalf of the Kinlaw family, she thanked the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, students, and the RCC Foundation for their support of her husband.
“He is certainly a man of integrity and grit with a heart of compassion and understanding, and is very deserving of this recognition. We are all very proud of him and the work is done here. His main goal has always been to do what is best for the students. He wanted this college to prosper, to excel. He wanted a place where you all would be proud to work and learn, and we feel he has certainly done all of these things and done them well,” said Julia Kinlaw. “We are proud of you, Mark, and we can’t wait to see what your next adventure brings for you as we will always be your source of support and encouragement. Congratulations.”
Dr. Kinlaw said the celebration in his honor was a bit overwhelming, and was surprised to see his neighbors, childhood friends, golf buddies, and even his college roommate.
“You’ve all played a part in helping me to be successful and to have a have a wonderful career. Whether you work here, or whether you’re in my past, you’ve all been supportive and I can’t thank you enough,” he said.
“We’ve accomplished a whole lot, and the state the college is in, it’s in a really good position going forward and it’s not because of me. I know that I’ve been in a leadership position but it is the faculty and staff here and the Board of Trustees and our Foundation and this community,” he said.
“I’ve worked with great people throughout my career and some of the very best people I’ve ever met in my life that get up to work every day for the right reasons, to try to help students and this college, Robeson Community College, and the high school where I was. I’ve been very fortunate to have been in good places where good people work hard and try to make a difference,” he said.
Dr. Kinlaw referenced one of Regan’s comments about life-work balance.
“I think I’ve gotten this part right. Julia and I grew up in Christian homes and we had fabulous parents. Faith and church were very important, and it still is. It kept me focused on what’s important. I never lived to work, I worked to live. I tell faculty and staff to take your vacation, spend time with your family,” he said.
He thanked his wife for being there for almost 37 years now, for keeping him grounded and focused on the right things.
Dr. Kinlaw said that in retirement, he still wants to work some, but will take his time. He looks forward to more traveling with his family, more time with family and friends, and of course, more golf.
“I look forward to watching RCC continue to grow and prosper. There are not many rural colleges in North Carolina that have the community support that this one does. We have a large Foundation and the quarter-cent sales tax, so the next president coming in really has some assets and so much support,” he said.
Dr. Kinlaw left those in attendance at his celebration with just two words that a Robeson Community College president always said when they ended a conversation: “Press on.”
~By Gerri Hunt, RCC Director of Public Information
