Director for Foundation at WCC announced
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 2, 2016 11:47 PM
Adrienne Northington, associate director of the Foundation at Wayne Community College, has been named its executive director, stepping into the role when her boss, Jack Kannan, retires Feb. 1.
The two have worked together for the last eight years, which makes for a more seamless transition.
"She actually has been running the arts and humanities with Kay Cooke for the last few years," Kannan said. "I'm just the driver now because they come up with these great programs.
"She's (Adrienne's) got a legacy of knowing the people in Wayne County. A lot of our funds come from individuals because we don't have the corporate companies that other institutions in larger areas do."
Mrs. Northington has been involved at the ground level, Kannan said, from such events as the golf tournament to the arts and humanities lineup and film festival, now in its sixth year.
"I just think its good for the Foundation," he says of his successor. "The last three years she's been bringing on new board members because we knew we were going to have a transition with me leaving."
Mrs. Northington will be the third executive director for the Foundation, she said.
"JoAnn Bruce was the first when it started in 1986 and Lillian Bland was the first chairman of the board," she said.
Mrs. Northington's father, Lindsay Warren, had also been affiliated with the college, helping to draft its first by-laws. So her familiarity with the program's history is virtually genetic -- she grew up in the community, graduating from Goldsboro High School.
"We moved back in 1989," she says of her own family. "It's been home. We raised our family here."
Prior to being hired eight years ago as administrative assistant, she had worked at her church, St. Stephen's Episcopal.
"I ran all the children's programs and youth programs, as Christian education director," she said. "I was looking for a change.
"It just so happened an opening came up (at WCC). I had already been planning a lot of events, programs for the church."
The hire proved to be a good fit for the mother of three grown daughters.
"Jack and I have had a great working relationship. We have been a really good team," she said. "I will miss that but I'm looking forward to looking at ways, I'm real open to new ways for development. I want to learn all that's going on in the college.
"One of my first priorities is to get around and see what all the needs are in the college. Jack and I are going to make or rounds before he retires, see more of our friends."
The term of endearment for the program's donors is in line with Kannan's philosophy, she says,
"We're all about friend-building," she said. "As Jack has said, too, that's one of the great assets. The arts and humanities has been great for building friends for the Foundation, and seeing our campus, the college is a great asset to our county."
In addition to Mrs. Northington, the Foundation staff also includes Emily Byrd, responsible for marketing and donor relationships. While she is out on maternity leave, the role is being filled by Diane Belmont.
The first order of business with the personnel change will be to hire her own replacement, Mrs. Northington said.
"We're already doing a lot of programs but I have got some new ideas. It's not like you can go in there and change everything right away," she said. "We do so much out in the community but our focus is our students. They really come first and the faculty, helping our faculty with needs that they have. So it's a challenge, focusing on college events and community events.
"But we're poised, right now we're going to have a really banner year."
Plans are already in the offing for the arts and humanities programs, which kick off again in January, followed by the film festival in February and fundraising efforts which include the annual golf tournament.
Mrs. Northington is looking forward to building on the Foundation's rich history.
"I have watched it grow. We have worked it together," she said of herself and Kannan. "I know what needs to be done, I know the donors, I know the program, the faculty and staff.
"I'm ready for the challenge. I'm excited about it."