Beaufort CCC VP Completes Equity Coach Academy

Beaufort County Community College vice president of student services Dr. LaTonya Nixon completed training through the Equity Coach Academy at Guilford Technical College. The program was initiated by the North Carolina Community College System to help support colleges working to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into their plans and organizational structure. As an equity coach, Nixon will work with other community colleges across North Carolina to help institute new college-level plans. By having diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of its strategic plan, Beaufort CCC has made a strong commitment to making its motto of “You belong here!” a reality for all students.

One of the college’s strategic goals is to “enhance diversity in the student population and among faculty and staff and create a greater appreciation for the importance of diversity within the college culture.” To this end, the college has created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, chaired by Nixon, to have conversations about what these ideas mean and brainstorm ways to reduce barriers for students and employees or attract a more diverse community to campus.

“We have seen on campus that our students are more likely to ask questions, take initiative, and engage when they have people on staff who can relate to their lived experience or be open to listening to that experience,” said Dr. LaTonya Nixon. “I’m excited about this opportunity to be an equity coach because that is what the North Carolina Community College System is about. We are open-enrollment, inclusive institutions, and we need to look at how we build on this to make sure everyone feels like they belong here.”

“As an open-enrollment, public, community college, Beaufort works each day to provide educational opportunities designed to enhance economic and social mobility for the residents of our diverse service region. We are here to offer hope to this region and break the cycle of poverty in Eastern North Carolina,” wrote Dr. Dave Loope, Beaufort CCC president, in a statement about the college’s commitment to diversity and equity.