KANNAPOLIS, NC, June 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to honor Carol S. Spalding, EdD, with inclusion in Who's Who in the World. An accomplished listee, Dr. Spalding celebrates many years' experience in her professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Spalding has distinguished herself as a leader in higher education and workforce development, serving as the president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Kannapolis, North Carolina, since 2008. In this role, she has set ambitious goals and executed strategic plans that have transformed the institution's impact on its community. Among her most notable achievements have been the successful passage of four bond issues, which provided critical resources for future growth and innovation on four campuses. Under her leadership, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College became a leading pilot site for a statewide enterprise resource planning project demonstrating the institution's expertise and commitment to the excellence in technology integration. The College's robust online program was honored as the best online program in 2026 by the national Instructional technology Council, an affiliated council of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Before her tenure at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Dr. Spalding served as the first president of the Open Campus at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, now Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) from 1986 to 2008. During this period, she was instrumental in expanding access to education through innovation in online development and fostering workforce programs that addressed the evolving needs of adult learners with a focus on associate degree completion for the US Navy. She also served as interim college president. Dr. Spalding's earlier roles at FSCJ included instructor, and coordinator of grant funded programs from 1975 to 1978. As the Director of Continuing Education between 1978 and 1986, she led various initiatives, such as developing a speaker series of noteworthy educators to speak on emerging issues and community engagement, inspiring both students and faculty with messages of resilience and local commitment.

Dr. Spalding's educational background has been foundational to her success. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of Louisville in 1971, a Master's Degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University, California, in 1986, and a Doctor of Education and educational leadership from Columbia University in New Your City in 2003. Additionally, she has held a certification as a Boat captain since 2015.

Dr. Spalding has been an active member of many professional and civic organizations, including the American Association of Community Colleges since 1980 and the North Carolina Community College President's Association since 2008. Her long-standing involvement with Rotary Club since the early 1990's further underscores her dedication to civic engagement. Dr. Spalding also held Leadership positions, including past chair of the national Association for Community Leadership Organizations (2000) and past president of the League of Women Voters of Jacksonville. Moreover, she held two terms on the board of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges and contributed to advancing instructional technology as a board member for the national Instructional Technology Council. Dr. Spalding considers one highlight of her career to be her volunteer work tide closely with her role at FSCJ leading Mayor Ed Austin's year long citywide visioning project with Leadership Jacksonville in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Spalding's creative projects include hosting and producing "Politics is Your Business", a new cable television program produced by the League of Women Voters from 1983 to 2008. The show fostered civic dialogue on policy issues affecting communities. Throughout her career, Dr. Spalding has been recognized for her expertise and her ability to build impactful partnerships across sectors. Mentorship has also played a significant role in shaping her world view and approach to leadership.

Among numerous accolades, Dr. Spalding has received national finalist awards for exemplary chief executive officer/board relationships and a finalist and the first place award for outstanding college/corporation partnerships from the American Association of Community Colleges in both 2025 and 2026. In recognition of her contributions to Rowan- Cabarrus Community College, the College's Board of Trustees, named the Dr. Carol S. Spalding Advanced Technology Center in her honor in 2021, marking a significant milestone for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Earlier, the College was recognized with a Partner of the Year award from the North Carolina Community College State Board in 2019 and was named President of the Year, and among other honors received Top Women in Business honors from the Charlotte Business Journal in 2010.

A hallmark of Dr. Spalding's legacy is her ability to cultivate talent within her teams, with several staff members under her guidance having advanced to become presidents at other community colleges or pursued high-level professional development opportunities nationwide. Looking ahead, she remains committed to supporting community colleges and fostering environments where others can thrive professionally, and personally. Dr. Spalding encourages those entering higher education administration or workforce development fields to remain open-minded about opportunities, learn continuously from every experience and balance perseverance with discernment.

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