About Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer
Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer serves as the fourth president of Central Piedmont Community College, assuming the role in 2017. With more than 30 years of experience in community college systems across the southeast, Dr. Deitemeyer is a dedicated and transformative leader in higher education. Her professional journey is deeply rooted in her experience as a community college graduate, which underpins her unwavering commitment to student success.
Dr. Deitemeyer has positioned Central Piedmont to meet the evolving needs of its students, growing the college’s Foundation holdings from $45 million since 2017 to over $105 million. Under her leadership, Central Piedmont has experienced 11 semesters of consecutive growth, tripled annual scholarships for students to more than $4 million, and expanded programs, best-in-class learning facilities, and student services to meet the growing needs in Mecklenburg County.
Prior to Central Piedmont, Dr. Deitemeyer served as president of the College of the Albemarle in northeast N.C. During her tenure, she successfully established the college’s fourth campus, led capital construction and renovation plans for the multi-campus college, and built strategic philanthropic partnerships. Prior to this, she served as vice president of academic programs and services at Davidson Davie Community College in N.C. and as provost at Gateway Community and Technical College in Kentucky, where she positioned the institution to receive its regional accreditation. Dr. Deitemeyer began her academic career in Florida, where she served in expanding roles at both her alma maters – University of South Florida and Polk Community College, which provided a pathway to additional leadership roles across the southeast higher education system.
Dr. Deitemeyer is a prominent voice in higher education and actively contributes her expertise to local, state, and national boards and organizations. Locally, she serves on the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s Executive Committee, Charlotte Center City Partners Board of Directors and the Novant Health Greater Charlotte Board of Trustees (as Chair). At the state level, Dr. Deitemeyer plays an active role in the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. Nationally, she is often called upon for her thought leadership on policies impacting higher education.
She was named as the 2023 Charlotte Business Woman of the Year by Queens University and the recipient of the 2024 Leo M. Lambert Engaged Leader Award by North Carolina Campus Engagement. Dr. Deitemeyer has been named a Business North Carolina Power 100 List member in 2023, 2024, and 2025. These recognitions highlight her significant contributions to the community, extraordinary leadership in education and unwavering commitment to workforce development.
Dr. Deitemeyer’s leadership philosophy and dedication to community service ensure Central Piedmont continues to empower students, strengthen the region’s workforce, and foster economic growth in the greater Mecklenburg County area and beyond.