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Lucia Zapata Griffith, Chris Paterson appointed, and Arthur Griffin reappointed to Central Piedmont Board of Trustees
Lucia Zapata Griffith, CEO and founding principal of Metro Landmarks Construction and Metro Landmarks Architecture; and Chris Paterson, president/CEO and board director of Carolina Complete Health, have been appointed to the Central Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees. Arthur Griffin Jr., community leader and retired senior vice president for McGraw-Hill Education, has been reappointed to the board.
Lucia Zapata Griffith was appointed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Board, with her four-year term running through June 2026. She founded and has led Metro Landmarks Construction and Metro Landmarks Architecture since 1996. Prior to then, she was a partner and principal architect with AR&D. She also is the co-founder and owner of Poplar, a restaurant located in the Morrison House, a historic landmark in downtown Charlotte. Her other community involvement includes serving as a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, and as a board member for Foundation for the Carolinas, Levine Museum of the New South, Circle de Luz, and as an advisory committee member for the Bechtler Museum.
Chris Paterson was appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and his term also will run through June 2026. Paterson, who holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Ohio State University, has worked for the Centene Corporation and its subsidiaries since 2009. Prior to his current leadership role with Carolina Complete Health, he served as community affairs officer and vice president. Before then he was the president, CEO and board director of Sunshine Health. His current service on other boards includes those of Carolina Complete Health Plan, the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina, and Care4Carolina Business Advisory Council.
Arthur Griffin was reappointed by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners for another four-year term running through June 2026. Griffin has chaired the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and served 17 years on the CMS Board. During this period, he served as a member of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Advisory Committee (NAEP); guest lecturer at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education; University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education; and resident faculty member of the Texas Institute for School Board Members. He was a member with distinction on the Executive Committee of the Council of the Great City Schools and Steering Committee member of the Council of Urban Boards of Education.
“We are happy to welcome Lucia Zapata Griffith and Chris Paterson to Central Piedmont’s Board of Trustees. Both bring expertise and professional knowledge that will be invaluable to the board. As the college begins work on a new facilities master plan and continually evaluates its health careers programs for possible expansion, their contribution and counsel will be appreciated,” said Central Piedmont president Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer.
“We are delighted and fortunate to have Arthur Griffin for another term on the board. He understands well the college’s mission in the community and always champions our students and how the college might serve them better. He continues to encourage our efforts to serve as Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s primary workforce development partner,” Deitemeyer added.
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Central Piedmont and Wingate Partner to Launch Gateway to Wingate Program
Central Piedmont Community College and Wingate University announced today the launch of the Gateway to Wingate program – a new pathway to a bachelor’s degree for Central Piedmont students that will expand college access.
Wingate University and Central Piedmont have entered into an agreement to improve transfer student access and success through a collaborative baccalaureate degree-completion program. The agreement is designed to give academically qualified Central Piedmont students a seamless admissions process, high-quality academic advising, and affordable access to a baccalaureate degree program at Wingate. Central Piedmont students can enter the program as soon as the start of the 2022 fall semester in August. A separate agreement provides a pathway for qualified Central Piedmont students to enter Wingate’s Doctorate of Pharmacy program, which has facilities in Wingate and in Hendersonville, N.C.
“We are excited and honored to announce this public-private partnership, knowing it will be a great benefit to Central Piedmont students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “We are thrilled to offer this option and pathway to our students who will grow and thrive at Wingate, where they will enjoy smaller class sizes, superb advising, excellent teaching, and a supportive campus community.
“At the same time, this transfer pathway is a wonderful example of higher education partners in the Charlotte region working together to broaden access to a bachelor’s degree and greater opportunities beyond,” Deitemeyer added.
Gateway to Wingate students who complete an Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Arts (AA), or Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) at Central Piedmont with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.50, and are in good academic standing, will be guaranteed admission to Wingate University.
When enrolled, Gateway to Wingate students will receive access to Student Success Services, collaborative academic advising, collaborative financial aid counseling, collaborative career counseling, and long-term planning for admission and preparation for Wingate University graduate programs, free of charge. Gateway to Wingate students also are eligible for the Gateway Scholarship. Gateway Scholarship recipients will pay no more than $2,500 per year in tuition at Wingate.
“Our state needs two million people with postsecondary degrees or certificates by 2030, and that won’t happen unless colleges of all stripes work together,” said Dr. Rhett Brown, president of Wingate University. “That’s why we couldn’t be more pleased to have this opportunity to work with Central Piedmont to break down barriers — whether cost, transferability or time-to-degree — so students get the support they need to prepare for the careers they want. We look forward to opening the door for associate-degree holders to build on the success they’ve already achieved at Central Piedmont.”
Since 2018, more than 80 Central Piedmont students have transferred to Wingate. Both institutions expect this number to grow significantly with the launch of the Gateway to Wingate program.
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College hosts representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On July 15, Judee Badibanga, a special adviser to the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in charge of poverty alleviation, visited Central Piedmont along with several of his associates to tour the college’s Shaw Advanced Technology Center, located on Central Campus.
Dr. Alain Miatudila, associate dean of engineering, led the small group of international leaders and managers on a tour of the facility, home to:
- Mechatronics and Automation Labs
- Virtual Reality (VR) Labs
- Engineering FabLab (fabrication lab)
- CNC Machining Lab
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Labs
- 13 Computer Labs
- 11 Specialized Equipment Labs
The DRC team’s visit was one of several it’s made with American business leaders and educational institutions while in the U.S., as it strives to learn how the DRC can lift its people out of poverty using education, investments, and sound governance.
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College named Metallica Scholars Initiative recipient for fourth-consecutive year
For the fourth-consecutive year, Central Piedmont Community College was selected to participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative and receive $10,000 in funding to support its career and technical education programs.
Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative was created in 2018 to fundamentally improve the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars.
Central Piedmont will continue to use the grant funds – in addition to a $10,000 matching gift from the Central Piedmont Foundation – to provide direct support for students enrolled in its healthcare career programs who need financial assistance to complete their studies and become licensed healthcare professionals. The goal of the initiative is to ensure all graduating healthcare students have funding to pay for their licensure/certification exams so they can quickly enter the workforce fully licensed/certified.
“The Metallica Scholars program has proven to provide significant resources for community college students looking to learn the skills needed for today’s workforce,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “We are honored to partner with the All Within My Hands Foundation to continue to expand this opportunity for community colleges and their students.”
Learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative at Central Piedmont.
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Associate Degree in Nursing program achieves highest three-year pass rate in the state
Central Piedmont had the highest three-year pass rate in the state -- 98 percent -- along with Alamance Community College, for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. The state pass rate average is 90 percent and the national pass rate is 82 percent.
Central Piedmont's nursing program is the oldest nursing program in the N.C. Community College System and has graduated more than 3,000 students since its inception in 1965.
According to the North Carolina Board of Nursing, "A nursing program leading to an associate degree is generally two years in length and is offered by a college that awards associate and/or applied science degrees. The nursing curriculum includes classroom and clinical experiences for patients across the lifespan in hospital, long term care, and community settings.Graduates of approved associate/applied science programs earn a college degree and are eligible to apply to take NCLEX-RN. A Registered Nurse license is awarded upon successful "Pass" on NCLEX and satisfaction of other licensure requirements."
Learn more information about our Christa A. Overcash Associate Degree in Nursing at cpcc.edu/nursing.
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Parr Center opens, features new library location and theater
Central Piedmont is excited to announce that the Parr Center, its new hub of student life on Central Campus, has opened its doors!
The 183,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was built with Mecklenburg County bonds and other funds and was designed by Morris Berg and Moody Nolan Architects, with construction management services provided by Rodgers and R.J. Leeper Construction. It is the largest building constructed in the 59-year history of the college.
The new facility features:
- the Hagemeyer Library, a 21st-century library including a maker space, podcasting and green screen rooms, and abundant study spaces, both inside and outdoors;
- a Student Union, with Welcome Center, Admissions, Students Services, Testing Center, Advising Services, Student Engagement, Mentoring & Coaching programs, and International programs;
- Academic Success Center;
- a theater with seating for 450;
- the Dove Art Gallery;
- student commons with a collaborative stair;
- food services, featuring Catalyst Coffee Bar, rotating grab-n-go items, and a dining area;
- multiple outdoor/rooftop terraces;
- six multipurpose rooms;
- collaboration/group-study rooms – available for use by students, faculty, and staff; and
- redeveloped quad space, designed for outdoor programming.
“With its prominent location on Elizabeth Avenue, the Parr Center is destined to become the new front door to Central Campus and its signature building,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president, Central Piedmont. “We can’t wait for students to take advantage of this new college resource, designed to transform the way we serve our students and help them achieve their academic and professional goals.”
The Parr Center, named for college benefactors Wilton L. and Mary W. Parr and their generous support of Central Piedmont and its students over many years, is located on the footprint of two previous college structures – the Terrell Building and the Hagemeyer Learning Resource Center. The Parr Center’s positioning allowed the college to expand the size of the main quad and provides striking new architecture along Elizabeth Avenue, the main street through Central Campus.
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Central Piedmont offering new certificate program in massage therapy
Central Piedmont Community College will launch a nine-month, non-degree Massage Therapy Certification program on June 27, through its continuing education division.
The certification program will offer students a hands-on education and extensive training in therapeutic and medical massage techniques to prepare them to sit for and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), a license all professional massage therapists must earn to legally practice their craft in 49 of the 50 states across the country.
“Our massage therapy certificate program is an attractive career path for individuals interested in securing a healthcare-related position, in a short amount of time, that offers an earning potential of $42,750 a year,” said Roschella Stephens, associate dean, therapy and acute care division at Central Piedmont. “This program also will be the least expensive massage therapy program in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, which aligns well with the college’s mission to provide an affordable education to all.”
Sixteen students are expected to be in the program’s first cohort this summer. During the program, they’ll learn about the fundamentals of massage therapy, anatomy, physiology, and advanced modalities in the field, and have the opportunity to engage in 114 hours of hands-on training through the program’s built-in clinical rotation.
For more information about the new certification program in massage therapy at Central Piedmont, including its program requirements, class days/times, course sequencing, and more, email us or visit Healthcare Continuing Education.
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WBTV Story: CMS student already living his dream as mechanic
Omar Cruz is not only a student at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, he’s also a student at Central Piedmont.
Thanks to CMS’ apprenticeship program and a partial scholarship from Central Piedmont, Omar currently attends both schools through the college’s Career & College Promise Dual Enrollment program, an initiative that gives qualified high-school-age students the opportunity to get a jumpstart on their career or college education while still in high school — tuition free.
Each morning, from 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Omar can be found at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, and in the afternoons, he’s working under the hood of a car at Mecklenburg Automotive and Collision Center, gaining the valuable hands-on experience he’ll need to pursue his dream career as a Advanced Certified Expert (ACE) certified technician.
The amazing part of Omar’s story is he’s only a teenager. At 17, he’s already earned two certifications and a license from Central Piedmont, will graduate in mid-June from Phillip O. Berry with a diploma from CMS, and begin Central Piedmont this fall.
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Central Piedmont to open eye clinic June 15
Thanks to a collaboration between Lions Services, the local ophthalmic community, and Central Piedmont Community College, the college will open an eye clinic in its Leon Levine Health Sciences building, located on its Central Campus, on June 15. The clinic will provide quality eye health care to Central Piedmont students and Charlotte community members who are in need.
Lions Services, a not-for-profit organization renowned for offering free vision exams and glasses to those within the community who needed financial assistance, closed its eye clinic on March 1, 2022, after more than 25 years of service.
Recognizing a need for local individuals to continue to have access to affordable eye care and prescription glasses, Central Piedmont’s Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program will assume the role of Lions Services’ eye clinic within Charlotte-Mecklenburg and open an eye clinic this spring. The clinic will offer a variety of services, including comprehensive eye exams and eye glasses at no cost.
“We’re honored to fill the eye health care void created by the closing of Lions Services’ eye clinic earlier this year,” said Kathleen Rodgers, program chair for Central Piedmont’s Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program. “It’s proven that access to affordable eye care allows all members of the population – from children to senior citizens – to thrive and enjoy an improved quality of life. As Charlotte’s community college, local residents rely on us to provide them with accessible services. Our new eye clinic will give us the opportunity to continue this tradition.”
Lions Services is donating all of its eye equipment and supplies to Central Piedmont for its use. In addition, ophthalmic community members who donated their time and energy to providing eye care services at Lions Services eye clinic, will begin volunteering at Central Piedmont’s eye clinic when it opens June 15. The college’s Ophthalmic Medical Personnel students and faculty will also provide clinical services.
“We are so fortunate that our eye clinic patients will benefit from the vast knowledge and expertise of Charlotte’s experienced eye care professionals who previously served at Lions Services” said Rodgers. “In addition to our patients receiving the quality care they deserve, the clinic will give our Ophthalmic Medical Personnel students a valuable clinical opportunity as well. The initiative is truly a win-win for all involved.”
“We are very appreciative for this commitment by Central Piedmont to ensure continued eye care for Charlotte’s citizens in need. Hundreds of Charlotteans will benefit each month from this service,” said Dr. David Ugland, a retired ophthalmologist and former volunteer at Lions Services’ eye clinic. “As a volunteer ophthalmologist at Lions, I was reminded with each exam of the positive personal and community impact of the clinic. I am grateful that Central Piedmont will continue to provide this valuable service.”
Central Piedmont’s Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program is currently accepting applications for the fall 2022 semester. To learn more, please visit our webpage or email Kathleen Rodgers.
To make a donation in support of Central Piedmont's new eye clinic, please contact the Central Piedmont Foundation at 704-330-6869.
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TowneBank commits $300,000 gift to Central Piedmont’s ACT program
TowneBank has made a $300,000 gift commitment to Central Piedmont Community College to support its Accelerated Career Training (ACT) program. Launched in 2018, the program seeks to address the economic mobility challenges many under-employed adults in Mecklenburg County encounter by providing them with short-term training tracks, no-cost job training, and the support services they need to become work-ready in as little as seven to 15 weeks.
Each learning track prepares students for jobs that are available now in Mecklenburg County. They include:
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) / Truck Driving
- HVAC
- Nurse Aide and Phlebotomy
- Information Technology Fundamentals
- Culinary Apprentice
- Early Childhood Education
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
All ACT students are enrolled concurrently in career readiness classes, receive academic and career counseling, attend “Working Smart: Soft Skills for Workplace Success” classes, and have access to a variety of Central Piedmont’s other student services. All program costs, including tuition, fees, books, and services are covered for each student as well.
“Our thanks are extended to TowneBank for investing in our ACT program which is designed to help local residents step up from a job and into a career,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “Central Piedmont is in the life transformation business and this gift reflects our mission by equipping countless individuals with the skills and knowledge required to lift themselves out of poverty and obtain a family sustaining career.”
As an added benefit, ACT students earn college credits in many of the tracks. These credits will give them a head start should they choose to pursue additional, advanced training or a two-year associate degree.
“The Accelerated Career Training program at Central Piedmont is making an immediate impact on people and families in greater Charlotte,” said Bob Aston, TowneBank executive chairman. “The program enables underemployed and unemployed individuals to take the next steps toward a brighter future through dedicated career tracks, making a lasting impact on the graduate, their family, and the entire community. With our focus on serving others and enriching lives, TowneBank sees a natural fit in supporting this transformational program and helping sustain it into the future.”
The college works with local agencies to identify candidates for the ACT program. Visit the ACT program's web page to learn more.