North Carolina Community College System President Jeff Cox Announces Retirement

At the start of this month, the President of the North Carolina Community College System, Dr. Jeff Cox, announced his plans to retire at the end of June 2026. Cox has led the 58-college system since 2023. By giving early notice of his plan to retire, Cox hopes to give the State Board adequate time to find a suitable replacement by July 1st, 2026.

“Serving as president of the North Carolina Community College System has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Dr. Cox. “As a first-generation college student from rural Alleghany County, I could never have imagined that one day I would lead the state’s community college system. Our colleges play a pivotal role in changing the lives of 600,000+ students every year. I’m so proud of the impact our colleges make every day, and I am honored to be a part of this system. I look forward to continuing this important work over the next year.”

During his tenure as system president, Cox focused on improving the economic mobility of students while aligning with the colleges’ programs to meet the labor market demands in high-wage, high-demand jobs. Cox oversaw the development and early implementation of Propel NC — a new business model for the community college system, focusing more attention on building sustainable funding for high-demand workforce sectors. Additionally, he focused on strengthening the partnership with K-12 schools, universities, and business and industry partners.

State Board of Community Colleges Chair Tom Looney praised Cox’s leadership and long-term impact.

“Dr. Cox stepped up at a critical moment and brought much-needed stability and experience to the system, serving with heart,” said Tom Looney, Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. “We thank him for his service and unwavering commitment to our colleges, students, and communities across North Carolina.”

The State Board of Community Colleges will outline a formal transition process in the months ahead.

Before serving as President, Dr. Cox was the president of Wilkes Community College for nine years, where he helped double student enrollment. Before this role, he served as the superintendent of Alleghany County Schools and in other roles in K-21 education across North Carolina. A native of Alleghany County, Cox holds degrees from Appalachian State University and UNC Charlotte and has served on several statewide commissions, including MyFutureNC and the Governor’s School Board of Governors.