Empowering Educators: The Central Hub’s Role in Professional Development for Community Colleges
The Central Hub, one of four Teaching and Learning Hubs within the North Carolina Community College System, stands as a pivotal resource for community college employees striving to enhance student success both inside and outside the classroom.
Established in 2021 through a collaboration between the NC Community College System, the NC Student Success Center, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, and Achieving the Dream, the Hubs aim to foster student success through faculty-led communities of practice grounded in research and tailored to the specific needs of North Carolina community college educators.
Colleges in the Central Hub include:
- Alamance Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Durham Technical Community College
- Edgecombe Community College
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Halifax Community College
- Johnston Community College
- Nash Community College
- Piedmont Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- Vance-Granville Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Wilson Community College
“Each Hub is led by two co-directors, both of whom bring years of experience as faculty members. These co-directors collaborate with local faculty and campus leaders to develop program content that incorporates both local insights and national best practices,” said Monique Colclough, Ph.D., Belk Center director of programs and initiatives. “Through their efforts, Hub co-directors have fostered a cross-state peer community that shares valuable questions and innovative ideas.”
The Central Hub is led by co-directors Dr. Jaime McLeod, an instructional designer at Central Carolina Community College, and Dr. Jason Moldoff, a communications instructor at Durham Technical Community College.
“The skills that instructors and community college staff need are constantly changing and require frequent upgrading and diverse perspectives. Collaboration with attendees, learning leaders, and other Hub Co-Directors is essential to generating a positive impact for our students,” McLeod said.
Before stepping into his co-director role, McLeod presented for the Central Hub, encouraging faculty to adopt a growth mindset.
“I received a lot of positive feedback from the session, and it is a subject that is foundational for promoting professional development,” he said. “Staff and faculty must first realize and embrace the importance of their personal growth, and this embrace of the growth mindset provides the motivation to learn, grow, and apply.”
Reflecting on the initiatives aimed at enhancing faculty expertise, Moldoff expressed his enthusiasm for the ongoing professional development efforts.
“We have the opportunity to satisfy the ever-curious minds of our community college faculty with meaningful and transformative professional development, and I’m excited to be a part of that process,” Moldoff said. “I recently attended both the System Conference and Adult Learners Conference, and I was so impressed with the work my fellow Co-directors were doing. They have welcomed me and supported my vision for the Central Hub from our first meeting.”
The Central Hub provides a variety of professional development opportunities, including an “Insight to Impact” series, which features eight sessions—four in the fall and four in the spring. This series equips faculty with valuable insights into data from various campus and state resources and supports their use of data for continual improvement in teaching and learning.
“The Hubs reflect our commitment to faculty-driven professional development that is focused on the specific needs of North Carolina’s educators,” said Dr. Andrea Crowley, Executive Director of the NC Student Success Center. “This collaborative effort ensures that faculty and staff are equipped to meet the evolving needs of students and promote long-term success across our campuses.”
With its focus on collaboration, continuous learning, and data-driven decision-making, the Central Hub equips educators with the tools they need to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
See upcoming opportunities at the Central Hub.
