Dr. Zach Barricklow has accepted a new position as Associate Vice-President for Strategy and Rural Innovation at the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) Office. In this capacity, his responsibilities include supporting the implementation of the NCCCS Office’s strategic plan and leading the development of strategies and activities aimed at improving the performance of rural community colleges.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to have Dr. Zach Barricklow joining our North Carolina Community College System team to lead our efforts with our rural community colleges. Zach will make an immediate and profound impact on the System Office team’s capacity to support our rural colleges,” stated Dr. Jeff Cox, NCCCS President.
Dr. Barricklow is known for his dedication to the success of rural colleges, and he is expected to bring valuable knowledge and guidance to community colleges as they work to serve their communities effectively. For more than five years, he has been an integral part of the administrative team at Wilkes Community College (WCC), where he played a pivotal role in the development of the college’s most recent strategic plan. Under his leadership, WCC has seen improvements in student success and services designed to facilitate learning.
Dr. Barricklow’s vision also played a crucial role in the creation of NC Tech Paths. This initiative, while now a part of Wilkes Community College, continues to provide training and career opportunities to pursue high-demand, high-wage jobs in the digital economy. His background and experience make him well-suited for his new role at the North Carolina Community College System Office, where he will continue to positively impact the educational and economic development of the region. Dr. Barricklow will remain in Wilkes County with a remote workstation located at Wilkes Community College, and travel when needed to Raleigh and across the state. The transition to this new role will take place at the end of the year.