Greene, Austin Join RichmondCC Board of Trustees

There will be two new faces at the October meeting for the Richmond Community College Board of Trustees. Jennifer S. Greene of Hamlet and Jerry L. Austin Jr. of Rockingham will be filling two vacant spots on the board.

“We are excited to have these two new members on the Board of Trustees and the knowledge and expertise they will be bringing to the board,” Dr. Dale McInnis, RichmondCC president, said. “They both have deep roots in our community and have a passion for serving. I look forward to working with them and growing the impact that Richmond Community College has on the communities it serves.”

Jennifer Greene

Greene has been in the healthcare field for almost 30 years, but she said looks forward to serving as a Trustee for the College and getting involved in education.

Greene is a pharmacist for Mabry Drug, which her father owns in downtown Hamlet.

“I wanted to get more involved in the community and I thought this was a good way for me to become involved in a new aspect of the community. I’ve been involved in the medical side of the community for many years, but I never been involved in education in our county,” said Greene, who is a graduate of Richmond Senior High School. “I hope to contribute new ideas in areas of healthcare such as with the nursing program or some of the new programs involving healthcare.”

She is also interested in the growth of the College’s dual enrollment program for high school students.

Greene graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and worked as a pharmacist in Greenville for eight years before returning home to join her father in his pharmacy business before he retired.

She and her husband, Jeff, have five children.

“I look forward to working with the current board members and the College’s president. I think we will all be able to accomplish great things working together — all coming from different aspects of the community,” Greene said.

Greene was appointed to the board by the Richmond County Commissioners.

Jerry Austin

Austin said he looks forward “being part of a team that understands the importance of maintaining a great college in our community.”

Austin, who serves as the Director of Solid Waste/Recycling/Water Maintenance Departments for Richmond County, also begins his first term on the RichmondCC Board of Trustees this fall.

“Workforce development programs are vital to the students career success and I'm excited to be a part of and contribute to the future growth of both students and RichmondCC,” he said.

Austin is a 1988 graduate of Richmond Senior High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1992.

Austin applauds the proactivity of the college’s leaders to grow and add programs that prepare students for today’s job market. He said this is vital for the continued success of the College.

“I feel as if the sky is the limit for RichmondCC, as student growth continues to expand as well as workforce development programs,” he added.

Austin and his wife of 18 years, Michelle, have two sons and a daughter.

Austin was appointed to the board by the governor.