Dr. Forest Mahan is the new vice president of academic affairs at Northeastern Technical College.  He is seen here preparing to teach a history course using the college’s distance learning technology.  This technology makes it possible for students to attend class from the college’s community campuses in Cheraw, Pageland, Bennettsville and Dillon

September 1, 2008
New VP of Academic Affairs Named at NETC

Northeastern Technical College recently announced that Dr. Forest Mahan has been selected to serve as vice president for academic affairs at the college.

Mahan joined the South Carolina Technical College system in 1996 and since 2006 he served as dean of arts and humanities at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCTC).  He replaces Sandra Barbour, who retired this summer as vice president for instruction after 31 years of service at NETC.

As the vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern Technical College Mahan will be responsible for the professional development and support of NETC’s faculty, curriculum development and delivery and overall management of the college’s divisions of instruction and continuing education.

Mahan comes to NETC after almost 13 years at OCTC, where he served as a history instructor and later advanced to the dean position. He served as president of the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) in 2004-2005 and as past president from 2005-2007.  He was chosen as Campus Educator of the Year at OCTC in 2000 and was named Educator of the Year in 1998 and 2000 by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.  He was nominated for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Award in 2000.

“I’m very happy to be in Cheraw because I was raised in a small town and I know how much a technical college can benefit the local community,” said Mahan, who will reside in Cheraw.  “I’m especially looking forward to working with our faculty to continue expanding upon the strong academic and professional foundations we provide to our students and the communities we serve.”

A native of, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Mahan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston in 1993, a Master of Arts from University of South Carolina in 1995 and a Ph. D in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina in 2008.  He was also among the first group of South Carolina Technical College System employees to graduate from the University of South Carolina Certificate in Higher Education Leadership program, a program designed to identify and cultivate leaders for the South Carolina Technical College System.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Mahan on our administration team,” said Dr. Ron Bartley, president of Northeastern Technical College.  “He brings a new level of energy to the team that will add even more value to the relationships we have with our students and the academic programs we provide to them.”