May 12, 2010
NETC Graduation is May 22

Northeastern Technical College will hold its 2010 Commencement Exercises at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at Cheraw High School in Cheraw.  The public is invited to attend.

Dr. Barry Russell, president of the South Carolina Technical College System will be the commencement speaker.  Russell, of Columbia, has served as president since January 2006 and will retire at the end of May.  

Prior to becoming president of the SC Technical College System, Russell served as president of Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC.  He has also served in positions in the North Carolina Community College System including president of Southwestern Community College and executive vice president and chief operation officer of the NC Community College System.  Russell began his career in the SC Technical College System at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC. 

At the state and local level, Russell serves on the boards of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, AdvanceSC, South Carolina Economic Developers Association and the South Carolina Workforce Investment Board.  He also serves on the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act Coordinating Council and recently served nationally on the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors where he chaired the Committee on Public Policy and Government Relations.

“I am tremendously proud of the work our system and Northeastern Technical College has contributed with several notable achievements during my tenure,” said Russell.  “They have generated remarkable increases in online enrollment and are also responsible for developing the first healthcare registered apprenticeship program in the state of South Carolina.  I look forward to celebrating these successes and the achievements of Northeastern Technical College students who are reaching their graduation goals.”