A native of Caldwell County, with 30 years of community college experience, Dr. Mark Poarch has served as president of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute since 2016. Prior to his appointment as president, Dr. Poarch served as Associate Vice President of Student Services, Vice President of Student Services and Executive Vice President at CCC&TI. His career in higher education began as an admissions counselor at Brevard College and later at nearby Catawba Valley Community College, where he served in various roles.

Dr. Poarch’s tenure is highlighted by the addition of new academic programs, several large construction projects and campus improvements, an emphasis on workforce development, the signing of new university and community partnerships, expansion of CCC&TI athletics, and the awarding of millions of dollars in new grant funding. Among the projects he’s most proud of are: construction of a new Student Services Center on the Watauga Campus, offering the only full-service health clinic of its kind on a community college campus, the addition of baseball and softball, and construction of two vital work-force development projects – an Electrical Lineworker indoor training facility and the Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies, both of which were made possible with public and private funding.

Dr. Poarch earned his Doctor of Education and Education Specialist degrees at Appalachian State University, and his Master Degree of Arts in Education and Bachelor Degree of Science in Business Administration at Western Carolina University. He is a graduate of West Caldwell High School. He is actively involved in the NC Community College Presidents Association, the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Caldwell 20/20, and the CCC&TI Foundation. Dr. Poarch is currently the president of the NC Community College President’s Association and chairman of the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission. Dr. Poarch received the prestigious Caldwell County Economic Development Commission’s Herman Anderson Award in 2019 and was inducted into the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He is an active member and serves as Deacon at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Lenoir.

Dr. Mark Poarch and wife, Tracy, reside in Hudson and have three children and two grandchildren.