Thomas Stith

President, NC Community College System

Thomas A. Stith III became the 10th President of the NCCCS on Jan 11, 2021. Prior to his selection he was district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he led the federal agency’s $16 billion response to COVID-19 in North Carolina. Stith served as chief of staff to former Gov. Pat McCrory and was a three-term city council member in Durham.

Stith has extensive experience in both private and public sector executive roles during his professional career.

Stith holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an MBA in marketing from North Carolina Central University.

He has served on the boards of the Golden LEAF Foundation, the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership, the United Way of the Greater Triangle, North Carolina Leadership Forum member and is a deacon at Union Baptist Church.

He and his wife Yolanda have three daughters – Kara, Kiah and Kira.