Wake Tech Community College is pleased to welcome a new member to the Board of Trustees. Jamie Thomas, appointed by the Wake County Board of Education, was sworn in today.

Thomas is General Manager - Strategy & Development at IBM. She is responsible for strategy, development and client experience for IBM's POWER, Mainframe and Storage Offerings. Thomas sets and executes the innovation plans required to support clients worldwide. During her tenure at IBM, she has held various product development and brand leadership roles.

Thomas replaces Andy Penry. Current Trustee Ed Paradise was sworn in for another four-year term. Wake Tech is served by 12 trustees, all of whom are appointed: four by the governor, four by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, and four by the Wake County Board of Education. An ex-officio student representative (usually the president of Wake Tech’s Student Government Association) also serves on the board. Trustees establish policy for Wake Tech, approve the annual budget, and serve as advocates for the college and its services.

The Board of Trustees also selects the college president when the need arises. The board, led by Chair Tom Looney, is currently working with AGB Search, a nationally-recognized firm, and a search committee to conduct a thorough and transparent nationwide search to find the next president. The firm conducted listening sessions with faculty, staff, and students, as well as key community groups to obtain input on the presidential profile. The goal is to have a permanent president named by the end of the year. He or she will succeed Dr. Stephen Scott, who retired in August.