The second of five candidates for Cape Fear Community College president, Young spoke Wednesday to the packed room in the Health and Sciences building. The importance of choosing the next school leader is evident to those who teach and work at CFCC, Young said of the turnout. Upon introducing her, John Ward, faculty association president, said Young is well-known for innovative leadership.

Young knows first-hand the impact a community college can have on a person. She grew up on a farm, she said, and no one in her family went to college. After receiving her associate's degree, Young went on to earn bachelor's, master's, doctorate and law degrees.

"I became a lifelong learner," she said. "It's what makes me tick." Developing and building relationships - with students, teachers, area businesses and universities - plus engaging students to keep them in school is how Young believes she would influence CFCC.

She described her leadership style as one that focuses on collaboration; Young has been president of Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio, since 2003. One audience member asked about growth and space limitations that the school faces. Young said the downtown campus would have to look at building up instead of out, with structures that could last for 50 to 100 years but walls that change every five years to accommodate the changes in students' needs and education.

"She seemed to strike a good balance between broad visions of the future and detailed action plans," said Jason Chaffin, an English instructor and the school's quality enhancement plan director.

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