Carteret Community College Board of Trustees

2022-2023 Board Meeting Schedule

Regularly scheduled meetings will take place on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Camp Glenn Foundation Building on the campus of Carteret Community College located at 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC.

Comments and questions for the Board of Trustees should be emailed to trustees@carteret.edu.

2022-2023 Board of Trustee Appointments and Terms

2022-2023 Board of Trustees Officers

Chair | Melodie Darden

Vice Chair | Dr. Wrenn Johnson

Secretary | Dr. Tracy Mancini

Assistant Secretary | Vacant

SGA Representative | Anthony Pile (Term expiration June 30, 2023)

Board of Trustees Annual Public Forum

The Carteret Community College Board of Trustees holds an annual public forum once a year in August. Those interested in speaking at the annual forum should submit a Request to Speak by following the link below.

Submit Request

2022-2023 Board of Trustees

Doug Brady – Trustee

Bio coming soon!

Robin Comer – Trustee

Mr. Comer was appointed to the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees by the Board of Education at the end of 2019.  A retired realtor, he also developed resort communities in the western end of the county, specializing in RV Resorts.  He has had a real estate license since 1988 and plans to reenter the workforce soon.  He graduated from Rosewood High in Wayne County and NC State University with a BS in engineering. He is currently a County Commissioner.

He has been married to Donna for 34 years, and they have two sons, Harold Russell Comer II and Ryan Marshall Comer. He also considers his dogs as family.   His hobbies include boating, fishing (especially tournament fishing), traveling, and exercising.

He has been involved in civic clubs since college graduation. He received the Brownfield Award his first year in the Jaycees.  He joined the Swansboro Rotary in 1996 and has served at all levels. He says it “is still a joy to participate and help others.”   He has received many honors and awards over the years for civic and public service work, adding “I was just proud and glad to do it.” His biggest reason for wanting to serve on the Board of Trustees is “to help steer and encourage curriculum that complements the need in our community today. I want to be acutely aware of workforce needs so that the college will be able to adjust to constantly changing needs.”

Melodie Darden – Chair

Melodie Darden joined the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees in 2017. She was appointed by the Governor.  Mrs. Darden is a retired English teacher who spent her entire career at West Carteret High School, teaching every grade and level of English. As a senior English teacher for many years, in addition to teaching the basic curriculum, she also helped with college applications, scholarships, recommendation letters, and counseling advice. Mrs. Darden graduated magna cum laude with honors and distinction in English from Duke University. She earned her MA in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mrs. Darden is an avid reader, especially literary fiction, current nonfiction, mysteries, psychological thrillers and cookbooks. She loves to cook and is especially interested in food anthropology. She serves on the vestry at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Morehead City. She and her husband Rob live in Morehead City and have three adult children, Bobby, John, and Katherine.

At West Carteret High School, she was selected as the Teacher of the Year. She served as co-chair for the WCHS Accreditation Committee where she worked on School Improvement Plans and five-year accreditation renewals. She was the chair of the Scholarship Committee for many years. On the state level, she was a writer for the NC Standards In English, grades 11-12, and was a grader for honors portfolios. Mrs. Darden believes the community college provides affordable opportunities for students of all ages to improve their lives.

Bill Henderson – Trustee

Bill Henderson has been a member of the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees since 1995. He is a past chairman and currently serves on the Building and Grounds, Finance, and Executive Committees. His appointments have been by the Carteret County Board of Education. Mr. Henderson is one of the owners of H & H Electric Service, Inc. He also has ownership interest in The Bookshop New and Used and Little 9 Storage, LLC. All businesses are located in Morehead City. He is a 1978 graduate of West Carteret High School and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Operations from North Carolina State University in 1982.

Mr. Henderson is married to the former Beth Avery, and they have three adult children: Averi, Jenna, and William, who are all graduates of Croatan High School and North Carolina State University. Averi is married to Grant Linderman, lives in Raleigh, and they have three children.  Jenna, a logistics analyst, and William, a CPA at RSM, LLC, both live in Carteret County.  Mr. Henderson and his wife are active in St. James United Methodist Church in Newport, where he currently serves as Chairperson of Finance, President of the United Methodist Men, and leads an adult Sunday School class. He also has been active over the years working with local sports leagues serving in a variety of roles. He is a member of NC State’s Wolfpack Club, Alumni Association, and Varsity Club.

Mr. Henderson’s role as a trustee enabled him to be part of the largest construction and modernization effort in the college’s history following the passage of the Higher Education Bond Referendums in 2000. Mr. Henderson and his fellow trustees oversaw construction and renovation projects totaling $15 million, which allowed the college to expand learning opportunities in health science, marine trades, business technologies, applied marine science, and a variety of occupational training courses under continuing education.  As a trustee, he has also been involved in curriculum program development and has helped with the implementation of a variety of programs including: associate degree nursing, aquaculture technology, boat manufacture and service, culinary arts, therapeutic massage, and others. “I believe Carteret Community College needs to be on the forefront of change in Carteret County,” said Mr. Henderson. “The college is an asset for our county and has helped many people reach their goals, improve their lives, and create a better quality of life for themselves and their families.”

Penny Hooper – Trustee

Penny Hooper was appointed to the Board of Trustees by the Governor in 2022. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree from University of Southern California.  She has been a professional SCUBA diver for Duke Marine Lab, Diving Safety Officer for Johns Hopkins University, self-employed studio potter while raising her two children, partner with her husband’s  commercial fishing/aquaculture business, and Chair of the Science Department at Carteret Community College during her 16 years of teaching there.

While teaching at Carteret CC, Penny assisted in setting up two new programs: the two-year Associate in Science degree, and the Aquaculture Technology program. She has received numerous awards including the Carteret CC Excellence in Teaching Award, Carteret County Woman of the Year Award, and NC Council of Churches Community Superstar Award. The Hoopers have lived in a solar home Down East in Smyrna for the last 40 years and are active members of the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship church in Morehead City.

Mary Charles Jenkins – Trustee

Mary Charles Jenkins joined the Board of Trustees in 2020 after being appointed by Governor Roy Cooper. She grew up in Greenville, graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, and has resided in Morehead City for almost three decades. Jenkins worked in bank marketing, and retired as Marketing Manager for Sound Bank (now Dogwood State Bank). After taking pottery courses at ECU and CCC, she has become an avid potter and participates annually in the Empty Bowls program in support of Hope Mission and Martha’s Mission.

Mary Charles is married to retired Special Superior Court Judge Jack Jenkins. They have two children. Jacob, their oldest, graduated from UCLA and works in Denver, Colorado. Anna is an NCSU graduate and an instructor at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  Mrs. Jenkins has been involved in a variety of civic endeavors in Pitt, Wake, and Carteret Counties. She has volunteered countless hours in schools tutoring, organizing science fairs, making and manning games for fall carnivals, planning learning experiences for classrooms, and teaching enrichment art classes. Jenkins also served on the local Habitat for Humanity board and organized build days for Sound Bank employees. She has organized multiple Red Cross Blood Drives, served as National Charity League liaison for PAWS and Encore Pets, and acted as crafts director at summer bible schools.

Mary Charles loves everything Carteret County has to offer, including boating on Bogue Sound, meeting friends at Bird Shoals or Cape Lookout, hiking the Fort Macon trails, sampling local products at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market in Beaufort, eating at the many fine local restaurants, and especially taking classes at Carteret Community College.

Wrenn Johnson – Vice Chair

Bio coming soon.

Rosa Langston – Trustee

Rosa Langston joined the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees in 2019. She was appointed by the Governor. Mrs. Langston is a retired educator, beginning in 1972 with Carteret County Schools.  She presently works with the United Methodist Church P4P Reading Program, a reading program for elementary students, as a counselor. She has also enjoyed substitute teaching after retirement, which enables her “to keep abreast of students’ needs and trends in education in the global economy in which we live.” She has a B.S. and M.S. degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University in Greensboro, NC. These degrees and certifications include comprehensive business education, guidance and counseling, exceptional children, and career development coordination. During her 37 years of service to schools in Carteret County, Mrs. Langston has worked at the middle, high, and community college levels.

She resides in Newport with her husband, Von, and they have two adult sons, Dedan and Bakari. African American History, sewing, and gardening are among her hobbies.

Highlights of her career include serving as past president of Carteret County NCAE, President of the North Carolina Vocational Special Needs Division, and a member of the Board on the North Carolina Vocational Association. She has been honored by being selected West Carteret High School Certified Employee of the Year and Carteret County Woman Educator of the Year.

Mrs. Langston is a member and president of Les Vingt Femmes Women Club of Carteret County, Northeastern Vice President of North Carolina Association of Colored Women, a member of the National Association of Colored Women and a member of the W. S. King Alumni Association. Mrs. Langston is a passionate advocate for education. She feels it “is the vehicle which drives the happiness and prosperity of all of our nation’s people. It is and will continue to be what helps to make our nation great.”

Dee Meshaw – Trustee

Dee Meshaw was appointed to the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees in 2020 by the Carteret County Commissioners.  She is the assistant county manager. She is a graduate of Peace College and NC State University, earning a degree in accounting.

Mrs. Meshaw enjoys playing the piano and gardening.  Walking and hiking, especially in the mountains, and reading, especially history, are other favorite activities.  She and her husband Greg have one daughter, Lizzie.  “Spending time with Greg and Lizzie is what I enjoy most,” she says.

Mrs. Meshaw is a member of the NC Association of Certified Public Accountants and the NC Government Finance Officers Association, having served as its president in 2014-2015.  She is an active member of First United Methodist Church in Morehead City, where she has served on various committees. She  is currently serving on the church’s finance committee. She has also been a lay leader and children’s Sunday School teacher.

Catherine W. Parker – Trustee

Catherine Wood Parker served on the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees for a 4-year term, appointed by the Governor, from July 2013 until June 2017. In October 2018, Mrs. Parker returned to the Board of Trustees to fulfill an unexpired term, appointed by the Carteret County Board of Education. Mrs. Parker currently works in outside sales and public relations for their family business, Parker Buick GMC and Parker Honda. She also works with Wood Insurance Consultants selling personal and commercial insurance policies. Mrs. Parker graduated from North Carolina State University in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in Accounting with a Financial Analysis concentration. While at NC State University, she completed a semester study abroad with Griffith University in Australia.  She was awarded her masters in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., in 2007.

She and her husband, Brian, General Manager of Parker Buick GMC, have three children ages 5, 7, and 9. Mrs. Parker believes strongly in education and knows what an impact continuing education can do to better the lives of individual families, as well as promoting new opportunities within our community.

Mrs. Parker is experienced in financial analysis, particularly working with healthcare and hospitals. She worked as a financial analyst for Duke University Hospital in Durham, where she prepared and supported the annual budget for the Heart Clinical Service Unit with annual revenue of $370 million. Additionally, she served as a liaison between Duke Hospital Finance and Operations and the hospital’s heart inpatient units and cardiology labs performing financial analysis for several capital projects greater than $1 million. In addition to regularly scheduled financial and statistical analysis, she prepared five-year financial plans for Duke Health System Board of Directors. She also prepared Duke Hospital’s NC Hospital License Applications. Mrs. Parker joined Carteret General Hospital in 2008 as a Quality Data Cost Analyst.  A year later she was promoted to Director of Decision Support and continued to support the hospital until 2012. She developed business plans and presented data and information to hospital leadership, expanding transparency and access to data for decision making.

Doug Starcke – Trustee

Doug Starcke was appointed to the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees in 2021.  He was appointed by the Carteret County Commissioners.  A longtime resident of Emerald Isle, he is currently a co-owner of South Swell Surf Shop.  A graduate of UNC-W with a degree in Business Administration-Marketing, he also attended Carteret Community College and graduated from West Carteret High School. Mr. Starcke credits the Sunshine Lady Foundation and the Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation scholarships with helping him graduate from college debt free. He began his career as a UPS Sales Executive in 2003 and then co-founded First Flight Solutions, a Transportation Impact Company, in 2008.

He and his wife Erin welcomed a daughter on Sept. 5, 2021.  They also have two young sons and enjoy raising their family in the unique family-friendly beach community of Emerald Isle. They attend St. Mildred’s Catholic Church in Swansboro.  Mr. Starcke enjoys surfing, boating, and fishing.

Mr. Starcke has also served on the Carteret Community College Foundation Board and is currently a member of the UNC-W Board of Visitors.  He is a co-founder of the Starcke Family Foundation, which supports various county nonprofits such as Carteret Health Care, NC Coastal Federation, Emerald Isle Ocean Oaks Park and Bicycle and Pedestrian Path, Carteret Community College, Camp Albemarle, Buddy Pelletier Foundation, St. Mildred’s Catholic Church, Carteret County Domestic Violence Program, and Broad Street Clinic.

Tracy Mancini – Carteret CC President

Anthony Pile – SGA President