NRCC News

NRCC’s Hanks Completes Doctoral Degree

Jun 01 2020

This is an archived article!

This article was published on Jun 01 2020 and was archived on May 31 2021. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.

New River Community College instructional designer Pam Hanks, of Pulaski, recently earned her doctoral degree in community college leadership from Old Dominion University’s Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.

“I decided to pursue the degree initially with a desire to learn as much as possible about higher education and the community college.  I am passionate about the community college mission and the influences this institution has on communities locally, nationally, and globally,” remarked Hanks.

Hanks, who serves in NRCC’s Online Learning Department, also received the Poindexter Award (Outstanding Community College Leadership Doctoral Student Award), an award given by the ODU Darden College of Education and Professional Studies to a community college leadership doctoral graduate who exemplifies the values of mentorship, scholarship, leadership, and service of Erika Poindexter in their contribution to the program, university, and profession.

Like many college graduates across the country, Hanks was unable to participate in a previously planned May graduation ceremony; her graduation has been rescheduled for December 2020.

“I was looking forward to celebrating this accomplishment with my family, cohort members, and faculty at Old Dominion University,” said Hanks. “Hopefully, the opportunity to celebrate will be possible in December.”

Hanks isn’t the only graduate in her family this year.  Her son, Keaton, is a spring 2020 graduate of NRCC who recently completed an associate of applied science degree in administrative support technology with a specialization in medical administrative support.  Her son, Gavin, also recently completed a master’s degree in public health from the University of Virginia.  Not to be left out, her husband, Mark, a student resource specialist at NRCC, will complete a certificate in graduate mathematics from Radford University in July.

Hanks began working at NRCC in 2005 as an adjunct instructor while also teaching full-time at Pulaski County High School.  She joined NRCC full time in 2011 in her current position.  She also holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Radford University and a master’s degree in instructional design and technology from Emporia State University.