Mary Rittling
Professor of the Practice, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development
Faculty Scholar, Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research
merittli@ncsu.eduBio
Mary E. Rittling is a professor of practice who has served as regional vice president of West Virginia University, president of Potomac State College of West Virginia University, and senior administrator at the State University of New York at Delhi. In August 2003, Rittling was appointed as the third president of Davidson Community College in Lexington, North Carolina. In 2012, she was named North Carolina’s Community College President of the Year. In spring 2019, Rittling retired after 16 years as Davidson Community College President and became president emerita.
Dr. Rittling is a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, focusing on the preparation of the next generation of community college leaders.
Dr. Rittling earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY. Additionally, Rittling holds both a Master of Arts and a doctoral degree in Higher and Adult Education from Columbia University in New York City. She completed the Harvard University Institute for New Presidents.