2021-2022 Graduate Student Ambassadors- Talitha Batts

Program Area of Study

Ed.D., Community College Leadership

Bio

Talitha Batts is the Director of the Research, Policy and Impact Center at the National Institute of Minority Economic Development in Durham, NC. Talitha graduated from ECPI College of Technology in Computer Science & Telecommunications and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in English & Political Science.  Talitha dedicated many years to IT Project Management specializing in Desktop Functionality & Server Migration supporting corporate mergers and acquisitions. Talitha completed a Master’s in Education Technology at North Carolina Central University and transitioned from corporate to higher education. Securing positions at Saint Augustine’s University as Assistant Director of Careers and Professional Development and North Carolina State University as General Business Counsel for the Small Business Technology Development Center, gave her the opportunity to pool all her talents and skills to work with students and the community in technology, business, entrepreneurship, and economic development across North Carolina. Talitha is currently completing her Doctorate at North Carolina State University in the College of Education’s Community College Leadership program.

Why NC State?

The College of Education’s Community College Leadership program is stellar. The team of professors truly care about the development of each student and continually nurture our careers through coursework to professional appointment.  They create opportunities for participatory learning which results in training with the best leaders in the college and university systems today. The entire staff is supportive and dedicated to exposing each student to the culture and service of the community college system. 

One insight gained so far…

While completing my Ed.D. in the Community College Leadership program at NCSU, I have learned there are many disparities plaguing the community college system. We must continue to collect data and understand the issues, assess programs and create unique opportunities to ensure student success, increase financial aid options and improve accessibility. In many cases, if not all, our rising community college leaders must think outside the box and radically transform diversity, equity and inclusion issues into opportunities for every student.