Abraham Dones to head student services at Durham Tech
Durham Technical Community College announced Abraham Dones as the new Vice President and Chief Student Services Officer on Monday.
Dones, the College’s Registrar and Assistant Dean of Admissions, Registration, and Records since 2015, was selected to the post following a nationwide search. Dones will lead the student services division at an important time for the College as it is implementing a range of innovative student supports designed to significantly increase student persistence, completion, and labor market outcomes. Dones brings a track record of entrepreneurship and success that will be critical to implementing best practices and new approaches to student support.
“In a search where we were looking for a leader who could build on the College’s long-time commitment to student supports and foster innovative new approaches, Abe Dones stood out in the field,” said Durham Tech President JB Buxton. “He has been instrumental in advancing key student supports, including the development and implementation of the Student Resources Center, the success coach model, and new efforts to attract and support adult learners.”
Dones takes over on March 1 for Interim Chief Student Services Officer Greg Bellamy who helmed the division after former Vice President of Student Services Dr. Christine Kelly-Kleese became the College’s new Chief Strategy Officer in 2021.
Prior to managing the Admissions, Registration, and Records department, Dones served as an Academic Advisor and Instructor of College Success and served as Assistant Dean of Enrollment and Advising Services at Durham Tech, Interim Director of Multicultural Student Affairs, and Assistant Director of Native American and Hispanic Student Affairs at North Carolina State University. In addition, Dones supported administrators and faculty at Drexel University’s College of Medicine Division of Behavioral Healthcare Education as a Web/IT Manager. His first love for education and serving students began when he served as a Bilingual Secondary mathematics teacher for the School District of Philadelphia.
Dones had been an equity coach and Guided Career Pathways coach for the North Carolina Community College System. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University and is completing the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program at North Carolina State University.
Rod Bradley, a former supervisor of Dones at NC State, said Dones brings the right balance of integrity, inclusion-mindedness, and student focus.
“Abe’s character is exemplary, and he brings innovation, an agile mindset, and a dedication to moving the institution forward,” Bradley said. “Abe will be a tremendous asset in leadership for Durham Tech.”