Looking for a person? You may also search our Employee Directory.
The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation has awarded $50,000 to the Durham Technical Community College Foundation to create the Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. Library Endowment. Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. served as president of Durham Tech for 27 years. Upon his retirement in 2007, he established The Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. Collection at the Durham Tech library on the Main Campus.
Advance Auto Parts Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts supplier, has made a $250,000 gift to the Durham Tech Foundation aimed at providing financial support to Durham Tech Community College’s automotive systems technology program.
Nathaniel B. White Sr. blazed a trail at Durham Tech.
He was the College’s first African-American Board of Trustee member and a founding member of Durham Industrial Education Center. He was appointed by the Durham County Board of Commissioners and served 32 years as a trustee.
He was the College’s first African-American Board of Trustee member and a founding member of Durham Industrial Education Center. He was appointed by the Durham County Board of Commissioners and served 32 years as a trustee.
Durham Technical Community College has surpassed the $100,000 SunTrust Foundation matching challenge to grow the Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. SunTrust Foundation Scholarship Endowment with significant contributions from community members and college partners.
The bangs and pops and zips of construction equipment seemed to echo off the spanning Durham Tech parking lot on a nearly empty Saturday morning in January.
A miniature house protruded from the asphalt with 12 Durham Tech students clinging to the angles and sides.
In six-hour shifts every Saturday for four semesters, students hammered, nailed, and caulked their way to build a one bedroom tiny home to be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Durham to serve someone in need.
A miniature house protruded from the asphalt with 12 Durham Tech students clinging to the angles and sides.
In six-hour shifts every Saturday for four semesters, students hammered, nailed, and caulked their way to build a one bedroom tiny home to be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Durham to serve someone in need.
Students who ultimately wish to complete a baccalaureate of arts degree in Communication Studies at a four-year college or university would complete the Associate in Arts (AA) degree.
Durham Tech is one of just 32 community colleges designated a 2026 Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.
When the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down college enrollment around the country, Cosmetic Arts programs at Durham Tech flourished – growing more than 300% since 2019.
Maria Steele, Director of Cosmetics Arts at Durham Tech, said it was likely due to a growing interest in entrepreneurship after so many people lost their jobs.
“COVID affected so many large businesses, that people wanted to start working for themselves, and becoming a cosmetologist allows them to specialize in multiple areas and become entrepreneurs,” she said. “You will always be able to make money in this industry because cosmetologists can do anything. You will never be stagnant. You can always reinvent yourself. It's such a versatile field, you can be an independent contractor at different salons and do everything.”
Steele is the driving force behind all Cosmetic Arts programs at the College, including cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring – an industry that has remained resilient through both a recession and pandemic.
Maria Steele, Director of Cosmetics Arts at Durham Tech, said it was likely due to a growing interest in entrepreneurship after so many people lost their jobs.
“COVID affected so many large businesses, that people wanted to start working for themselves, and becoming a cosmetologist allows them to specialize in multiple areas and become entrepreneurs,” she said. “You will always be able to make money in this industry because cosmetologists can do anything. You will never be stagnant. You can always reinvent yourself. It's such a versatile field, you can be an independent contractor at different salons and do everything.”
Steele is the driving force behind all Cosmetic Arts programs at the College, including cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring – an industry that has remained resilient through both a recession and pandemic.
The impact of Maryah Smith-Overman can be seen in many faces and spaces throughout the Bull City. Her custom woodworks are on display in homes and businesses around Durham, but her most significant impact is felt within the evolving trades field.
She is a campus leader and the driving force behind the skilled trades at Durham Tech – tripling the number of course offerings, increasing enrollment, and introducing apprenticeships – all since her start in 2016. Smith-Overman serves as the Director of Construction Trades and Assistant Dean of Building, Engineering, and Skilled Trades at the College.
She serves as co-Principal Investigator on the Power of Us program, which seeks to recruit, support, and retain more female students to a targeted set of Career and Technical Education programs. She is also a champion for apprenticeship programs, which led Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Durham Tech earlier this year.
Her mission is simple: To create a welcoming environment at Durham Tech where anyone that wants to learn a trade can learn a trade. She wants our diverse student population to begin seeing themselves represented in an otherwise white male dominated field.
She is a campus leader and the driving force behind the skilled trades at Durham Tech – tripling the number of course offerings, increasing enrollment, and introducing apprenticeships – all since her start in 2016. Smith-Overman serves as the Director of Construction Trades and Assistant Dean of Building, Engineering, and Skilled Trades at the College.
She serves as co-Principal Investigator on the Power of Us program, which seeks to recruit, support, and retain more female students to a targeted set of Career and Technical Education programs. She is also a champion for apprenticeship programs, which led Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Durham Tech earlier this year.
Her mission is simple: To create a welcoming environment at Durham Tech where anyone that wants to learn a trade can learn a trade. She wants our diverse student population to begin seeing themselves represented in an otherwise white male dominated field.
After nearly 40 years, Jerry Jones returned to Research Triangle Park (RTP) as the Executive Director of the Center for Workforce Engagement at Durham Tech – helping prepare residents to meet demands in the workforce.
His career began in RTP in 1984 as a test technician with Nortel Networks. After gaining decades of experience in customized training throughout North Carolina and Virginia, he is back home and ready to make a measurable impact in the Triangle.
The Center for Workforce Engagement opened at RTP’s Frontier Campus earlier this year and will provide classroom space for customized training for new and growing businesses. The Center also incorporates Durham Tech Career Services, Corporate Services, Human Resources Development, the Small Business Center, and Work-Based Education and Apprenticeship.
“Impacting people’s lives for good and being a part of training and connecting them to great job opportunities never gets old. Knowing that you play even a small part in changing people’s lives is a wonderful feeling,” Jones said.
His career began in RTP in 1984 as a test technician with Nortel Networks. After gaining decades of experience in customized training throughout North Carolina and Virginia, he is back home and ready to make a measurable impact in the Triangle.
The Center for Workforce Engagement opened at RTP’s Frontier Campus earlier this year and will provide classroom space for customized training for new and growing businesses. The Center also incorporates Durham Tech Career Services, Corporate Services, Human Resources Development, the Small Business Center, and Work-Based Education and Apprenticeship.
“Impacting people’s lives for good and being a part of training and connecting them to great job opportunities never gets old. Knowing that you play even a small part in changing people’s lives is a wonderful feeling,” Jones said.