A community college is unique because it is a highly visible public trust offering an open and inviting learning atmosphere in the context of its distinct community values.
For more than 55 years, our College has provided opportunities for individuals to achieve their personal and career goals through educational programs, learning opportunities, and support services. Rooted in our far western North Carolina traditions of reliability, ingenuity, and resourcefulness, Tri-County Community College (TCCC) is committed to holding true to our community values and our college mission. This college has long been a source of pride, as well as the first contact for many seeking educational excellence, economic stimulation, and cultural enrichment in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
The mission of Tri-County Community College is “to engage students in learning, help students succeed, and enrich the communities we serve." Whether you are a high school student or recent high school graduate searching for your future career, a working adult seeking to prepare for a better job, or a member of our community seeking educational challenges or additional knowledge, I invite you to discover more about the opportunities available at Tri-County Community College. We pledge to provide quality educational experiences for all.
The dedication of our employees is outstanding, and we promise to help you feel comfortable and confident on your academic journey. I hope you will take time to look at this website and then imagine the worldwide connections that await you as you scale the mountain of opportunities offered here and through our distance education classes.
As the President of Tri-County Community College, I am proud of the special place our college occupies in western North Carolina, and I look forward to promoting excellence as we strive to make our mission come to life. I look forward to seeing you at Tri-County Community College!
Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers began her tenure as President of Tri-County Community College in October 2007. She is the first woman elected to the presidency in Tri-County's history.
A native of Cherokee County, Tipton-Rogers is a graduate of Murphy High School. She earned a B.A. in History and Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1991, an M.A. in History from the College of Charleston in 1997, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration & Policy Studies in Higher Education from the University of Tennessee in 2004.
Tipton-Rogers started her career in higher education as Director of TCCC’s Graham County Center in 1996, where she oversaw the planning, resource development, construction, and operational phases of the satellite campus. She became Dean of the Graham County Center in 1998 and Vice President in 2001.
Under her leadership, the Graham County Center grew from a small location holding a few classes to a fully-functioning campus that served an average of 1,500 students each year. She has extensive experience working in collaboration with local government officials, public schools, county health department and library, childcare centers and county agencies on grant projects and activities.
Tipton-Rogers is the first individual from west of Asheville to serve as a district representative for the North Carolina State Board of Education. She has also previously served as Vice-Chair on the Legislative Committee for the NC Community College System Presidents Association and as Co-Chair of the North Carolina Task Force on Rural Health.
In 2019 Tipton-Rogers was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Dogwood Health Trust, where she acts as a representative for the far western region of the state.
Tipton-Rogers is married to Hayden Rogers and has two daughters, Torin and Lochlan.
