Nov. 28, 2023 - Trident Technical College to hold presidential search public forums
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) has been selected to assist Trident Technical College with its presidential search process. The college began the search process after its longtime president, Dr. Mary Thornley, announced her retirement effective June 1, 2024. ACCT’s assistance will include providing support with the development of a presidential profile and recruiting highly competitive candidates. ACCT has conducted over 750 community college searches and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy.
An important step in the presidential search process is the development of a presidential profile. On Dec. 5, 2023, three public forums will be held to solicit input, which will assist with the development of the presidential profile. The public is invited to participate in this discussion about the qualities, characteristics and qualifications of the next president of Trident Technical College, and the opportunities and challenges facing the college in the years to come . Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process. The discussions will be facilitated by Luke Robins, Ph.D., ACCT search consultant.
The one-hour public forums will be held Dec. 5 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the College Center in Building 920 on the college’s Thornley Campus, 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. No RSVP is needed. A brief electronic survey has been developed for those who are unable to attend one of the public forums. The anonymous responses to the survey will also be used to inform the development of the draft presidential profile. The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Trident-technical-college-presidential-search. The online survey should be completed no later than 7 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 5, 2023.
For additional information about the presidential search, click here.
Sept. 26, 2023 - Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley Announces 2024 Retirement
“It is with deepest gratitude and humility I submit this retirement letter. I realize I will never be ready to leave, so I must leave Trident Tech without being ready.” With these words, Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley announced her retirement effective June 1, 2024, during a meeting of the college’s Area Commission Sept. 26.
Thornley is the college’s fifth and longest-serving president. She began her 50-year career at the college as an adjunct instructor in 1973. She became a full-time instructor the next year and over time moved up the ranks to hold positions including department head, dean and vice president. She became president in 1991.
The college’s Area Commission will conduct a national search for a new president. These searches typically take between six and eight months. Trident Technical College Area Commission Chair Anita Zucker will serve as the search committee chair, and the commission will follow the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education’s policy for presidential search committee appointments. The policy requires a search committee that includes the chair of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education or another board member and a president of another South Carolina technical college. The Area Commission will establish a timeline and share updates about the process in the coming weeks.
“Mary Thornley exemplifies visionary leadership. Her unwavering commitment to meeting the ever-evolving needs of our region has been a key factor in the Lowcountry’s continued growth and economic success,” said Zucker. “As we begin the process to find her successor, we look ahead with hope, eager to welcome a new president who shares her boundless ambition and tireless drive to meet the college’s mission to educate the individual, accelerate the economy, and inspire the future.”
The Area Commission voted to honor Dr. Thornley with the honorary title of president emeritus upon her retirement. At her request, this title comes with no monetary compensation.
Thornley has received numerous awards and honors over the years including the Order of the Palmetto, the Joseph P. Riley Leadership Award, the Shirley B. Gordon Phi Theta Kappa Presidential Award of Distinction, and the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners CEO Award. She also won the Association of Community College Trustees CEO Award twice – in 2009 and 2019. In 2018 the college’s Area Commission voted to rename the college’s Main Campus in North Charleston to honor Thornley for her years of service and leadership. The college’s original and largest campus is now the Thornley Campus.
For highlights of Dr. Thornley's tenure as president of Trident Technical College, click here.
May 9, 2023 - Trident Technical College honors top students and organizations at Awards Day
Trident Technical College honored its top students and student organizations at the annual Awards Day ceremony on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center located on Thornley Campus.
Michelle Mobley, a Nursing graduate from Summerville, received the top award of the day, the Dr. Mary Thornley Distinguished Community Leadership Award. Presented by the Trident Technical College president, this award is given to a graduate who demonstrates integrity, servant leadership and the potential to provide future leadership to their profession and the community. This award was first established in 2018 by the John M. Rivers, Jr. Foundation in honor of Dr. Thornley. The recipient chosen for this award is selected by the president with input from Cabinet.
The Patricia L. Kurtzman Memorial and Alumni Association Prize, also presented by the TTC president, is given to a graduate with high academic achievement and who demonstrates the potential to make a significant impact in their chosen career. This year’s recipient is Hector Cruz, a graduate of the Human Services program at Trident Tech.
Jim Kinard, president/CEO of the South Carolina State Credit Union, presented the State Credit Union Award to Chloe VanWagner of Summerville. This honor, which also includes a monetary gift, is presented to a returning student who demonstrates a commitment to service, exhibits perseverance toward completing higher education goals, displays commendable personal attributes, and serves as an exemplary role model to other students.
The Dr. Frankie Miller Leadership Award was created in honor of the former dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston, Frankie Miller, and is awarded to Mary Ann Koller this year. The Robert J. Brinkman Endowed Machine Tool Technology Award was presented by its namesake, the retired chairman and CEO of Brinkman International Group, and given to James “JP” McDeavitt.
Dr. Mary Thornley also recognized the Merit Award winners for their academic and personal excellence. Outstanding members of student organizations were recognized. The Student Nurses Association was named Outstanding Student Organization and Nathan Rex was named Outstanding Student Organization Advisor for his work with the Hospitality and Culinary Student Association.
March 15, 2023 - Trident Technical College hosts 14th annual Electrician's Competition and Career Fair
The Charleston Electrical Contractors Association is hosting their 14 th annual Electrician’s Competition and Career Fair on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at Trident Technical College’s Thornley Campus, Bldg. 970, located at 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406.
The Electrician’s Competition and Career Fair is an excellent way for members in the community to learn more about careers in the electrical industry, learn about Trident Tech’s electrical programs, and to visit vendor and electrical display booths. People can even watch Charleston Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) apprentices compete for prizes. This competition allows first-, second-, third- and fourth-year electrical apprentices the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned through hands-on experience and classroom instruction. The event and parking are free for everyone. Free food and drinks will be available, and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dr. Mary Thornley, president of Trident Technical College, will give a special awards presentation at the end of the event from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Trident Tech and CECA welcome employees of electrical contractors, high school and college students and their families to attend the fair and learn more about the electrical industry.
Feb. 23, 2023 - Trident Technical College Foundation awarded $100,000 grant to support Dental Hygiene Clinic
The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation recently awarded Trident Technical College Foundation a $100,000 grant to support the expansion of the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.
The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation awarded eight grants in the fall of 2022 to organizations working to improve the health of South Carolina’s economically vulnerable citizens. This grant will allow the college’s Dental Hygiene program to increase enrollment from 24 to 30 students and increase the number of patients that can be served in the dental clinic. The Trident Technical College Foundation plans to use the funds to purchase training equipment for the Dental Hygiene program.
Melissa Copeland, the Dental Services department head says, “Oral health is highly correlated with overall health, and there is a growing need for oral healthcare in our communities. There is also a great need for oral healthcare providers in our community. This grant will help us increase the number of students we can have in our dental hygiene program in order to educate them and prepare them for the dental hygiene profession. During the program, we offer low-cost care to those in the community who can benefit from it, so increasing the number of students will also increase the number of patients we can serve in our community. This grant helps serve the community in multiple ways and will help for many years to come.”
Trident Tech’s Dental Hygiene Clinic provides dental hygiene services to the general public, as well as the college’s students, faculty, staff and alumni. Clinic services include routine dental cleanings, comprehensive periodontal therapy, radiographs, sealants and whitening. The purpose of the Dental Hygiene Clinic is to provide access to quality oral health care and assist patients in eliminating and preventing oral disease while providing education and experience to Trident Tech students.
The Dental Hygiene Clinic is located on the college’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston. The facility is staffed and supervised by licensed dentists and dental hygienists. The dental hygiene students who provide care to patients have extensive education and training and must demonstrate competence in clinical services before being given permission to treat the public.