Sherrie Chapman’s days at Northeastern Technical College are very calm working part time at Northeastern Technical College as Associate Director of Workforce Development and Special Projects.
If you caught her before retirement, she was living a whirlwind of meetings, special meetings, Faith Christian School Board, traveling, local boards, First Steps Board, Student Government Association projects, Rotary Club, organizing on-campus events, Red Cross Board, and creating curriculum as NETC’s Dean of Workforce.
In short, Chapman stayed busy with Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Dillon Counties in mind.
“I have always Interested in the college and people in our community progressing in their education and following their dreams through education, which is the pathway doing so,” said Chapman who was recognized by the college for more than 40 years of service.
Chapman began her career at NETC, then known as Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College, in the president’s office in 1981 assisting with financing, public relations, human resources. From there, she moved to assistant to financial director to procurement, to bookstore manager (while carrying her procurement certification with her) and in 1989 she entered the college’s continuing education program manager.
“I took a shot at it after I received some encouragement to apply,” she said.
In 1995, Chapman became Dean of Continuing Education until she retired in 2009 (the first time) and then officially retired as a full-timer in 2016.
During her tenure as Dean of Continuing Education, Chapman created programs and “charted new territory” establishing the REWARD program in Marlboro County which became a statewide model on how work-force preparation programs are to be administered and developed NETC’s Commercial Driver’s License program as well as assisting other technical colleges establishing their programs.
It was common to network with other colleges bringing programs and ideas from other colleges to NETC and vice versa. Sometimes, she brought in surplus equipment from other colleges to boost NETC’s offerings.
Anything to help NETC’s students, she said.
Chapman’s efforts throughout her career when she received in 2011 the prestigious A. Wade Martin Innovator of the Year Award recognizing a person who has demonstrated a dedication to serving the mission of technical colleges; Chapman being the first NETC to win the award since its inception in 1980.
“When you love your job, it’s easy,” Chapman said.
