Board Members

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Governor
• Term expires: June 30, 2027

Kathleen Simpson served in the U.S. Army as a Colonel. Now retired, she taught at East Carolina University’s School of Nursing as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She also served as a Vice President at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. The Washington resident received a Master of Nursing Administration form the University of South Carolina. Wife of Glenn Simpson, mother of two and grandmother of 2, Ms. Simpson has had one son to attend BCCC and has taken Continuing Education classes at the college.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Board of Education
• Term expires: June 30, 2025

Julia Lodge worked for Beaufort County Schools for 18 years in data management and at East Carolina University as lead processing clerk for 12 years. She worked across three sites with Beaufort County Schools as a data manager: first at Central Office, then at the Beaufort County Ed Tech, and then at the Beaufort County Early College High School. She has two children, Christopher Lodge and Shontra Jewell Lodge Topping.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Governor
• Term expires: June 30, 2026

Wali Saleem is a retired educator who spent his career in service to Beaufort County Schools. He worked as a Mathematics and Computer Teacher for 18 years, of which he spent 14 years at Washington High School. He worked as a curriculum director with Beaufort County Schools for 7 years. He served as Principal at Aurora High School, P.S. Jones Middle School, and Southside High School. Currently, he operates a tax preparation service, Professional Tax Service in Washington. Mr. Saleem earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. His wife Yvonne earned an associate’s degree for BCCC, and he taught a class at BCCC in 1985. They have one daughter, Robyn, and one son, Wali Jr., and five grandchildren.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: County Commissioners
• Term expires: June 30, 2024

Jim Chrisman is the Chief Financial Officer for Tideland EMC, a position he has held since 2014. He worked for Carteret County, and later served as the Assistant County Manager and Chief Financial Officer for Beaufort County. Mr. Chrisman lives in Washington and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from East Carolina University. Husband of Karen Chrisman, father of twins Owen and Sydney, he has also taught as an adjunct instructor at Carteret Community College.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: County Commissioners
• Term expires: June 30, 2027

Steven Archie Griffin is a farmer with Griffin Farms, Inc. He earned a Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University. He currently serves as the Supervisor for the Beaufort County Soil & Water Conservation District and was selected and sponsored by TIAA-Cref as the second United States citizen for the Nuffield International Farming Scholars. He is also a graduate of the Executive Farm Management Program and a board member of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association. Mr. Griffin is a resident of Washington, and he took summer classes at BCCC while he completed his Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science at N.C. State University.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: County Commissioners
• Term expires: June 30, 2025

Teresa Canady served the Martin County Department of Social Services as a Social Worker Supervisor until she retired in 2015. There she supervised the Child Care, Work First Employment Services Units and Intake Services. She started working with Beaufort County Department of Social Services in 1977 and later worked for Washington County DSS for 16 years. Ms. Canady holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in Secretarial Science from BCCC. The wife of William Canady has one daughter, Felisha Canady, and lives in Washington.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Board of Education
• Term expires: June 30, 2024

Russell Smith is the Owner of Russell’s, a retail clothing store in Washington that he has owned and operated for 35 years. He holds an Associate Degree in Retailing and Marketing from BCCC (then Beaufort County Technical Institute). Besides being a graduate of the college, Mr. Smith has served as a Trustee for the past ten years. His wife Denise Smith graduated from the Medical Laboratory program from BCCC (then BCTI). His son Zach and daughter Olivia both took classes at BCCC to further their educations.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Governor
• Term expires: June 30, 2024

Laurel Paramore works as the mental health coordinator for Beaufort County Schools, as well as practicing individual and family counseling at Pamlico Counseling. Laurel Paramore earned a basic law enforcement certificate from BCCC, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Guilford College, and a Master of Social Work from East Carolina University. Both husband Marty Paramore and her stepson Zach Paramore attended BCCC as well.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Board of Education
• Term expires: June 30, 2027

John Rodman is a retired city planner who worked with local governments in Beaufort County for 29 years, including 10 years with Beaufort County and 20 years with the City of Washington. He served a Director of Community and Cultural Services, overseeing the Planning & Development, Building Inspections, Historic Preservation, Parks & Recreation and Library Service departments. He holds a Municipal Administration Certificate from the UNC School of Government, and he is certified through the American Institute of Certified Planners. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from East Carolina University. His wife Janet taught for over 20 years with BCCC’s Division of Continuing Education. She is currently and ESL teacher with Beaufort County Schools. His oldest son George graduated from Pitt Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice and Basic Law Enforcement Training. His youngest son Jack took summer classes at BCCC, and he is currently a graduate student at the University of Southern California’s School of Public Health.

• Residence: Washington
• Appointed by: Board of Education
• Term expires: June 30, 2026

Mitchell St. Clair, Sr. is the president of St. Clair Trucking, Inc. He graduated from Fayetteville State University. He lives in Washington with his wife Belinda.

• Residence: Pantego
• Appointed by: Governor
• Term expires: June 30, 2025

Marya Shavender, along with her husband Buddy Shavender, started Shavender Trucking, Inc. in 1978 and have successfully run it for 40 years. She holds a degree from Lenoir Community College. The grandmother of eight also has three daughters: Marcy Morgan, Stacy Swindell and Tracey Brown.

• Residence: Chocowinity
• Appointed by: Beaufort County Commissioners
• Term expires: 2026

Dr. Laura Staton is a retired occupational medicine physician, living in Beaufort County since 2005. A native of Independence, Mo., Dr. Staton earned a bachelor’s degree in public health education from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA, and a doctor of osteopathic medicine from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO, completing her post graduate work in Garden City, MI. She earned a master’s degree in Public Health from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Staton has worked as an occupational medicine physician with the US Air Force as a flight surgeon; with the US Postal Service as the Senior Area Medical Director; with US Airways as the medical director; and as medical director of a private occupational medicine consulting business.

Since moving to Beaufort County in 2005, Dr. Staton has been active in community programs and organizations serving local youth. She serves on the board of directors of Eagle’s Wings Food Pantry; she volunteers with the Guardian ad Litem Program as a court-appointed advocate for children in the custody of the Department of Social Services; and volunteers with the department’s foster teen life-skills program, LINKS. She was appointed to the BCCC Board of Trustees by Gov. McCrory in 2013, and served as Board Chair from June 2015 - June 2017. Prior to her appointment to the Board of Trustees, Dr. Staton was chair of the Foundation Board of Directors.

• Residence: Plymouth
• Appointed by: Washington County Commissioners
• Term expires: 2024

Linda West the Health Sciences Program Manager for Washington County Schools. She began her three-decade career with Washington County Schools in 1991 as the Health Sciences Education Program Manager and HOSA-Future Health Professionals advisor. Previously, she worked at the Washington County Hospital as a nursing supervisor and the Swing Bed Unit Coordinator. She graduated from BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program and earned her teaching certification through East Carolina University. She and her husband Kerry have two sons, Brant and Josh.

• Residence: Washington
• SGA president
• Term expires: 2024