[1][2] He previously served as the ninth president of the North Carolina Community College System, beginning in 2018.

Senators Lauch Faircloth, Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, and later as a lobbyist and public relations consultant.

[4] He served a six-year term on the State Board of Community Colleges, where he was vice chair.

He later served three terms on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, including two years as chair.

From 2016 to 2018, he advised former UNC System President Margaret Spellings on issues related to technology, health care, strategic planning and K-12 education.