Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Lisa Smelser

Dr. Lisa Smelser has been making a difference in peoples' lives for a long time.  She served as the Biotechnology Chair for Central Carolina Community College where she sparked generational change, encouraging students to attend and complete BioWork certificates and degrees in biomanufacturing/bioprocessing fields. But her impact was felt far beyond the classroom walls as her willingness to nuture relationships with the whole person, not just the student, often gave that extra boost that led to success. In addition to student success, she also worked with employer partners, ensuring the educational pathways were aligned with employers' needs and students' career objectives. Smelser helped secure numerous grants and led the N.C. Biotechnology Alignment Project to facilitate the alignment and standardization of biotechnology programs across the state's community colleges.

For all this and more, Dr. Smelser is the recipient of the 2025 N.C. Community College System excellence in teaching award. But she is not resting on her laurels, and has recently been named Central Carolina's executive director of workforce strategic initiatives where she will be applying her experience to maintenance technician spaces, an crucial area for advanced manufacturing.

Congratulations Dr Smelser! Read more about Dr. Smelser and North Carolina's biotechnology efforts.