One of the oldest institutions in the system, LCC, located in Kinston at the intersections of U.S. 70 and N.C. 58, has as its primary service area Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. The College offers both degree and non-degree programs and serves approximately 2,500 curriculum students and 12,500 extension students annually.

LCC, chartered in 1958 by the State Board of Education, began operating in 1960 as the Lenoir County Industrial Educational Center (IEC). Daniel C. Wise was employed as the director. Approximately 80 students enrolled in classes held at Contentnea High School.

In 1961, vocational and technical curricula were initiated and were held at Stallings Field, a former air base. In 1963, the Center moved to a new building, later named Bullock Building, located on an 18-acre permanent campus. The first graduation took place in June 1963.

In July 1963, the IEC was separated administratively from the County Board of Education; the first
Board of Trustees was organized. In June 1964, the Board secured the status of technical institute for the Center; and in November 1964, the institution attained community college status. The Board of Trustees for the College appointed Dan Wise as acting president; he served until the summer of 1965.

In July 1965, Dr. Benjamin E. Fountain was employed as president. Under his leadership, the College expanded its site to 58 acres and began long-range planning of campus development. The first year of the transfer program was offered at Stallings Field in the fall of 1966. The program was moved in 1968 to the new Administration Building on the permanent campus.

Lenoir Community College was initially accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1968.

Dr. Jesse L. McDaniel took office as president in 1970, after Dr. Fountain was named president of the North Carolina Community College System. During Dr. McDaniel’s 18 years of service, the College added seven buildings to its main campus and expanded the main campus to 90 acres. The Jones County Education Center and the Greene County Education Center, which serves Eastern Correctional Institution, were added as extensions of LCC. In 1986, an addition was made to the Business Technologies Building; in 1988, Heritage Place was added to the Learning Resources Center.

In July 1988, Dr. Lonnie H. Blizzard was named president when Dr. McDaniel retired. In 1989, a new building for aviation education was built at the Kinston Regional Jetport and the Health Science Building was completed on the main campus.

In 1997, the Bullock Building underwent a $2.7 million renovation. The Waller Building was completed in 1998 at a cost of $4.5 million and houses a 650-seat auditorium.

Dr. Karin Pettit became the fifth president of the college on July 1, 1998. The new campus in Greene County opened a 15,000 square foot facility costing $1.6 million. In November 1999, the college
purchased the property of Clarence L. and Dorothy Stroud on the corner of Highways 58 and 70. A state community college construction bond referendum was passed in November 2000 with the College receiving over $12 million for renovation and new construction.

Joyce Cherry, longtime employee of the College was named interim president in July of 2001. Mrs. Cherry provided excellent leadership and stability to the College until the new president, Dr. Stephen Scott was selected.

On April 22, 2002, Dr. Stephen Scott, former vice president of the North Carolina Community College System, became the sixth president of Lenoir Community College. With state bond funds, the Health Science Building added classrooms and an elevator, a 2,000 square foot wellness center was added to the Student Center, various renovations were made throughout the campus, including landscape improvements.

In October of 2003, Dr. Scott resigned to become president of Wake Technical Community College. Joyce Cherry was again named interim president until a new president was selected.

Dr. Brantley Briley was hired to become the seventh president of Lenoir Community College on
May 10, 2004.

The College receives state funding as well as support from the citizens of Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties. Today, LCC is a world class community college moving into the new millennium, building futures for citizens to work in a global economy.