myFutureNC’s Cecilia Holden named as RCC’s 2023 Commencement Speaker
Robeson Community College is pleased to announce that Cecilia Holden, the President and CEO of myFutureNC, will serve as its Commencement speaker for the 2023 graduation.
Holden joined myFutureNC in 2019 and is the first to hold the position of President and CEO. She graduated from the University of Wilmington, earning a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Business, and Duke University, where she completed a Master’s in Business Administration. She holds a certificate in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina’s School of Government.
myFutureNC is a non-profit organization that began in 2017 that’s focused on educational attainment and is the result of cross-sector collaboration between NC leaders in education, business, and government. The organization started from an idea generated by MC Belk Pilon, President of the John M. Belk Endowment, and Margaret Spellings, then President of the UNC System, as they sought ways that could lead to transformational change for North Carolina and its residents through education.
Holden most recently held the position as the Director of Government and Community Affairs for the State Board of Education. In this capacity, she served as the principal contact for federal education policymakers and stakeholders, including the NC General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, North Carolina agencies, and the United States Congress.
A native of Columbus County, Holden’s career includes extensive public and private sector experience including serving as the Chief of Staff for the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Director of Networking Technologies for the Department of Public Instruction, a middle manager with IBM, and the Business Operations Manager for a Registered Investment Advisory firm.
Many know Holden as a “dynamic leader” that is committed to developing collaborative relationships to advance the state’s education attainment goal of two million post-secondary credentials by 2030. She and her husband, Tom, have a son and a daughter, and are both members of Edenton Street United Methodist Church where Holden served on the Administrative Board and volunteers as a youth leader.
Holden is set to speak during the college’s two outdoor ceremonies that will take place on May 10 on the main campus in Lumberton. The first ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the second ceremony will start at 4:00 p.m.
Approximately 300 students are expected to walk across the stage to become graduates of Robeson Community College. Graduating students will receive official notification as to which ceremony they should attend. With limited seating available, prospective graduates will be provided tickets for family and other guests who wish to attend. In the event of rain, the two ceremonies will take place on May 12, 2023.
