House Plans: Online Community College

Online Community College

James Timothy "Tim" Brewer brings a diverse background of teaching and administrative experiences to Mitchell Community College. Early in his educational career he began to see the importance an education can play in a person's quality of life. He believes in the "open door" that community colleges provide to those who seek to improve their lives - a place where the American Dream can still be realized. His emphasis on "connecting life to learning" demonstrates that there should be a porous boundary between what happens in the classroom and the real world.

Brewer received an undergraduate degree in recreational administration from Mars Hill College in 1989, a master's of recreation resources from North Carolina State University in 1991, and an Ed.D in higher education administration from North Carolina State University in 2003.

After graduating from the master's program, Brewer began his professional career as a park ranger with the State of North Carolina. In this capacity he was responsible for managing the cultural and natural resources as well as the educational programs at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. He left the park system to pursue a teaching career at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. That experience led him to pursue a career in community college administration.

In 2002, Brewer joined the North Carolina Community College System office where he served as executive assistant to President H. Martin Lancaster and as the executive director of the State Board of Community Colleges. As a member of the leadership team, he worked with community colleges across the state, the UNC General Administration, the Department of Public Instruction, the Governors' Office, and State Legislators. Brewer also managed projects and collaborative community college studies traveling to Thailand, the former Soviet Republic of Moldova, England and Northern Ireland.

In 2005, Brewer came to Mitchell to serve as vice president for instruction and then as executive vice president and chief academic officer. In that role, he led the institution through the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Brewer grew up in Cary, NC. He and his wife Shannon Taylor Brewer, a clinical psychologist, reside in Mooresville with their son Ethan who is nine and daughter Kamryn who is seven.