The Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research (Belk Center) has announced that Sharon Decker, former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce and current Senior Advisor to Governor Josh Stein on the Long-Term Recovery of Western North Carolina, will serve as the respondent for this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture.

The annual lecture honors the legacy of W. Dallas Herring, whose visionary leadership and dedicated efforts shaped the founding of North Carolina’s community college system. This signature event convenes college leaders from across the state and nation to reflect on pressing issues in higher education and to envision paths forward for community colleges.

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Dr. Jason Wood, former president of the 2025 Aspen Prize winner for Community College Excellence, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. His address, titled “We Don’t Graduate People Into Poverty: Designing the College Experience Around Student Success,” will take place on Tuesday, November 18, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

Immediately following Dr. Wood’s address, Decker will take the podium to deliver the North Carolina response.

Decker brings decades of leadership experience spanning the public, private and nonprofit sectors across North Carolina. As the state’s former secretary of commerce, she led the creation of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, strengthening collaboration between business and government to drive economic growth. Today, Decker continues to serve as president of Tryon Equestrian Partners but is currently on leave from her role as she serves as Senior Advisor to Governor Stein and his Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) team, leading efforts to rebuild and revitalize Western North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. 

At the conclusion of her remarks, Decker will be joined by Dr. Wood and Audrey Jaeger, Ph.D., W. Dallas Herring Professor at the NC State College of Education and executive director of the Belk Center, for a moderated conversation that will further explore how partnerships across sectors can create sustainable pathways to prosperity.

“We’re honored to welcome Sharon Decker to this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture,” said Dr. Jaeger. “Throughout her career, she has shown how visionary leadership and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen communities and expand pathways to opportunity across North Carolina.”

This year’s Dallas Herring Lecture will be held virtually and is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

About Sharon Decker

Sharon Decker is a respected leader, entrepreneur and community builder whose career has spanned the public, private and nonprofit sectors across North Carolina. As Governor Josh Stein’s Senior Advisor for Long-Term Recovery in Western North Carolina, she is helping guide the region’s restoration and long-term economic redevelopment following Hurricane Helene.

A native North Carolinian, Sharon has built her life and career around one central mission – strengthening the communities she loves. Her work focuses on rebuilding opportunity, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that individuals and businesses across Western North Carolina not only recover but thrive.

After a successful 17-year career with Duke Energy, Sharon began a new chapter in entrepreneurial leadership in both nonprofit and private organizations. She later served as North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce, where she led the creation of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, helping modernize and reposition the state’s approach to job growth and investment. She went on to become President of Tryon International, leading the development of one of North Carolina’s premier sports, tourism and entertainment destinations.

Through her nonprofit, Tapestry Collaborative, Sharon continues her lifelong commitment to community and economic development, helping connect local leaders and for-profit, nonprofit and public organizations in the shared work of restoring Western North Carolina’s economy and spirit.

Sharon lives in the foothills of Western North Carolina with her husband, Bob, and remains grounded in faith, family and her belief that when communities come together with purpose, true restoration happens – for both people and place.

About the Dallas Herring Lecture
Held in honor of W. Dallas Herring – whose transformative vision and tireless work culminated in the inception of North Carolina’s community colleges – the annual lecture invites community college leaders from across the country to speak on urgent and emerging topics, framing how to address the issues and proposing a path forward. 

Since 2015, the Belk Center has welcomed college presidents, educational researchers, nonprofit leaders and philanthropists to engage in critical and emerging conversations about student success, postsecondary transformation, economic vitality and student outcomes.