FRANKLIN—Renee R. Felts of Courtland, associate professor of Information Systems Technology at Paul D. Camp Community College, was honored with the 2009 PDCCC Excellence in Education Award during graduation May 14.

PDCCC President Dr. Doug Boyce made the presentation.

Nominated by her peers, Felts was honored for going above and beyond her job duties and her donation of many hours on the local and state level.

“I felt so honored that my colleagues thought enough of me to (make that nomination),” she said. “I was surprised, as we have a lot of talented and dedicated people at PDCCC.”

A faculty member since 2001, Felts has served as a mentor to students online and in regular classes.

She serves on Virginia Community College System Professional Development Committee, which plans and oversees the professional development for all 23 colleges in the system; the VCCS Professional Development Subcommittee for grants and scholarships; and the VCCS Technology Council Committee, which is a position appointed by the Chancellor.

Felts represents more than 2,000 faculty members across the state and the Chancellor Faculty Advisory Committee, made up of representatives from the 23 colleges, which serves as a bridge between faculty and administrators.

At PDCCC, Felts has served as faculty association president since 2008. She has initiated professional development opportunities during the faculty association meetings and provided networking opportunities for the faculty in her home.

During the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaccreditation process, Felts served on the Quality Enhancement Plan committee, which affected all employees and more than 1,000 students. She has provided technology workshops during two adjunct academy meetings, as well as mentored adjunct faculty members.

Felts serves as the lead of Information Systems Technology for PDCCC at state meetings, and is in the second half of the doctorate in Higher Education Leadership program at North Central University.

“This award recognizes your dedication to the college, your profession as a teacher in Information Systems Technology, and your contributions to the Virginia Community College System,” Boyce said during the presentation.

Coincidentally, Felts’ twin sister, Rhee’ Cumbey, a registered nurse, won a teaching award about a year ago. A teacher at Southampton Memorial Hospital’s School of Practical Nursing, Cumbey earned the Outstanding New Teacher Award from the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education for her contributions toward innovative and unique programs that help improve career and technical education.

“We both have always been driven and have always valued education,” Felts said about shared interests with her sister.”

“Although my mother never attended college, she was a very smart woman, and she instilled the importance of education and hard work in us,” she continued.

Felts will be honored at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence held May 30-June 2, in Austin, Texas.

She is married to Michael D. Felts. They have daughters Hillary Lauren Drake, 22, and Taylor Morgan Felts, 15.