FRANKLIN—Dr. Patsy Joyner, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College, is retiring in January after 31 years with the college.

Although Joyner was eligible to retire two years ago, she stayed on to assist with the transition from the college’s sixth to seventh president. She vowed to stay on board through President Dr. Paul Wm. Conco’s inauguration on Sept. 30.

“I am now ready to retire, and I look forward to unscheduled time,” Joyner said. “It is so fulfilling to have a meaningful job that makes a positive difference for our students and the communities we serve.”

Joyner leaves with mixed emotions.

“While I am happy and excited about the time I can spend with family and friends in retirement, I will sorely miss being at the college that has been a way of life for 31 extraordinary and rewarding years,” she said.

Conco noted that Joyner has been an integral part of PDCCC for over 30 years.

“We will miss her wonderful enthusiasm and energy that she always brought to every task,” he said. I know she will continue to be a Paul D. Camp Community College cheerleader even in retirement.”

Hired in 1980, Joyner was administrative assistant to the president and adjunct teacher for early childhood classes. In 1984, she was named director of community and continuing education, and in 1995, director and later vice president for Institutional Advancement.

Responsibilities included public relations, legislative affairs, community partnerships, scholarships and fundraising through the college’s foundation, for which she serves as executive director. Joyner emphasized that each part of her job was an opportunity to promote the college and she loved being a PDCCC cheerleader.

Conco noted that her enthusiasm for the college is exemplified in her day-to-day work and involvement in the community, where she champions the college at every chance.

“Paul D. Camp Community College is one of the greatest assets in our community,” Joyner said. “Affordable and close to home, it provides access to higher education, workforce training that enhances economic development, non-credit community-service classes, a summer time Kids College, a community-wide facility usage in its Regional Workforce Development Center and many other options.”

In the early 1970s, Joyner was taking a full schedule of courses at Paul D. Camp Community College, attending classes four nights a week and during lunch hours while working full time.

She was in the first PDCCC graduating class, earning an associate degree in pre-teacher education. This two-year degree positioned her to pursue other degrees, all while working full-time. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and an master’s degree in humanities from Old Dominion University. In addition, she earned a doctorate in higher education administration from The College of William and Mary.

Some of the highlights during her tenure include coordinating many events, such as presidential inaugurations, groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies, golf tournaments, fundraisers and annual visits to the General Assembly. She also implemented the Student Ambassadors program and initiated the Camp to Camp Scholarships at the college. Joyner has successfully written numerous grants, news releases, articles and weekly newspaper columns.

She was a primary author for the application of the U.S. Senate Productivity Award that was featured in a professional journal. Joyner wrote two grants that brought two musicians that served the college and community through the Visiting Artists program.

She has served on boards for the Genieve Shelter, Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Healthy Woman at Southampton Memorial Hospital and Franklin Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, for which she is a past president and past vice-president for government relations. Joyner also served the IOW-Smithfield-Windsor Chamber of Commerce as chairwoman of its legislative committee.

She serves on the state level as a member of the Virginia Network Board, which helps advance women in higher education administration and was the first chairwoman of the School of Education development board at the College of William and Mary.