Welcome to Halifax Community College! It is so exciting that you have an interest in our institution. We believe that you have come to the right place at the right time to begin your educational journey. If you have been wondering if you can go to college or if you have what it takes to succeed, you do not have to wonder any longer. Halifax Community College is here to assist you with your educational and workforce training pursuits.
Whether you are interested in earning an associate degree prior to furthering your studies at a four-year institution, desiring to gain a credential that positions you to be competitive in the workforce, obtaining your high school equivalency diploma, or taking a class for enrichment purposes, HCC is the place for you.
Since 1967, our faculty and staff have ensured that the College is a welcoming place where one can explore, discover, and become. The College seeks to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality education, training, and services to meet the diverse needs of our community. HCC has so much to offer! Whether you desire to become a student or a business and industry partner, we welcome you to connect with us.
Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott – President
Over the past 28 years, Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott has developed an extensive higher education career. On January 1, 2023, Dr. Elliott began serving as the sixth and first female President of Halifax Community College. Prior to this appointment, she served as Vice President and Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC. In addition to this leadership role, Dr. Elliott has held several senior administrative positions to include: Vice President of Academic Affairs, Graduate College Dean, Honors College Director, and Chief Executive Officer of a statewide inter-institutional center in the University of North Carolina System. Over her career, she has established academic programs from certificate to graduate level, raised millions of dollars in institutional funding, mentored countless students, and has presented extensively throughout the country.
Dr. Elliott earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.S. in Adult Education and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from North Carolina A&T State University. As a lifelong learner, she also holds Higher Education/Leadership Certificates from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Leadership Raleigh, Hampton University, and the University of North Carolina System.
Dr. Elliott has been inducted in several honor societies and is the recipient of numerous leadership awards. Given that she believes, “to whom much is given, much is required,” she also holds memberships in several service organizations including: The Links, Incorporated and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott is married to Dr. Stanley Elliott and together they are the proud parents of two adult children, Jordan and Sterling.
