Governance
The current members of the Board of Trustees of Gaston College are as follows:
DR. JIM R. WATSON
Chair
Lincoln County Commissioners (Term: 2016 – 2020)
Born in North Wilkesboro, NC, he received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, retired as superintendent of Lincoln County Schools, and is currently employed as a college professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Additionally, he is president of WSRR Consulting Group, LLC and managing partner of Silo Investors.
DR. JAMES “JIM” RAGAN
Vice Chair
Gaston County Board of Education (Term: 2015 – 2019)
Raised in Lynchburg, VA, he received a BA from the University of Virginia, a JD from the University of South Carolina, and an MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Houston. Besides careers in teaching and consulting in business management, he recently retired after 40 years of practicing law.
MR. STEPHEN D. CAMPBELL
Secretary
Gaston County Commissioners (Term: 2016 – 2020)
A native of Roanoke, VA, he received his BS degree in Economics from the University of Richmond, and MBA from Vanderbilt University. He has held numerous leadership positions within the banking industry and is currently employed with Prudential Financial Services as a Financial Advisor.
SHERIFF ALAN CLONINGER
Governor (Term: 2018 – 2022)
A lifelong resident of Gaston County, he received an AS degree from Gaston College, a BS degree from University of North Carolina-Charlotte in Criminal Justice, and a JD from Campbell University School of Law. He currently serves as sheriff of Gaston County.
JUDGE CRAIG COLLINS
Governor (Term: 2015 – 2019)
A resident of Gastonia, NC, since 1998, he received a BA from the University of Pittsburgh in Political Science and a JD from Villanova University School of Law. Currently, he District Court Judge in Gastonia.
MR. JOHN DANCOFF
Lincoln County Commissioners (Term: 2018 – 2022)
A resident of Lincoln County and a Gaston College graduate, he is currently Existing Business Manager for the Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA). He also serves on the Lincoln County Planning Board and on the Executive Committee of the Lincoln County Industrial Managers Association.
MS. JENNIFER DAVIS
Gaston County Board of Education (Term: 2018 – 2022)
A Gastonia native, she served on the Gaston County School Board for 12 years. Retired from IBM, she is currently employed as the Director of Discipleship Ministry for the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC. She is also the sole proprietor of Jennifer P. Davis and Associates, a Human Resources Consulting business.
MR. TOM KEIGHER
Gaston County Board of Commissioners (Term: 2018 – 2022)
Born and raised in New Jersey, he received a BA from Belmont Abbey College, and currently is a partner with a local financial group. He serves as a member of the Gaston County Commissioners and on several local boards and civic groups, for example, the CaroMont Health/Gaston Memorial Hospital Board, the Economic Development Commission, and the Transportation Advisory Board.
MR. BRADLEY OVERCASH
Governor (Term: 2016 – 2020)
A resident of Belmont, he received his BS from the University of NC at Chapel Hill and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in NC and Mississippi, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Fifth Circuits, and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. He is a partner with Parker Poe Attorneys and Counselors at Law in Charlotte.
MRS. JANIE PEAK
Gaston County Board of Commissioners (Term: 2018 – 2019)
Ms. Peak is a resident of Gaston County and a lifelong educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education and a Masters of Arts degree in Education from Lenoir Rhyne University. She also has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She taught high school English in Gaston County Schools for 38 years and has served on numerous local professional and civic boards and committees.
MS. SUZANNE RILEY
Gaston County Board of Education (Term: 2017 – 2021)
A resident of Gaston County, she received her BA and Master in Education from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and her Master in Curriculum and Supervision from UNC Charlotte. Previously she has taught AP Chemistry, Chemistry, and Physics at Cherryville High School. She has been actively involved with the Schiele Museum, the Community Foundation’s “Run for the Money,” the Boys and Girls Club, and several other community and civic organizations.
MR. JAMES SMITH
Gaston County Board of Education (Term: 2016 – 2020)
Born and raised in Gastonia, NC, he graduated with the first class at Gaston College and received a BS in Accounting from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. He retired from J.A. Jones, Inc. as Senior VP and from the Gaston County Family YMCA, Inc. as CFO.
MS. NATALIE TINDOL
The Governor (Term: 2017 – 2021)
A resident of Gaston County, she received her BA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She is very involved with many civic, business, and professional organizations. A few of those include the CaroMont Health Institute, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the YMCA, Gastonia East Rotary, and the Community Foundation. As President and Owner of Earl Tindol Ford, Inc., Tindol Subaru, LLC, and Tindol Roush, she is active in the Automobile Associations in the Greater Charlotte area, North Carolina, and nationwide.
MR. JAMES “RANDY” VINSON
Gaston County Commissioners (Term: 2017 – 2021)
Born and raised in Statesville, NC, he is a graduate of NC State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He retired after careers in telecommunications, sales, and marketing.
MS. KYRA RHYNE
Student Government Association (Term: 2018 – 2019)
A resident of Stanley, NC, Ms. Rhyne is a student of Gaston Early College High School. Ms. Rhyne is a hard working student who cherishes both her community and school. She is passionate about volunteering and leadership; she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the Student Government Association as president. Ms. Rhyne is working on obtaining an Associate in Science at Gaston College and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study Chemistry and enter the medical field.
Board Meeting Schedule 2019-2020
Board Minutes
2019 Board Minutes
2018 Board Minutes
- February 9, 2018 (Retreat)
- March 26, 2018
- April 30, 2018 (Called Board Meeting)
- May 7, 2018
- June 11, 2018
- August 27, 2018
- October 1, 2018
- November 5, 2018
2017 Board Minutes
- February 3, 2017 (Retreat)
- March 8, 2017 (Called Board Meeting)
- March 27, 2017
- May 8, 2017
- June 26, 2017
- August 28, 2017
- September 18, 2017
- November 13, 2017