How Joe Little makes a big difference

Joe Little is a ball of energy. The associate dean of technology at Central Piedmont Community College dances with students and fellow faculty at graduation. He has cowbells and pom-poms with which he cheers on accomplishments. He has a hearty laugh that fills up a room. He represents the spirit of the college, and his enthusiasm for it is infectious.

“My favorite part of being at Central Piedmont is graduation,” he says. “It’s seeing those people complete their journeys, even if they’re not IT majors. I will be shouting for you on graduation day. It’s my favorite day of the entire semester.” 

Central Piedmont has been a part of Joe’s journey for more than a quarter-century. He grew up in Charlotte and enlisted in the United States Army upon finishing high school. He specialized in communications and information technology from 1999 to 2003. When he was injured after four years of service, he returned home to transition into civilian life.  

He enrolled at Central Piedmont, intrigued by the school’s affordable, hands-on training opportunities and short sessions. After receiving his Associate in Applied Science degree in network administration and support in 2006, he ultimately earned a bachelor’s from East Carolina University. For a time, Joe worked in the private sector as a network engineer and taught cybersecurity classes at Central Piedmont as an adjunct instructor. He began at the college as a full-time faculty member in 2011 and has been an important part of the institution ever since.  

Although the physical makeup of Central Piedmont has changed significantly since Joe earned his associate degree, the college’s efforts in hands-on training and teaching practical skills have remained constant.

“I can tell you as a student and as a faculty member, this place excels at workforce development,” he says. “It's all about connecting you to the skills.”

He points out that Central Piedmont provides the opportunity to learn and apply a craft. Furthermore, an ever-increasing number of certification exams let students prove to employers that they can excel at a job, even if they don’t have extensive experience. Employers recognize that fact. Workforce representatives are often found around campus, recruiting and speaking with students.

Plus, Joe adds, people are a valuable resource across the entire Central Piedmont orbit.

“There is just the expertise of the faculty themselves, which is the college's greatest asset,” he says.  “You have all these wonderful individuals and their prior industry and academia expertise that they're bringing into the classroom and imparting upon the students.” 

Joe falls into that category himself. He found that even as a student, he enjoyed helping his peers and has carried that passion for education — along with cutting-edge technology—into his career.

“Whether you realize it or not, information technology is embedded into almost everything you do,” he says. “You've got smart homes now, smart refrigerators, you pick your brand of artificial intelligence. It's everywhere. So, we need to learn how to use that responsibly and promote a better quality of life, and I want to be a part of training people to do that. But moreover, it's about connecting the world at large and changing lives.” 

Joe has made significant connections with the community at Central Piedmont. He embraces his role as a cheerleader and champion of the college.

“To me, there’s never a bad day around here,” says. “Everything we do is about community service, changing lives, and getting people to where they want to be in their next chapter.”