News and Features

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.”

CHARLOTTE, NC – On Dec. 16, Central Piedmont Community College awarded degrees, diplomas, and credentials to 1,711 students, celebrating their accomplishments and the promise of their future. 

With over 200 more graduates than the Dec. 2024 class, the Dec. 2025 class represents a 15% increase in graduates and reinforces Central Piedmont’s historic growth. The group had a collective 3.34 GPA, showcasing the strength of their academic journeys.  

The college has invested in holistic support systems to help students complete their educational pathways – from financial assistance, individual academic advising, and access to a professional clothing closet. Additionally, the college’s Wellness Center offers wrap-around services, such as counseling and connections to local food banks.  

Community and donor support played a large role in the success of the graduates, with nearly 300 students benefiting from almost $1 million in scholarship support from the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation. 

Kristen Alvarado Sorto, who received her associate degree in cosmetology, served as the graduation speaker. She highlighted the resilience of her journey as she balanced a full-time job with the pursuit of her degree. 

“Central Piedmont has been a life-changing opportunity, not just through education, but through growth, community, and purpose,” Alvarado Sorto said. “This moment is only the beginning of what each of us can achieve. As we move forward, remember this one powerful truth: We are the generation rewriting our stories — one degree, one dream, and one victory at a time.” 

Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer praised the graduates for their perseverance and potential. 

“These graduates are the future leaders, innovators, and professionals who will make a significant difference in the world,” Deitemeyer said. “They didn’t just earn credentials, but discovered their capacity to solve problems, lift up their families, and strengthen their future.” 

The class of 2025 includes nearly 275 graduates entering career fields such as healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, and transportation, roles that are essential to keeping the community healthy, connected, and thriving. 

“Through hands-on learning, they uncovered their potential and defined their purpose,” Deitemeyer said. “As they step forward — in hospitals, tech firms, construction sites, and more — they will shape stronger communities and create lasting impact across the region.” 

Central Piedmont also highlighted several graduates whose journeys reflect courage, adaptability, and purpose: 

• Mariame Boujlil – After years of caregiving and work, Boujlil graduates at age 61 with a Human Services degree, showing that dreams never expire — they wait for courage. 

From a young age, Kristen Alvarado Sorto has been passionate about hair, makeup, and nails. She sought out “Get Ready with Me” YouTube videos growing up and practiced the craft on herself and her sisters. At Central Piedmont Community College, she found a place where she could turn passion into a career with the cosmetology program.  

Kristen, who hails from Charlotte but whose family is from El Salvador, ultimately became a shining example of what is possible when you follow a dream. Her time at Central Piedmont culminated with her serving as the college’s fall 2025 commencement speaker.    

“Being the commencement speaker was truly an honor,” she says. “I come from an immigrant family. They came to the United States to give me a better education, a better life, something that they couldn't have. I had the opportunity to share my story and really inspire others that it is possible. That you can do it if you set your mind to it.” 
 
In her speech, Kristen encouraged her fellow graduates to keep pushing.  
 
“This moment is only the beginning of what each of us can achieve,” she said to her fellow students and the gathered crowd at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum. “As we move forward, remember this one powerful truth: We are the generation rewriting our stories — one degree, one dream, and one victory at a time.”  

Kristen toured many colleges before selecting Central Piedmont. None of them made her feel so welcome, and she knew she had found where she belonged.   
 
Still, Kristen faced challenges early on as a full-time student while also working a full-time job.  
 
“I remember the first week I started, I was really starting to question, ‘Is this really for me?’” she says. “I was just doubting myself. I was comparing myself to other people, and I was like, ‘Wow, their work is exceptional.’”  

She found herself getting further behind as she tried to balance work with school and eventually had a failing GPA. But she is fond of saying the comeback is greater than the setback.  
 

With her mind set on improvement, Kristen leaned on her instructors and advisors, who encouraged her, supported her, and boosted her confidence. She also relied on her deep faith in many challenging times. She emphasizes that fear — and fear of failure — are not important. Rather, it is important to come back and try again.   
 
She utilized many resources at the college and encourages students to get involved in activities and clubs, to truly become part of the community.  
 
Kristen’s next step will take place at UNC Charlotte, where she will study business administration to complement the services and techniques she learned at Central Piedmont. She plans to open her own salon one day, and she knows she needs to understand the business side of the operation to be successful.  

Throughout her life, her cultural identity has played a significant role in shaping her, and she takes an immense amount of pride in her heritage.  

“It's a very beautiful culture, and I always cherish that,” Kristen says. “While I was born in the United States, El Salvador means a lot to me, and I get to share my culture. I get to share my experience.”  
 
She also credits her family for supporting and guiding her to her singular position in her class.  
 
“As a first-generation college Latina graduate, it means everything to me,” she says. “Because while this diploma may have my name on it, it also carries their legacy, their sacrifice, their hard work. I know they're very proud of me, but also, I always have them in my heart.” 

• Partnership provides affordable pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree online
• More than 350 Central Piedmont graduates have continued their education at WGU
• Top fields of study for transferring students include IT, business, and healthcare

CHARLOTTE, NC – Central Piedmont Community College and Western Governors University have extended their partnership agreement, guaranteeing a path for Central Piedmont students to pursue bachelor’s degrees at one of the nation’s leading online universities.

The transfer pathway is open to students who have graduated with an associate degree from Central Piedmont, and students and employees are eligible to apply for the WGU Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $3,500. 

Since the partnership began in 2020, over 350 Central Piedmont students have continued their education at WGU, increasing from 21 students during the first year of the partnership to more than 100 each of the past two academic years. 

Top fields of study pursued by students include:  

• Information technology and software engineering
• Business, accounting, and finance
• Public health and nursing 

“This extension builds on Central Piedmont’s long-standing focus of helping students move forward with confidence toward their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Heather Hill, provost of Central Piedmont. “Together with Western Governors University, we’re driving innovation in higher education – creating programs that match real workforce needs, making it easier for students to keep the credits they’ve earned, and helping them finish their degrees faster.”

“The Greater Charlotte region has seen tremendous growth in employment in the past few years, and Central Piedmont plays a critical role in preparing the local workforce for success,” said Ben Coulter, Ed.D., chancellor for WGU in North Carolina. “This renewed transfer agreement will help graduates continue their educational pursuits online while juggling work and family obligations.”

Central Piedmont remains committed to transfer success, offering 18 guaranteed admission programs with colleges and universities across the Carolinas, along with agreements with four online or out-of-state institutions to give students flexible, affordable pathways to a bachelor’s degree. 

WGU offers more than 120 fully accredited online bachelor’s, master’s and professional certificate programs spanning business, technology, healthcare, and K-12 education. Its flexible, competency-based model allows students to work at their own pace with support from program mentors, and tuition for bachelor’s degrees is priced at approximately $4,000 per six-month term. Students may complete as many courses as they choose within a term, creating a path to faster degree completion and workforce entry. WGU has more than 10,000 graduates across North Carolina.  

Editor’s Note: To support our branding initiatives, please refer to the college as:

• First reference: Central Piedmont Community College
• Second reference: Central Piedmont
• The college no longer uses the “CPCC” acronym. 

About Central Piedmont 

Central Piedmont Community College is highly accessible and convenient to people of all ages who seek a real-world, affordable, hands-on education that will transform their lives and strengthen the economic, social, and cultural environment of Mecklenburg County. Central Piedmont is also a smart investment. At a fraction of the cost, students learn by doing, receiving a combination of technical and soft skills training from quality faculty who prepare them to enter the workforce and make a difference in their family, business, community, and world. Founded in 1963, Central Piedmont Community College has eight locations throughout Mecklenburg County, offering nearly 300-degree, diploma, and certification programs; customized corporate training; market-focused continuing education; and special interest classes. For more information, visit cpcc.edu, or connect with the college on social media at cpcc.edu/social

About WGU 

Western Governors University, the nation’s leading nonprofit, online university, is transforming higher education to be more student-centric, affordable, accessible to all, and relevant to the workforce. Established in 1997 by 19 visionary U.S. governors, WGU creates life-changing pathways to opportunity for those underserved by traditional institutions — working adults, historically underrepresented communities and a diverse, growing number of learners looking for a flexible, online model that better suits their life circumstances. WGU’s competency-based education model allows students to demonstrate mastery as they progress through programs at their own pace. Learn more at wgu.edu. Follow WGU on LinkedIn. 

Central Piedmont is showcasing a fresh wave of creativity this fall, with four unique exhibitions now open to the campus community. From thought-provoking history to Charlotte-inspired sketches, there’s something for everyone to explore.

TERRI YACOVELLI EXHIBITION  | LEVINE CAMPUS  

A series of encaustic paintings that reimagine landscapes as fluid, internal spaces shaped by memory, perception, and emotion. Expect abstraction, layered textures, and bold color that invite contemplation. 

“THE UNSCENE SOUTH” BY CHARLES EADY  | CENTRAL CAMPUS, DOVE GALLERY

A powerful exploration of Black life in the Antebellum South. Challenges traditional narratives and offers fresh perspectives on history.  

“A LOVE LETTER FROM CHARLOTTE” BY MIKE DAIKUBARA  | CENTRAL CAMPUS, NORTH CLASSROOM 

Features 60 on-location sketches capturing Charlotte’s landmarks, hidden corners, and evolving cityscape. Daikubara, an artist and educator, has been sketching daily since 2000.  

NEW 3D ART EXHIBITION OPEN  | LEVINE CAMPUS 

A collaborative 3D art exhibition, featuring work from Jackie Radford and Patricia Raible, exploring the book form as artistic expression. Investigates how structure influences content and vice versa, blending words, visuals, and materials.  

These exhibitions highlight both local talent and broader cultural narratives, giving students, faculty, and the community a chance to engage with art that sparks reflection, dialogue, and inspiration. 

Be sure to stop by the galleries this semester and experience the creativity happening right here on campus. 

CHARLOTTE, NC – Central Piedmont Community College ranked 91st in the America’s Top Online Colleges 2026 list, according to Newsweek and Statista, Inc. Central Piedmont’s ranking is fourth-best among 13 North Carolina institutions that made the list. 

Central Piedmont offers a wide range of programs that can be completed partially or fully online, providing flexibility for students balancing education with work and life commitments. Options include associate degrees in arts, science, and applied science, covering pathways such as business, computer science, criminal justice, biology, and teacher preparation. 

Students can also pursue programs in information technology, public safety administration, and simulation and game development, along with numerous certificates and diplomas in fields like business administration, construction management, and cybersecurity. 

During the 2024-25 academic year, nearly 15,000 curriculum students took at least one online class each semester. 

The America’s Top Online Colleges 2026 rankings were developed by Newsweek and Statista, Inc., based on a comprehensive survey of more than 10,000 online learners, along with additional research. Participants evaluated their colleges and universities across six key categories: organization, student support, affordability, reputation, success outcomes, and practical relevance. They also rated their overall satisfaction and likelihood of recommending their institution. These insights, combined with publicly available performance metrics, informed each school’s final score and national ranking. 

Central Piedmont launched several new continuing education programs this fall to help students build in-demand skills across a range of fast-growing industries.  

These short-term, skill-focused courses are designed to give students a head start in high-demand fields like hospitality, IT, aviation, and healthcare.  

What’s new:  

JumpSTART: Careers in Hotel & Lodging Operations  

•  Explore career pathways in hospitality and lodging management.  

Information Technology (IT)  

•  AI Foundations: From Curiosity to Career  

•  Learn the basics of artificial intelligence and how to turn interest into opportunity.  

Workplace Tech Skills  

•  Become proficient in the essential digital tools that power the modern workplace.  

Private Pilot Ground School (Aviation)  

•  Take off with foundational training for aspiring pilots.  

Radiology   

•  CT Scan  

•  Mammography  

•  Specialized training is available for those pursuing careers in radiologic technology. 

CHARLOTTE, NC – Central Piedmont Community College has reached a historic milestone this fall, enrolling more than 34,000 students across its curriculum, continuing education, and basic skills programs. This marks a 19% increase over fall 2024 and the highest single-semester enrollment in the college’s history, underscoring Central Piedmont’s growing impact as a driver of workforce development and economic mobility in the Charlotte region. 

The college has increased enrollment for the last four and a half academic years, dating back to the summer of 2021. 

Enrollment in the college’s curriculum programs rose by 13%, totaling 23,441 students, reflecting strong interest in high-demand fields such as healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. Continuing education programs experienced a remarkable 55% increase in enrollment, while basic skills programs grew by 31%, serving 4,652 students, empowering students to complete high school, learn English as a second language, and build confidence for independent living. 

“This record enrollment is a testament to the college’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community,” said Dr. Amy Bruining, vice president of student affairs at Central Piedmont. “Whether students are pursuing a degree, upgrading their skills, or preparing for a new career, Central Piedmont is here to support their journey and fuel Charlotte’s economic growth.” 

Central Piedmont’s enrollment increase is fueled by several strategic initiatives: 

• Introduction of multi-term registration, which allows students to plan their academic journey up to a year in advance. 

Central Piedmont has experienced remarkable growth across its academic programs. Highlights include:  

JumpSTART—a new 12-week hospitality training program—came to Central Piedmont this fall to help meet the rising demand for talent in Charlotte’s hotel and lodging industry.  

The hospitality sector in Charlotte is booming, and employers are looking for job-ready talent. JumpSTART was created in direct response to feedback from local hospitality leaders and provides students with industry-recognized certifications, hands-on experience, and career-building opportunities.  

Program details  

• Runs Mon., Oct. 20–Thu., Jan. 29  

• Includes classroom instruction, hands-on learning, a hotel externship, and a job fair  

• Prepares students for real-world hospitality careers with certifications and skills employers want  

Building industry connections  

The hospitality team at Central Piedmont recently joined the Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance’s General Sales Meeting at the Charlotte Convention Center.

They hosted an info table to promote JumpSTART and connect with local employers, shared how the program strengthens the hospitality workforce pipeline, and boosted community and employer partnerships through training and collaboration.

Central Piedmont Community College is proud to announce a new partnership with North Carolina State University and its Wolfpack Connect program which provides a guaranteed admissions pathway to NC State. 

Students in the program who earn an associate’s degree from a participating community college, maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, and meet NC State’s transfer admission deadlines can enroll in more than 100 eligible NC State majors and concentrations. 

Central Piedmont is one of three inaugural partners, along with Wake Technical Community College and Forsyth Technical Community College. All 58 North Carolina community colleges have the opportunity to join the program through Oct. 17, 2025, after which they can join annually. 

“Central Piedmont is committed to opening doors that allow students to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “Wolfpack Connect with NC State ensures a seamless transition for our graduates, reduces credit loss, and provides a clear path to a four-year degree. These collaborations are critical to student achievement and the long-term strength of our community.” 

“Wolfpack Connect represents a bold step forward in our commitment to expanding access to NC State for students across North Carolina,” said Don Hunt, NC State senior vice provost for enrollment management and services. “By providing guaranteed admission for those who meet the criteria, we are not only simplifying the transfer process – we’re making it possible for more students to see themselves thriving at NC State.” 

To qualify for Wolfpack Connect, students must have less than 30 transferable credits completed or in progress, be enrolled at or planning to enroll at Central Piedmont or one of the participating North Carolina community colleges, and plan to pursue one of NC State’s eligible majors. 

The program will begin accepting eligibility forms in late January 2026 for a fall 2026 start. Forms are due by June 1. 

In 2024-25, over 3,000 Central Piedmont students transferred to four-year institutions. This fall, NC State welcomed nearly 1,700 transfer students, with 54% coming from the state’s community college system. NC State officials see Wolfpack Connect as an opportunity to build on transfer student successes and increase access for students across the state.  

“This program has the potential to transform lives and uplift communities across our state,” said NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell. “It reflects the very heart of our land-grant mission to serve the people of North Carolina through education and opportunity. I’m thrilled to launch another pathway for students to pursue their goals and dreams.”