Among the factors that make Robeson Community College an outstanding place for a student to begin his or her postsecondary education are the professionals with whom the student will engage once enrolled. As part of the philosophy that students deserve the best, the college prides itself in appointing the best people to serve in professional positions.
Along that same vein, staff at the college periodically recognize those that have exemplified those characteristics that all of our professionals exhibit. The college recently recognized Counselor Ronnie Sampson as the Staff Person of the Year and History instructor Roy Raby as Instructor of the Year at the college’s annual Employee Appreciation event.
Sampson has served as a counselor in the Counseling and Career Services office at the college for the past eight years. He has been a counselor for 26 years, having served at UNCP and Wayne Community College before coming to RCC. Sampson earned his undergraduate degree at UNCP and graduate degrees at UNCP and East Carolina University.
Sampson says that it is both challenging and rewarding working with students at RCC, but the goal is always to do what is best for the student. In addition to his duties at Robeson Community College, Sampson serves as a high school sports official in football, basketball, and softball. He has officiated state championships in both football and softball. Sampson is a Robeson County native from the Deep Branch Community. He is the son of Mildred and the late James Norman Sampson.
Raby has served as a full-time instructor and advisor at the college for 11 years. In addition to his teaching duties, Raby serves as an advisor to the Minority Male Achievement Program on campus, part of the state-sponsored Minority Male Success Initiative. In this role Raby works directly with many students throughout the semester by tutoring, mentoring, advising and helping them connect to the four-year university of their choice.
Raby says his approach to teaching history is a little different from the norm in that he doesn’t think teaching dates, times, people and places as memory work to be real history.
“I focus on change and development over time,” he said “I look at the impact of innovation, social structure and revolution on groups of people over time, and then relate that to modern times. Students seem to retain an understanding of History in general and not just a small amount of random facts.”
Raby has also served as past president of the school Faculty Association and currently serves as secretary for the group. For several years he has also served as the volunteer coordinator for the annual Book ‘em NC event. Raby makes his home in Lumberton.
We invite you to join in Robeson Community College’s tradition of excellence where you will interact with staff like Mr. Sampson and Mr. Raby every day. The spring term for degree programs will begin in January, but now is the time to prepare for those classes by applying for admission, submitting transcripts and getting financial aid in order. To begin that process visit us on the web at www.robeson.edu/admissions or call 910-272-3342.
