Dr. Janet Spriggs to Deliver Commencement Address at Isothermal Community College
By: Mike Gavin
Published: May 14, 2026
SPINDALE (May 14, 2026) — Dr. Janet N. Spriggs, president of Forsyth Technical Community College, will serve as the commencement speaker for Isothermal Community College’s Annual Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, May 16. Ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Dr. Spriggs has served as the seventh president of Forsyth Tech since January 2019 and brings more than 30 years of leadership experience within the North Carolina Community College System. Prior to joining Forsyth Tech, she held executive leadership positions at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Carteret Community College.
Her leadership has received national recognition through the Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence Program, where she is a three-time Aspen Presidential Fellow. In 2026, Dr. Spriggs was named the North Carolina Community College System President of the Year. Under her leadership, Forsyth Tech was also recognized as an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction and named a semifinalist for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
A former first-generation, low-income community college student, Dr. Spriggs attended Rockingham Community College and Durham Technical Community College before earning her doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University. Throughout her career, she has championed the transformative power of community colleges to expand access, strengthen workforce development, and break cycles of poverty.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Spriggs to Isothermal Community College for this year’s commencement ceremonies,” said Dr. Margaret Annunziata. “Her remarkable leadership, personal journey, and unwavering commitment to student success bring a unique and inspiring perspective that will deeply resonate with our graduates as they celebrate this important milestone and prepare for the future.”
Dr. Spriggs is known for her student-centered leadership philosophy and her guiding conviction to “Love Deeply. Laugh Often. Lead Well.” She and her husband, Doug, have been married for more than 40 years and enjoy spending time with their five children and five grandchildren.