West Windsor, N.J. - According to MCCC alumnus Norris Kirk Taylor '80 (A.A., Humanities and Social Service), Mercer County Community College provided the underpinnings for all of his subsequent academic success. Now, after more than two decades as a public school teacher in North Carolina, he recently returned to the community college setting at Roanoke-Chowan Community College (Ahoskie, NC). His goal is to help young people begin to mold their futures just as he did at Mercer.

Originally from Hamilton Township, Taylor took a range of classes at MCCC in the 1970s, ultimately focusing on a career in education. After Mercer he transferred to Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and then his master's in Middle Grades Education from East Carolina University in Greenville. He pursued a second bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy at Shaw University in Raleigh. Additionally he earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership.

A long-time resident of Hertford County, NC, Taylor enjoyed a 21-year career as a teacher in the Bertie County School System. He retired in 2009.

In his current post at Roanoke Chowan Community College, Taylor serves as coordinator of the Computer-Assisted Instruction Lab, part of RCCC's Learning Resources Center. The center houses 25 computers to assist students and faculty with online programs and the latest software. As CAI's lab coordinator, Taylor says he is eager to serve students and create the kind of environment that encouraged him to succeed as a young person.

"I have established a climate that fosters student learning and inspires students toward upward mobility. I hope students will take advantage of this additional resource to help them achieve their dreams," he said.

In addition to teaching, Taylor worked as a counselor at ECSU for the Upward Bound Program and as a substance abuse counselor for the Roanoke-Chowan Human Services Center.

Taylor has inspiring words for MCCC students, especially those who have struggled in life. "It's not how you start out; it's how you end up," he says. "A champion is defined by his or her ability to overcome adversity." Clearly, Taylor is hoping to create some champions at RCCC as he continues to dedicate his life to education.