Jairo McMican (pronounced Hi-rrow Mac-Mee-Kan), who uses the pronouns we/he/him/his, brings extensive experience in higher education spanning over 19 years. His career has encompassed both academic and student services roles across North Carolina institutions, including UNC-Asheville, North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical Community College, and Central Carolina Community College (CCCC). At CCCC, he split his time between the college and the North Carolina Student Success Center, where he served as director of equity & Guided Pathways.
Currently, McMican serves as the associate director of equitable programming and holistic student support for Achieving the Dream. His leadership extends to several prestigious appointments, including vice chair of the North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Commission (appointed by the governor), chair of NACADA’s DEI Educational Advisory Board, and editorial board member for ACCRAO’s Strategic Enrollment Management. A 2016 graduate of the North Carolina Community College Leadership Program, McMican holds a master’s degree in strategic leadership and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with an Ed.D. from North Carolina State University. In 2022, he received the Zaire Lionel Honorary Membership Award from CACRAO.
As a scholar, McMican has contributed to the field through authored and co-authored publications focused on equity in education.
Education:
Ed.D. (Adult and Community College Education) | North Carolina State University
M.S. (Strategic Leadership) | Mountain State University
B.S. (Psychology) | South Carolina State University
Past Experience:
Dean of College Access Services | Central Carolina Community College
Director of Equity and Pathways | North Carolina Student Success Center
Dean of Student Learning | Central Carolina Community College
Director of Advising and Admissions | Durham Technical Community College
How has education changed your life/your family?
As a first-generation college graduate, education changed not just my life but my entire family’s future. After seeing me graduate, other relatives felt inspired to pursue their degrees too. Today, I use education’s transformative power in two ways: connecting people to others who can guide them and helping people find the resources they need to succeed. Every connection made and every resource shared continues my family’s legacy of educational achievement.