Greg Thomas

Dr. Greg Thomas currently serves as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, NC. In this capacity, he leads the college’s integrated academic and student services operations, dedicated to the mission of “improving life through learning.” His leadership is defined by a commitment to fostering reciprocal relationships in education, viewing students, colleagues, and community stakeholders as essential partners in the pursuit of institutional excellence.

At the core of Dr. Thomas’s leadership is his “People Empowering People” (PEP) philosophy. This framework is rooted in the belief that a leader’s primary purpose is to cultivate an environment where every individual, including faculty, staff, and industry partners, is empowered to reach their full potential. PEP is centered on seeking "win/win" solutions that align with the shared interest of all stakeholders to achieve the overarching outcomes required for student success. By prioritizing authentic listening and maintaining transparent communication, he aims to build the broad-based coalitions necessary to drive sustainable change.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Thomas spent five years as the Dean of Student Learning at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. There, he honed his expertise in academic administration and rural advocacy, navigating the unique challenges of a remote campus community. His foundational years in North Carolina higher education were spent at Methodist University and Fayetteville State University, where he taught communication and directed intercollegiate debate programs. These experiences solidified his belief in the transformative power of voice and the necessity of treating students as active partners in their own success.

Dr. Thomas earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Fayetteville State University, a Master of Liberal Studies from Fort Hays State University, and a B.S. in Speech Communication from Methodist University.