Beth Pitonzo

Dr. Beth Pitonzo serves as the Senior Vice President of Instruction at Guilford Technical Community College, North Carolina’s third-largest community college, serving over 30,000 students annually. As the second-in-command to the college president, she provides strategic leadership across GTCC’s academic programs, institutional research, grant development, and select non-credit offerings. She also represents the president and the GTCC Board of Trustees in key initiatives and decision-making processes.

Since joining GTCC in 2012, Dr. Pitonzo has led transformative initiatives that have positioned the college as a nationally recognized leader in student success and workforce development. Notable achievements include leading the Gates Foundation’s Completion by Design initiative and a Title III grant program that significantly improved retention and completion rates by expanding access to both cognitive and non-cognitive student support systems.

Dr. Pitonzo is deeply committed to fostering regional economic growth through education. She has worked extensively with external constituencies to develop legislative policy recommendations, support local economic development initiatives, and build strong industry partnerships that align educational programs with workforce needs. Her collaborative approach ensures that GTCC remains a vital resource for students and the broader community.

With over 34 years of experience in the community college sector, Dr. Pitonzo has held roles ranging from part-time faculty to senior administrator, serving institutions in Nevada, Oregon, and New Mexico. Before transitioning to higher education, she worked as a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist and research scientist in southern Nevada, collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dr. Pitonzo earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno; a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and a postgraduate certificate in Higher Education Leadership from Harvard University.