Dr. Kristie Sauls is Wayne Community College’s new vice president of academic and student services.
Sauls has previously held several leadership roles at WCC. She began as the director of the College Transfer Advising Center in 2016 before becoming the apprenticeship and work-based learning coordinator in 2018. She then served as director of apprenticeships in 2022, ultimately becoming executive director of apprenticeships and career development in 2023.
Prior to assuming the role of vice president at WCC, Sauls has served as the program director of NC Career Launch with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, which operates out of the Office of the Governor, since March 2025.
“Returning to Wayne Community College as vice president of academic and student services is truly a full-circle moment for me,” Sauls said. “My passion has always been centered on students—supporting them as they navigate their educational journeys, overcome barriers, and achieve goals they may not have thought possible.”
“Dr. Sauls brings a deep understanding of Wayne Community College and, most importantly, of our students,” said Dr. Patty Pfeiffer, WCC president. “Her experience working directly with students and faculty—combined with her proven leadership across academic and workforce programs—uniquely positions her to lead academic and student services.”
Under Sauls’s leadership, WCC’s apprenticeship program has been repeatedly recognized for excellence on the state and national levels.
“Dr. Sauls has a clear appreciation for the needs, goals, and challenges our students face, and that perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen pathways to student success,” Pfeiffer said.
Sauls holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from William Peace University, a graduate certificate in strategic communication and a master’s degree in higher education from Regent University, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from East Carolina University.
“I look forward to working with dedicated faculty and staff to strengthen programs and services that support student success, and I look forward to strengthening initiatives and services that help students thrive while also contributing to a stronger, more vibrant community in which we live and work,” Sauls said.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.