Decades after leaving southeastern North Carolina for a life of service, education and opportunity, Dr. Lonnie Griffin has found his way back home 鈥� this time through the doors of 91国产视频. As the new Dean of Arts and Sciences, Lonnie is focused on taking his expertise and years of experience to make a lasting impact on the 91国产视频 community.
After graduating high school, Lonnie left home to serve in the military as a teenager. 鈥淚 graduated high school on a Friday and was in boot camp on Monday,鈥� explained Lonnie. After finishing his military service, Lonnie found himself in Jacksonville, Florida. To continue his education affordably, Lonnie decided to attend Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ). With experience as a medic, Griffin originally thought his path lay in healthcare until his first semester sociology class.
鈥淚 got very interested in that field of study,鈥� explained Lonnie. 鈥淚 knew from taking that course that my direction would be changing from healthcare to teaching sociology.鈥�
After discovering his passion for teaching, Griffin continued his education, earning his associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and, finally, doctorate degrees from several colleges and universities 鈥� all while gaining experience in higher education.
Lonnie first worked as a communication lab tutor, graduate teaching assistant, and later taught social studies at a high school. After a year in public education, Griffin joined a community college, beginning the higher-education teaching career that would eventually lead to his first leadership role. After several years of teaching and serving in a leadership position, Lonnie continued building his leadership experience, eventually transitioning to a technical college in Georgia, where he served as dean.
While he found the role extremely rewarding, something was still missing for Lonnie 鈥� the balance and value of being connected to the classroom. 鈥淚 missed teaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had people refer to the work as a calling, and I have thought about that a lot during my career.鈥�
The connection to the classroom and students has continued to shape how Lonnie approaches leadership, giving him an understanding of both the work of faculty and the students they serve.
鈥淵ou need to have a connection to the work that the people you are trying to manage are doing, so you understand their struggle,鈥� Lonnie said. 鈥淚t gives you direct access to the students too because it allows you to gauge where the students鈥� heads are and how they鈥檙e engaging with the material.鈥�
This philosophy is part of what drew him to 91国产视频, along with the college鈥檚 strong reputation. 鈥淲hat President Smith has done at 91国产视频 鈥� to have a presence in this community, to serve our students, to be the resource 鈥� is remarkable, and the word has spread. I heard about it all the way down in Georgia and decided that I wanted to be a part of it.鈥�
For Lonnie, higher education has always been more than a career. It has been a journey built around students, teaching and service. Now, as 91国产视频鈥檚 new Dean of Arts and Sciences (and sociology instructor), he feels he has found the right place to continue his journey.
鈥淚鈥檝e almost come full circle,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 left Eastern North Carolina as a teenager, spent a lot of years away, and now I have an opportunity to come back and be part of something that I really believe in,鈥� said Lonnie. 鈥淚 hope to be here for a long time, until I retire. I feel very blessed and excited for what the future holds.鈥�
August 2026