Belk Center Announces Dr. Vicki Karolewics to Deliver 2026 Dallas Herring Lecture

The Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research is pleased to announce that Dr. Vicki Karolewics, president of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala., will present the 2026 Dallas Herring Lecture.

The Dallas Herring Lecture honors the legacy of W. Dallas Herring, whose visionary leadership and dedicated efforts led to the founding of North Carolina’s community colleges. The annual lecture brings together community college leaders from across the state and nation to reflect on the most pressing and emerging issues facing community colleges nationwide, while working to envision how to pave a path forward. The 2026 lecture, titled “The Value Agenda: A Systems Approach to Student Success” will take place on Tuesday, November 17 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. 

Dr. Karolewics has served as president of Wallace State Community College since 2003. During her tenure, she has led the college to national prominence, including recognition as one of the top four community colleges in the nation as a Rising Star finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and a top 10 finalist for the 2027 Aspen Prize. Under her leadership, Wallace State has earned numerous distinctions, including Achieving the Dream Leader College, National Center of Excellence in Nursing and Cyber Defense, NC3 Leadership School, top three Southern Institution for Workforce Development, All-Steinway School and Military Friendly institution. 

Since 2003, Wallace State’s success rate has risen to exceed national averages – a testament to her guiding goal that every graduate gains a “good job” and earns wages sufficient to support themselves and their families.

“It is a true honor to participate in the Dallas Herring Lecture, which celebrates the transformative power of community colleges,” said Dr. Karolewics. “I am proud to represent Wallace State and the life-changing work we do every day – helping students build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities. This opportunity is both humbling and inspiring, and I am grateful to be part of a tradition that elevates student success and opportunity.”

“We have seen a growing emphasis in community colleges not just on boosting completion rates but ensuring students earn credentials of value that drive genuine economic mobility,” said Audrey Jaeger, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Belk Center and W. Dallas Herring Professor at NC State’s College of Education. “President Karolewics’ vision extends beyond what a ‘traditional’ community college looks like and has taken the work to a next generation level that aligns programs with well-paying, high-value workforce pathways.”

Following Dr. Karolewics’ presentation, a North Carolina respondent will contextualize the lecture for North Carolina community college leaders.

Link to register to attend virtually: https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_080cVoED2gQ83eS?Q_CHL=qr

About Vicki Karolewics
Dr. Karolewics is an Aspen Presidential Fellow and has served on the boards and executive committees of the American Association of Community Colleges and The Commission on Colleges and Universities. She was appointed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to the Alabama STEM Council and by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth to the Alabama Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Associated Technologies. A recognized voice in community college education, she testified before Congress on the importance of community colleges and has chaired the Alabama Community College System’s College Readiness Task Force.

About the Dallas Herring Lecture
Held in honor of W. Dallas Herring – whose transformative vision and tireless work culminated in the inception of North Carolina’s community colleges – the annual lecture invites community college leaders from across the country to speak on urgent and emerging topics, framing how to address the issues and proposing a path forward. 

Since 2015, the Belk Center has welcomed college presidents, educational researchers, nonprofit leaders and philanthropists to engage in critical and emerging conversations about student success, postsecondary transformation, economic vitality and student outcomes.

About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.