March 19, 2026

R-CCC Honors Four Community Leaders at Women’s History Month & Empowerment Day

 

                                                                       

AHOSKIE, NC–– Roanoke-Chowan Community College (R-CCC) celebrated Women’s History Month & Empowerment Day on March 17 with a campus program themed “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” recognizing four honorees for outstanding leadership and service across education, aging services, local government and higher education.
 
2026 Honorees included:
• Dr. Rosa S. Atkins, superintendent, Northampton County Schools 
• Diedra “Deda” Evans, director, Hertford County Office of Aging 
• Kristen Fajardo, psychology faculty and QEP director, R-CCC 
• Dr. Renee Tyler, trustee, R-CCC
 
“Women’s history is not separate from our own history at Roanoke-Chowan Community College. It is at the very heart of who we are and why we exist,” said Dr. Murray J. Williams, president of R-CCC, who made keynote remarks. “Today, we celebrate that great arc of women’s history by honoring four remarkable women in our own midst whose lives reflect the same courage, service and commitment we admire in history’s giants.”
 
As the program concluded, Dr. Tanya Oliver, executive vice president of Academic & Student Affairs, called on the audience to continue the work beyond the day’s celebration. “Empowerment is not just a word, it is action. Let us leave inspired to lead, uplift and open doors for all those who follow,” Oliver said.
 
About the Honorees
 
Dr. Rosa S. Atkins — Appointed superintendent of Northampton County Schools on Dec. 16, 2025, after serving two years as interim superintendent, Atkins brings decades of leadership and a record of driving instructional improvement. A nationally respected educator, she previously led Charlottesville City Schools for 15 years and held key roles with the Virginia Department of Education including interim state superintendent.
 
Kristen Fajardo — A full-time psychology instructor at R-CCC since 2021 and director of the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan, Fajardo has more than 20 years of experience spanning counseling, higher education and rehabilitative programming. She is known for student-centered teaching across developmental, cognitive, social and abnormal psychology, connecting theory to real-world learning.
 
Diedra “Deda” Evans — Director of the Hertford County Office of Aging since 2019, Evans oversees three nutrition sites and five home-delivered meal routes, along with senior center operations that provide education, fitness, digital learning and essential support services. A state-certified senior center manager, she also secures program funding and serves on several local boards.
 
Dr. Renee Tyler — An R-CCC trustee and community leader, Tyler brings experience in public and ministry administration, youth engagement and spiritual counseling. She founded Effective Change Consulting Group, has served in numerous civic and faith-based roles, and holds credentials including North Carolina Certified County Clerk and High-Performance Leadership Master Certification.
 
Hosted by Student Affairs, TRiO Student Support Services, Student Life and the Student Government Association, this annual event highlights the impact of women leaders whose service shapes classrooms, boardrooms and communities.

Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s Mission

Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System and located in Hertford County, is a public, two-year institution of higher education offering associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, college and career readiness, and customized business and industry training in a variety of delivery modes promoting public service, transfer, and workforce development for a diverse student body, leading them to contribute to the vitality of an increasingly global community. www.roanokechowan.edu #DiscoverRCCC “Where community and careers connect”

Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Marketing & Recruitment/PIO, metemple7181@roanokechowan.edu, 252-862-1243