Two Pickens County Residents Appointed to Tri-County Technical College’s Commission
September 8, 2014
PENDLETON, SC – Two Pickens County residents have been appointed to Tri-County Technical College’s Commission, the nine-member governing board of the College.
Governor Nikki R. Haley appointed Dr. Valerie Ramsey, of Easley, and Tom Hendricks, of Liberty, to the Commission, effective April 2014. Their terms expire July 2017.
Dr. Ramsey (pictured left) retired in 2009 as the chief business officer for the College of Health, Education, and Human Development at Clemson University. Since 2011 she has been an adjunct professor at Southern Wesleyan University teaching adult and graduate studies courses in the school of business and the school of education. She previously served on the Commission from 2005 – 2009. She was the first alumna in the history of the College to serve on its governing board and the first Tri-County Commissioner to serve on a national committee with the Association of Community College Trustees.
A 1988 graduate of Tri-County’s Arts and Sciences Division, she says her passion for her alma mater remains strong over the years. “I believe in the College and what it is doing. I always have and I always will. I am a strong advocate for the students. I can personally identify with the average, non-traditional Tri-County student. I believe in Tri-County and I believe it is an awesome vehicle to transform lives. I’m a living example that anything can happen.”
Mr. Hendricks (pictured right) is a military veteran who after 20 years of service in the Army, retired and entered public service. He served as the Pickens County administrator from 1989 – 99 and later administrator for Oconee County from 2006 until his retirement in 2007.
“While serving as administrator for Pickens County and later Oconee County, I worked closely with Tri County Technical College on annual budgets and building programs. The College prepares and equips individuals to make an immediate and positive impact with their employers,” said Mr. Hendricks.
During his tenure as administrator, Pickens County built a new administration building, three new libraries, four EMS/rescue buildings, eight recycling stations and a materials recovery facility. The Eighteen Mile Creek Sewer System was initiated and a water line from Greenville near Pickens brought safe, clean water to Liberty. Following 12 years of service with Pickens County, Mr. Hendricks was hired as the planning director for Oconee County and later became county administrator. He has served on the Appalachian Council of Governments Board for the past four years.
A native of Six Mile, Mr. Hendricks was drafted into military service in 1966. He is a graduate of Infantry Officers Candidate School and was a member of Special Forces (5th SFGA SOG) in Vietnam. His duty assignments were with 8th SFGA in Panama, the 82nd Airborne Division and Military Police in Virginia. He served in various staff positions, including a joint NATO Planning Staff. He graduated with honors from Fayetteville State University and the Army’s Command and General Staff College. He retired from the Army in 1986 with the rank of Major.
Since Dr. Ramsey’s retirement, she chaired the Board of Directors of the Pickens County United Way from 2011 – 13. Previous appointments include Financial Aid Audit Committee for the Association of Community College Trustees (2010 – 11); Tri-County’s representative on the SC Association of Community College Trustees; and a member of the Board of Regents for Leadership Pickens County (2008 – 11). She also was dean of Oolenoy River Baptist Education and Missionary Association of Christian Education from 2011 – 13. In 2006 she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Tri-County and in 2004 was named Clemson University’s recipient of the Board of Trustees Award for Staff Excellence.
Dr. Ramsey holds bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Southern Wesleyan University (SWU), as well as a master’s in human resource development from Clemson University. She earned a doctorate in educational leadership in higher education from Clemson in 2003. Dr. Ramsey earned a master of ministry degree at SWU in 2008.
