New CAO

Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College Appoints Kristi Dixon as Interim Chief Academic Officer and Provost

Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College (Southern) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristi Dixon as the college’s new Interim Chief Academic Officer and Provost. With more than two decades of experience in higher education—including 20 years as a faculty member, 10 years in administrative leadership, and seven years in executive roles—Dixon brings a deep commitment to student success, collaborative leadership, and academic excellence.

“I am honored to serve Southern in this role and look forward to building upon the college’s strong foundation of expanding access and opportunity for students,” Dixon said. “I look forward to supporting the institution as it enters the next chapter of growth and impact.”

Interim President Dr. Corley Dennison said, “Ms. Dixon brings a wealth of experience in both workforce and academic programs. This is a pivotal moment for our institution as we strengthen our core mission of academic excellence and student success. Kristi is the ideal person to lead the academic affairs division into its next chapter.”

A native of West Virginia, Dixon earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Marshall University. While completing her graduate studies, she worked as a tutor and instructor in developmental education at Marshall’s Community College. Following the completion of her master’s degree, Dixon began her first full-time faculty appointment as a visiting professor at Marshall University before pursuing doctoral studies at Bowling Green State University.

It was during this time that Dixon discovered a passion for the community college mission. After teaching as an adjunct at a local community college, she found that smaller class sizes and closer connections with students offered a powerful opportunity to make a lasting impact. This realization set the course for a career dedicated to community college education.

Dixon went on to serve at Vance-Granville Community College in North Carolina, where she became a leader in academic assessment and accreditation, chaired the Academic Standards Committee, and was honored as Faculty Member of the Year. After several years as Chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, she returned home to West Virginia to continue advancing educational opportunities for local students.

In 2017, Dixon joined BridgeValley Community and Technical College as Dean of General Education and Transfer and has since served in multiple key leadership roles, most recently as Interim Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of General Education and Professional Programs. During her tenure, Dixon led major collegewide initiatives, including the expansion of the ASAP model through the Title III COMPASS grant, successful accreditation and assessment efforts across two regional accrediting bodies, and the administration of numerous state and federal grants.

Dixon has represented BridgeValley at the local, state, and national levels, including partnerships with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, New America, and the Next Level ACTE Fellowship. Most recently, she represented the college as part of the West Virginia delegation at the Open Education Conference in Denver, Colorado, and participated in statewide discussions focused on transfer pathways.

A relational and servant leader, Dixon believes effective leadership is built on collaboration, care, and visibility. She prioritizes engagement with faculty and staff, fostering a supportive environment where innovation and professional growth thrive. She has a proven track record of maintaining strong faculty retention and building a culture of shared purpose and academic excellence.

As Interim Chief Academic Officer and Provost, Dixon looks forward to building on Southern’s strong foundation, expanding access and opportunity for students, and supporting the institution as it enters its next chapter of growth and impact.