Durham Technical Community College President J.B. Buxton received a contract extension ahead of the new academic year, with his tenure now set to run to at least 2029.
The school — which has its main campus near downtown Durham and an Orange County presence in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill — shared the news in a press release on Wednesday, saying Durham Tech’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the extension before having it approved by the State Board of Community Colleges. Buxton’s contract was last extended in 2022 and was set to run to August 2026.
“This extension reflects the exceptional dedication and vision that President Buxton has brought to Durham Tech, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience,” said outgoing Board of Trustees Chairwoman Tara Fikes, whose term ended on July 1. “His leadership has ensured stability during uncertain times but has also paved the way for transformative changes that align with the College’s mission to empower students and strengthen the community.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving with my Durham Tech colleagues and supporting the College’s students and the people of Durham and Orange counties,” President Buxton said in Wednesday’s release. “I am proud of the role we play in supporting individual opportunity, regional economic growth, and the vitality of our local communities.”
Buxton was appointed to lead Durham Tech in 2020, taking over amid the COVID-19 pandemic after several years of serving among UNC-Chapel Hill’s faculty and on the State Board of Education. Despite the initial challenges presented by remote learning and health protections, Buxton and his leadership team quickly worked to build upon the college’s two-year transfer programs with Triangle universities and relationships with the local governments to increase collaborative efforts among both high school and higher education. Some of those partnerships have led to significant infrastructure upgrades for Durham Tech — like the expansion of the Orange County Campus building in Hillsborough, preparing to break ground on new Life Sciences and Health Sciences facilities in Durham, and securing federal funding for a 124-unit affordable housing community near the main campus.
Additionally, Buxton’s administration has ushered in changes in the classrooms. The 2024-25 academic year marked the first of Durham Tech teaching eight-week courses in addition to 16-week courses, with the goal of helping students more quickly move through programs to be prepared for the workforce. In an interview with 97.9 The Hill in May, Buxton said early returns for the change were positive, with the community college seeing withdrawal and failure rates lower, enrollment rise, and success rates improve. The school is also launching its Early College of Health Sciences in Durham for the 2025-26 school year, which will allow high school students to earn credentials needed across their four years of high school to be prepared for industries like nursing, clinical trials and medical assistance. The president said doing so will help the students — and area employers — be more prepared for their future at a faster rate.
“That’s just part of a larger strategy we have with our public schools, to increase the number of students coming to us in high school,” said Buxton. “We can waive tuition for high school students, we can make it highly affordable, [and] we also know if you start with us while you’re in high school, you are much more likely to finish that credential, and increase your options in this labor market or to continue on to a four-year university.
In its press release, Durham Tech said Buxton and his administration will lead the development of the college’s new five-year strategic plan with this extension. The strategic approach, which is set for 2026-31, will establish an overarching framework for achieving the school’s student success and community impact goals. Buxton was also on-board to develop and execute the last strategic plan, which covered 2021-26.
The first day of classes for the 2025-26 academic year at Durham Technical Community College is set for Monday, August 11.
Featured image via Durham Technical Community College.
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