Max Queen Named Associate Vice President of Continuing Education

Max Queen is king of his castle as the newly named Associate Vice President of Continuing Education.

Clinton Maxwell Queen had little more than a notion to be trained as an Emergency Medical Technician when he stepped onto the campus of A-B Tech some 30 years ago - with little education, a wife and a baby. Today he is Associate Vice President of Continuing Education at A-B Tech, where he has shaped the college's future, and the college has shaped his.

A two-time graduate of A-B Tech in Associate Degree Nursing and Emergency Medical Science, Queen has been affiliated with the college as either a student or employee since 1975. Ironically, his first association was with the Continuing Education Division where EMTs were trained in those days.

He said Continuing Education opens the doors to learning and growth for A-B Tech students and is actually a front door to A-B Tech for a wide variety of the community. "When you talk about what it can do for people ... it provided me the opportunity to change my life. A-B Tech is a springboard for that."

Queen, a Registered Nurse and EMT-Paramedic, also holds a bachelor's degree in Health Care Management and Supervision as well as a master's degree in Educational Administration from Western Carolina University. He has been the Dean of Allied Health and Public Service Education at A-B Tech for the past seven years.

Throughout his career, Queen has had a passion for Emergency Services. He has served as affiliate faculty for the North Carolina American Heart Association Central Office in Chapel Hill as well as a certified instructor trainer in basic cardiac life support, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and neonatal life support for the American Heart Association. He is a contributing founder, former chairman of the Board of Directors, and lifetime member of Enka-Candler Fire and Rescue Department, Inc. He was founder and former president of the N.C. Association of E.M.S. Curriculum Educators. In addition, Queen was honored with the Distinguished Service Award of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for service in improvement of their tribal E.M.S. system. Queen currently serves as the North Carolina Community College System representative on the Council for Allied Health in North Carolina.

The Allied Health and Public Service Division underwent enormous growth during the seven years he served as Dean. Building projects included the addition of the new Hemlock Public Service building, the addition and renovation of the Rhododendron Health Sciences building, and renovation of the Allied Dental Clinic. In addition, the Fire Protection Technology, Early Childhood / Teacher Associate, Medical Sonography, Surgical Technology, and evening schedule Associate Degree Nursing programs were all started during his tenure as Dean.

EarthDay

Earth Day was celebrated by the planting of a red maple next to the Coman Student Center with President Bailey shoveling the first mound of dirt. A-B Tech Student Services also sponsored the planting of flowers alongside Azalea. Also pictured are students Mary McClaren, outgoing SGA president, and her successor Billy King. Two clubs, Phi Theta Kappa and ADN I, worked on a river and roads cleanup to commemorate Earth Day.

New Employee Joins A-B Tech

Donna Cole joins A-B Tech as an Instructor/Program Coordinator in Medical Transcription for Administrative/Medical Systems Technologies. She received her B.S. from Western Carolina University and is a Registered Health Information Administrator. She was the Lead Transcriptionist III for Medical Business Resources.

Financial Aid Thanks

MeLissa Fender, the parent of A-B Tech student Alex Fender, wrote to President Bailey praising the assistance of Associate Director of Financial Aid Donna Turner. She writes, "She has performed her job with the utmost professionalism, has demonstrated tremendous knowledge and skills of a Financial Aid Officer, takes the responsibility of her work in a sincere and passionate way, is prompt and dependable and is truly an asset to the community."

Work-Study Student of the Year

Radiography student Tracy Burchell has been chosen as the Work-Study student of the year. Tracy was nominated by her supervisor, Instructor of Hospitality Education Vince Donatelli. The other nominees were Heath Smathers, Paige Harraman, Denise Logan, and Susan Cordell.

Pals of PALS

Karen Braswell, a MSN, RN, and CPN at Mission St. Josephs, wrote to Director of Occupational Training Programs Skye Myrick praising the work of Continuing Education EMS Coordinators Mary Alice Goforth and Jay Schrier for their continued support of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) courses.