Leadership, Partnership, and Impact: Devon McCarthy-James Celebrated

Devon McCarthy-James, center, receives her award while flanked by Emily Nicholson, Executive Director of the P20 Council, and Graham Fields, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board (MAWDB) Chair

In January, Devon McCarthy-James, a College for North Carolina (CFNC) Associate Outreach Director for the Western part of the state, was honored in two distinct ways for her leadership to the counties she represents. 

At a well-known ceremony held by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board (MAWDB), she won the P20 Partnership Award after being nominated by Emily Nicholson, Executive Director of the Land of Sky P20 Council.

And then shortly after, McCarthy-James was appointed to take a seat on that very same council.

McCarthy-James expressed both surprise and enthusiasm, illustrating two innate characteristics her friends would surely recognize: humility and positivity.

“Sometimes I feel like our role is such that we’re trying to bring together all these people and resources that exist locally, so I guess I’m surprised sometimes when that work is recognized on its own,” she said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to build more partnerships and get even more creative about how we think about supporting students and families in the region.”

This was the first year the award was given, and it was actually Nicholson’s idea.

“The purpose was to recognize an organization or person that has worked to uplift our mission in creative ways,” she said. “Devon was that person in the college access conversation that enthusiastically jumped in to say: ‘How can we work together? How can we reach more people?’”

As for adding McCarthy-James to the council, Nicholson said it was a no-brainer.

“She is a critical piece in this complex puzzle of helping more of our Western North Carolina neighbors realize the amazing training and career opportunities that await them,” she said.

According to its website: “The Land of Sky P20 Council facilitates collaboration between stakeholders in education, community, government, and business to ensure Western North Carolina’s students and jobseekers are getting the knowledge, skills, credentials, and support they need to be successful in the region’s most high-demand jobs.”

“P20” means that the group covers the spectrum of academia from pre-kindergarten to adulthood, and that’s part of the reason McCarthy-James is so excited to get to work more closely with the council.

“I’m going to be able to look bigger and reach broader but also tackle things in postsecondary access in a different way,” she said. “I’ve worked a lot with P20, but I’m excited to see what other ways this can take shape.”

In her work with Land of Sky prior to joining the council, Nicholson said McCarthy-James has been a transformative influence, strengthening the group’s efforts to close the region’s credential gap, aligning education opportunities with workforce needs, and helping launch a number of unique initiatives.

“In every facet of her work, McCarthy-James exemplifies excellence, innovation, and commitment to expanding opportunity for Western North Carolina’s future workforce,” Nicholson wrote in her nomination of McCarthy-James. “Her leadership doesn’t just support the region—it elevates it.”

And that is something McCarthy-James hopes to continue to do in her new role on the P20 Council, as well as her ongoing work in outreach with CFNC.

If you want to get involved with Land of Sky, take a look at its website for more information.