Employee Spotlight: Annie Fuller
We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Annie Fuller, the newly appointed Chair of the Humanities and Education Department at Cape Fear Community College. Dr. Fuller brings a wealth of experience and a passion for education that is sure to inspire both students and faculty alike. With an impressive academic background and a dedication to servant leadership, she is poised to lead the department toward new heights.
In this Q&A, Dr. Fuller shares her journey to CFCC, her academic and professional experiences, and the influences that shaped her career in education.
Q: What brought you to CFCC?
Dr. Annie Fuller: I wanted to be part of an institution that is growing and making tremendous gains in the educational arena. Lucinda McNamara led the interviewing process and inspired me to join a wonderful team and department of forward-thinking educators and administrators.
Q: Can you tell us about your academic background and what inspired you to pursue a career in education?
Dr. Annie Fuller: I did not initially know what I wanted to do when I graduated college. I majored in what was easy for me, based upon my mother’s advice, and what would get me out in four years. That was a Bachelor of Science in Spanish. I wanted a Master’s in Spanish but decided to get a Master’s in Technical and Professional Communication because the university I could attend did not have a Spanish master’s program at that time (six years after graduating undergrad). I ultimately decided to do a doctoral program in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education at UNCW (graduated 15 years after my master’s degree was awarded). I left Wilmington at 11 years old and was very sad about it. Choosing UNCW’s Watson College of Education was my way of ‘coming home.’ I never imagined I would actually be back living here again.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Dr. Annie Fuller: I enjoy teaching students and helping them on their life journey. The rewards are too many to name. I equally enjoy supporting faculty on their career journey. Team development, program development, and organizational and servant leadership are the things that get me up in the morning and excited to come to work.
Q: When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?
Dr. Annie Fuller: I enjoy spending time and traveling with my family. I have two adult children that I am very proud of, and a husband of 28 years. All of them are very supportive and encouraging. I also enjoy reading magazines, having lunch with coworkers and friends, and watching reality television.
Q: Who had the most significant influence on your education or career path?
Dr. Annie Fuller: My husband influenced and encouraged me to take my first job as a middle school Spanish teacher. I fell in love with the profession that first year. Another influence was my mother. She was an educator in the Wilmington area when I was younger. She had a strong desire to help students as a guidance counselor and teacher. I learned so much about what a teacher should be, and I also learned how to reward and properly implement classroom discipline.
As a result of implementing much of her advice, I have had a wonderful experience as an educator. The final influence are my children. Teaching gave me the ability to spend as much time with them as I possibly could. I could be a mother and have a flexible career. Looking at their faces made me want to do my best work so they would be proud of me and want to do an excellent job at whatever career they chose.
Q: What is something not many people know about you?
Dr. Annie Fuller: I was a competitive dancer in college and sang the national anthem for a U.S. president as well as local and congressional candidates.
Q: Degrees, certificates, or professional organizations?
Dr. Annie Fuller: In addition to the degrees above, I am a member of North Carolina Humanities (a statewide nonprofit and an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities).
