SCC gains two new Career and College Promise Advisors to serve high school students

Lynn Leonard and Khadijah Tart were newly appointed to the Career and College Promise Advisor roles at Southeastern Community College. They will serve as guides and main points of contact for high school students taking tuition-free college classes either online, in person at the their high school campus, on a mobile lab at their high school campus or at SCC.  

Job Responsibilities 

Leonard will assist students at Thomas Academy, Columbus Christian Academy, East Columbus Jr.-Sr. High School and Whiteville High School. Tart will help students at South Columbus High School, West Columbus High School, homeschooled students and students who live outside of Columbus County.  

As their advisor, Leonard and Tart will give high school students personalized plans for getting the most out of their college experience. They will guide students on course pathways, on class registration and on potential career interests. Students have options in earning certificates, diplomas or their associates degree within the CCP program.  

“I’m going to encourage them to take advantage of everything they can because we’re at a place where we’ve never been before as far as opportunity,” Leonard said. “Especially with the availability of classes being online, in person, at their high school, here on campus and tuition-free. The opportunities don’t get any better than that when students can come out ahead when they graduate.” 

Tart said that the CCP program allows students to “take a chance and see what’s out there” in terms of deciding which career path is best for them. She said that finding out what a student does not like helps narrow down their choices. When Tart entered college, she had plans of becoming a chef. She learned that her true calling was in accounting and using math.  

Leonard’s background 

Leonard, a Whiteville native, graduated from Whiteville High School in 1988. She earned her associates degree in applied science and early childhood education from SCC in 2006. She transferred to the University of Mount Olive to earn her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 2011. Leonard made her final stop in her education journey at UNC Wilmington to earn a master’s degree in education and educational leadership advocacy and policy in 2016.  

Before earning her associates degree, Leonard was the head cook at Dale’s Seafood for 12 years. In her last couple of years as head cook, she worked on her degree and later entered work as an assistant teacher at Acme Delco Elementary School for one year. She later started working at SCC in 2008 with Childcare Resource and Referral, a federally funded grant agency housed on campus. She stayed in that position until summer 2025 when the agency lost its grant funding.    

Leonard describes herself as a “country girl who enjoys time with family.” Her and her husband of 38 years, Gary Leonard, have one son, Josh Leonard, who lives next door and works as a lineman. She enjoys the outdoors while tending to her gardens and taking care of animals, and she loves to cook “home country cooking.” 

Leonard’s Vision 

Leonard is most looking forward to seeing student accomplishments, student confidence boosted and student encouragement in inspiring others to achieve excellence. She said that student success motivates her to excel in her work. Even though she has worked at SCC since 2008, stepping into this new role feels like working at SCC for the first time, Leonard said. She better appreciates every job role and department at SCC because “you don’t truly know until you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes.” 

“My reason for returning to SCC in this new role is double fold,” Leonard said. “I wanted to finish out my years with the state, but I also believe in the college because I’m a product of it and know the difference it made in my life and family. The college touches a little bit of everything and everybody in the community.” 

Leonard plans to have continuous contact with her high school students, keep them informed about class schedules, keep them on track for course completion and keep them in line for graduation. Leonard hopes her presence at the high schools will help make freshman and sophomores more comfortable with her once that reach the junior and senior levels.  

Tart’s Background 

Tart, a Chadbourn native, graduated from West Columbus High School in 2012. She earned her bachelor of science degree in business accounting from Johnson C. Smith University in 2016, and she later earned her K-6 teaching certification in elementary education. 

For the past nine years, Tart served as a teacher within Columbus County Schools at Chadbourn Middle School, Evergreen Elementary School and Tabor City School. She is the owner of K’s Cookies, a gourmet cookie small business. She spends time with her 8-year-old daughter and attending her sporting events. Tart enjoys attending local basketball games and cheering on all activities centered around children.  

Tart said that SCC feels like home. Her mom and aunt were students at SCC, and her aunt was the registrar at SCC for several years. Tart said her office is the same office she spent many hours in with her aunt when she came to visit.  

Transitioning from teacher to CCP advisor was a natural progression in her life mission to help children, Tart said. Her nine years in the classroom helped her establish many connections and relationships with students, and now she can help them earn college credits for free. 

Tart’s Vision 

“I’m really excited because I get to do something different,” Tart said. “I’ve always had a passion for children, not in just teaching, but in leading and guiding them into all aspects of their lives. Being able to help students access free education and pushing them to that next level in life, that’s what I’m really looking forward to.” 

Tart’s favorite part of the job so far has been reconnecting with her former students and people she has not seen in several years. She said that educating students and parents on options, the fact that CCP is for every student – not just university transfer and the fact that everything is tuition-free are what she loves most about the CCP program.  

“For students who have already experienced college classes and worked with instructors, they have an advantage because they already know what to expect,” Tart said. “I’m excited for these students, especially the ones entering a university as a junior and being one step closer to graduating.” 

Tart will have constant contact with her students and will set up a schedule for visiting each school. She will connect her students with the resources they need to finish and pass their college classes.  

Are you a high school student or parent/guardian of a high school student who is interested in the Career and College Promise program at SCC?  Contact Leonard or Tart at [email protected] or [email protected] to learn more about earning college credit tuition-free.