Celebrating Leadership & Connection: Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer Named Inaugural Conversation Changer Award Recipient
At Crittenton of North Carolina, we believe that when you strengthen a woman, you strengthen a family, and when you strengthen a family, you strengthen a community.
To honor leaders driving this mission forward, we are proud to launch the Conversation Changer Award and announce its first recipient: Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, President of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC).
The award will be presented at Crittenton’s newest signature event, Crittenton Conversations | Connection & Mental Wellness, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at The Ruth in Charlotte, North Carolina. The presentation will take place at 5:00 PM, during the program.
About the Award & Honoree
The Conversation Changer Award recognizes women in the Charlotte area whose leadership, vision, and dedication create opportunity and equity for others.
Since becoming the fourth president of Central Piedmont Community College in 2017, Dr. Deitemeyer has been a relentless advocate for student success and community growth. As a community college graduate herself, her passion for higher education and workforce development is deeply personal.
Under her leadership, CPCC has achieved remarkable milestones:
Expanded Financial Access: Grown the college’s Foundation holdings from $45 million in 2017 to over $120 million, while increasing annual student scholarships to more than $5 million.
Consistent Growth: Led Central Piedmont through five consecutive years of institutional growth.
Enhanced Learning & Services: Upgraded state-of-the-art facilities and student support programs to meet the growing demands of Mecklenburg County.
"Dr. Deitemeyer is everything the Conversation Changer Award was created to celebrate. Her commitment to opening doors for students who might otherwise not have a path forward is a living example of female leadership at its most powerful and purposeful."
— Jada B. Charley, CEO of Crittenton of North Carolina