Linda Whitlow retires from GTCC after a 25-year career of serving students

Linda Whitlow was honored with a retirement party on Dec. 13 on GTCC's Jamestown Campus.

After 25 years at Guilford Technical Community College, Linda Whitlow is retiring, closing out a career marked by dedication to student success and a commitment to educational access.

Whitlow joined GTCC in 1999 as a part-time instructor in the basic skills program, teaching ESOL, basic math, and reading.

Over the years, Whitlow advanced through various roles, including positions in the counseling center, as the Basic Skills Coordinator, and working with college transfer students in a leadership role. Her tenure culminated in her work with the Career and College Promise (CCP) program and the early middle colleges, which she said was her favorite department.

In her role as Director of K-12 Partnerships at the college, Whitlow oversees the CCP program and the Early/Middle College. She has played a pivotal role in fostering educational opportunities for high school students.

“I really enjoyed working with high school students and their parents, as well as Guilford County Schools,” Whitlow said. “The most rewarding part is seeing students who maybe haven’t thought about college before trying a class and realizing, ‘Oh, I can do this.’”

Whitlow’s 25-year career includes moments she describes as unforgettable, like when a high school dropout and her grandfather both earned their GEDs and graduated together.

“They both walked at the same ceremony,” Whitlow said. “That was really cool and incredibly memorable.”

Her commitment to students extended beyond academics. Whitlow served as an advisor for GTCC’s Rotaract Club, a community service organization, for many years. “I’m really proud of that,” she said.

A first-generation college graduate, Whitlow said her belief in the power of education kept her motivated throughout her career.

“Education opens up so many doors for people," she said. "I’ve seen how hard it can be without it.”

With her retirement, Whitlow plans to focus on family and supporting her children, both now parents themselves. She also hopes to reintroduce fitness into her day-to-day life, such as going on hiking trails and picking up swimming again.

“I’m most excited about spending more time with my family,” she said. “When I started at GTCC, my youngest child was 1. Now, I get to help care for my grandchildren — it feels like I’ve come full circle.”

Whitlow said she hopes her legacy at GTCC will be one of positivity and helpfulness.

“I hope people found me to be someone with a positive attitude, someone who was always willing to help, whether it was with a coworker or a student,” she said.

Though her role at GTCC has ended, Whitlow’s influence on the campus and its community will be felt for years to come.