Mental health coordinator Laurel Miller returns to BCCC as new trustee

Laurel Miller returns to Beaufort County Community College as its newest trustee, having started at the college in 1996 as a student in the Basic Law Enforcement Training program. Currently, she works as the mental health coordinator for Beaufort County Schools (BCS) and as a licensed clinical social worker at Pamlico Counseling. She was appointed to the BCCC Board of Trustees by Gov. Roy Cooper. She continues her dedication to Beaufort County by serving a four-year term on the BCCC Board of Trustees, expiring in 2024.

After finishing the training at BCCC, Miller started her career in law enforcement with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, where she worked in criminal investigations. Following eight years in law enforcement, she returned to school to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW).

Miller worked for the Department of Social Services in Guilford and Beaufort Counties for 14 years. In 2018, she transitioned to Beaufort County Schools as their mental health coordinator. Miller remains employed with BCS, and she recently started to work part-time with Pamlico Counseling, conducting individual and family therapy.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Guilford College and her MSW at East Carolina University.

Miller’s family is a Beaufort County Community College family, with her husband Marty Paramore and step-son Zach Paramore both earning associate degrees from the college. Marty Paramore also completed law enforcement training at BCCC. Miller has taught courses in Criminal Justice Technology at BCCC in the past.

“I have seen firsthand the positive impact this college continues to have on our community, I look forward to this opportunity to serve,” said Miller.

“We are very pleased to welcome Laurel Miller to the BCCC Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Dave Loope, president of BCCC. “She brings the perspective of an alumna, a parent of a recent graduate, and a Beaufort County Schools employee. Much has changed this year, so having someone who can look at the learning experience from many angles is invaluable.”

Trustees Jim Chrisman and Cornell McGill will both continue their positions on the board.

The BCCC Board of Trustees oversees Beaufort County Community College in its mission as a public, comprehensive community college that provides open-door access to university transfer, workforce development, and life-long learning programs for the people of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties. The college strives to be an innovative community leader that promotes economic and social mobility through educational opportunities linked to workforce development, public service, and cultural and personal enrichment.