Kennon D. Briggs, executive vice president and chief of staff for the N.C. Community College System, will deliver the commencement address at the 45th graduation for Beaufort County Community College.

Briggs, of Raleigh, will serve as the keynote speaker for the ceremony set for 8 p.m. May 11 in the Washington High School Performing Arts Center.

Briggs earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from N.C. State University in 1978 and a master’s degree in urban management from NCSU in 1980. He has completed post-graduate studies at the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Briggs has served in his current position with the state community college system since 2008. He manages the day-to-day operations and the 210-person staff of the system office and provides direct supervision to the system’s chief financial officer, director of human resources, director of audit services, general counsel, executive director of the state board, director of governmental relations and associate vice president for research, among other duties.

Prior to his current position, Briggs served as chief financial officer for the state community college system, managing a staff of 30 employees with responsibilities for accounts payable, purchasing, financial reporting, funds allocation, capital improvements and internal service functions.

Briggs was also a senior budget analyst at the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management, the Yadkin County manager and Jones County administrator.

His civic activities include membership on the University of North Carolina at Asheville National Parents Council, the Barry K. Sanders Awards Committee and the advisory board of the State Employees Credit Union’s Salisbury Street branch, among other activities. He has also served as a coach for the Capital Area Soccer League and as the parent representative for the Athens Drive High School cross-country team. He has served on several United Methodist Church boards and committees.

In his spare time, Briggs enjoys gardening, competitive running, hiking, and volunteering.

He and his wife Kimberly have three daughters – Karlie, a graduate and employee of East Carolina University; Karoline, a senior at Birmingham-Southern College, and Kasey, a freshman at UNC-Asheville.

Admission to the BCCC graduation ceremony is by ticket only, available from members of the 2012 graduating class.