Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott has cultivated an accomplished career in higher education over the past 28 years. On January 1, 2023, she assumed the role of the sixth and first female President of Halifax Community College. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Elliott served as Vice President and Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer at Robeson Community College. Throughout her career, she has held several senior administrative positions, including Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of a statewide inter-institutional center within the University of North Carolina System. Dr. Elliott has been instrumental in establishing academic programs, securing millions in institutional funding, mentoring students, and presenting at national conferences. She earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.S. in Adult Education, and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from North Carolina A&T State University, along with certificates from renowned institutions such as Harvard University.