WINTERVILLE—Five years ago, the Pitt Community College Alumni Association presented Greenville native Neil Williams II with a Distinguished Alumni Award as part of its annual alumni awards ceremony.
A 1998 PCC Associate Degree Nursing graduate, Williams is the Patient Care Services administrator for ECU Health Medical Center. He also works as an assistant adjunct professor with the East Carolina University College of Nursing and is part of Western Governors University’s evaluation faculty.
Williams, who earned a master’s in nursing from Walden University and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Gardner-Webb University, is a member of several professional organizations and has received numerous awards for his work. In addition to the Distinguished Alumni Award – PCC’s most prestigious to honor graduates for professional accomplishments and service to the college and community – he received the “North Carolina Great 100 Nurses Award” in 2013 and ECU Health’s “2012 Working Parent of the Year.”
Retired PCC Nursing Instructor Pamela Dail nominated Williams for his Pitt alumni award, citing his achievements as a health care professional and impressive community service contributions. She said she first met Williams in 1991, when he was one of her students, and she recalled that his ability to interact with classmates and deliver effective patient care set him apart from his fellow nursing students.
“Dr. Williams gives unselfishly as a volunteer to youth and teens in the community,” Dail said. “… He is an amazing asset to the field of nursing as well as the (PCC) Health Sciences Division.”
The PCC Alumni Association caught up with Williams this summer to learn a little bit more about him personally and his thoughts on the education he received from PCC …
Q: Tell us a little about your family …
A: “I am married (13 years) and have five children. I have three girls (ages 35, 29 and 26) and two boys (ages 22 and 6).”
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies?
A: “My favorite hobbies consist of traveling with my family (especially football games; I am a Dallas Cowboy fan), gardening (relaxes the mind) and mentoring.”
Q: What is one thing most people wouldn’t know about you but would find interesting?
A: “I am a good writer … once I get focused.”
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received and why?
A: “My mother told me a long time ago that there is a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Learning to listen is a very important action that displays your interest and compassion. She further said do not listen to give an answer or respond but listen to understand the heart of the message.”
Q: In your words, what is the value of Pitt Community College to Pitt County and the region?
A: “PCC has great value for Pitt County and the region. PCC has the resources necessary to enhance your academic journey and equip you for the workforce. At PCC, I obtained a core foundation in nursing and have been able to build upon the framework learned at the institution. I credit the faculty at PCC for the academic rigor needed to ensure I was ready for caring for patients from a nursing perspective. This has inspired me so much that I have sent all my children to PCC to give them that foundational aspect of adult learning and to get them grounded on actions they would need to take to be successful in their academic journey.”
Q: What would you tell someone who is considering going to school at PCC?
A: I would tell them that PCC is a great step in the right direction on your academic and workforce journey. The faculty will assist you along the journey, and the cost is comparable to make your dream come to life.