Harris named ‘Communicator of the Year’
Michelle Harris.
HCC photo
Michelle Harris, director of engagement & marketing and public information officer at Haywood Community College, has been named the 2025 District 2 Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.
This award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in two-year college communications.
NCMPR presents the Communicator of the Year Award annually in each of its seven districts. As the 2025 honoree for District 2 — which includes community and technical colleges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas — Harris now becomes one of seven finalists for NCMPR’s national Communicator of the Year Award. The national award will be presented in March 2026 during the NCMPR Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
“Michelle’s creativity, leadership, and commitment to telling the story of Haywood Community College have made a significant impact on our campus and community, especially as we’ve navigated the challenges of the last five years,” said Shelley White, HCC president. “We are excited to see her work recognized on the national stage through this award.”
In addition to Harris’s individual recognition, HCC received a Bronze Award at this year’s NCMPR District 2 conference for the “Community is our Middle Name” campaign. The award was presented in the campaign wild card category and highlights the innovative work Harris and her team produced, including outreach during the region’s Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
