Hilda Pinnix-Ragland

Biography

Hilda Pinnix-Ragland is chairwoman of the State Board of Community Colleges.

Early Life and Education

Hilda Pinnix was born May 15, 1955, in Hillsborough, N.C.

She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from N.C. A&T State University in 1977, graduating magna cum laude.

She earned a master of business administration from Duke University in 1986. 

Family

She is married to Alvin Ragland. They have a daughter, Katherine Elizabeth. 

Professional Career

After college, she worked as an auditor with Arthur Andersen and as an accountant with Colgate-Palmolive LLP in New York. 

In 1980, she joined Carolina Power & Light, now known as Progress Energy, as a systems auditor.

She worked her way up to vice president in charge of economic development and a vice president of energy delivery services. She was the first black woman to become an executive there.

Since 2002, she has been vice president of the northern region, responding to ice storms and hurricanes that cause power outage. 

She is known to put on a hard hat and go out with the crews restoring power. 

Political Career

In 2000, Gov. Jim Hunt appointed her to the State Board of Community Colleges, which oversees the state community college system.

Gov. Mike Easley reappointed her in 2003. Her term expires in 2009.

In 2005, she was appointed the chairwoman of the board, the first woman and the first African-American to hold the post.

In 2008, Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue appointed her to her transition team after criticism that it was not diverse enough.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith and John Murawski. 

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