Raymond J. Needham was born in Bellingham, Washington and
followed Dr. H. James Owen as GTI's fifth president. He received
a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Washington State University
and a Ph.D. degree
in vocational education administration from Colorado State University.
Prior to coming to GTI, Needham served ten years as president of Linn-Benton
Community College in Albany, Oregon.
Needham presided over a period
of explosive growth at GTI. One of the most
significant accomplishments during
his administration was a campaign for community college status.
In June 1983, Guilford Technical Institute became Guilford Technical
Community
College.
During the ten year period of Needham's administration,
the High Point campus was expanded, two new Greensboro locations
were added and
an aviation facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport
was started. Several new buildings were added or under construction
on
the Jamestown
campus and the curriculum grew with the addition of nineteen new
programs.
