Dr. Amy Greear has served as the Executive Director of the MECC Foundation and Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Mountain Empire Community College since 2018. She was first hired in a communications role with MECC in 2012. The MECC Foundation provides almost $1M in scholarships annually to students in far southwestern Virginia. Since joining the MECC Foundation, the organization's endowment has grown from $23M to $35M in five years. The daughter of four generations of coal miners, Dr. Greear is the first in her family to earn a college degree. She is committed to impacting the long-term economic viability of her community by assisting with efforts to increase the educational attainment rate of her College's service region. Prior to joining MECC, Dr. Greear worked in communications/public relations for the United Way and Kingsport City Schools in Kingsport, Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Virginia's College at Wise, a Master's in Educational Technology from East Tennessee State University, and a Doctorate degree in Leadership and Learning from the University of Tennessee -- Chattanooga. Her dissertation work was focused on student emergency assistance funding and its impact on student retention and success. Dr. Greear is married to her husband Burke, a Virginia State Park Ranger, and has a 23-year daughter, Maggie, who is a labor and delivery nurse.