Dr. Carl B. Smalls is a seasoned higher education executive, finance leader, and scholar-practitioner with more than three decades of leadership experience spanning community colleges, public and private universities, and the private sector. He currently serves as Chief Finance Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration at Danville Community College, where he oversees a $25 million operating budget and leads finance, grants, facilities, information technology, campus security, capital projects, and auxiliary services in support of student success and institutional sustainability.
Dr. Smalls brings a distinctive blend of executive financial leadership, academic experience, and entrepreneurial vision. Prior to his current role, he served as Special Assistant to the President at Southside Virginia Community College, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Guilford Technical Community College, and Department Chair at Lake Superior State University. He has also held senior executive roles in the financial services industry, including serving as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of WILMOCO Capital Management, where he led investment operations, strategic growth initiatives, government relations, and institutional client engagement.
A committed advocate for community college leadership and student access, Dr. Smalls has extensive experience in accreditation, strategic planning, workforce development, and institutional advancement. He has led major capital initiatives, implemented financial system modernization, expanded workforce and small-business programs in rural communities, and played a key role in institutional reaccreditation. His work consistently reflects a commitment to fiscal stewardship, shared governance, and evidence-based decision-making.
Dr. Smalls holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Kansas State University’s John E. Roueche Center for Community College Leadership. He also earned an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Atlanta University Graduate School of Business and completed executive studies in Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. A published scholar and national presenter on community college governance and leadership, he is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a Lakin Fellow of the Thomas A. Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership.
Throughout his career, Dr. Smalls has demonstrated a deep commitment to student-centered leadership, inclusive excellence, and building strong partnerships with business, industry, and community stakeholders. His leadership philosophy is grounded in integrity, transparency, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of higher education.