Dr. David Spang
Dr. David Spang, Provost and Senior Vice President
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Dr. David Spang serves as Provost and Senior Vice President of »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ (RCBC), where he leads all academic affairs and strategic initiatives with a focus on access, affordability, and student success. Since joining the college in 2005, Dr. Spang has advanced through key leadership positions, including Dean of Science, Mathematics, and Technology; Vice President of Academic Affairs; Provost; and Interim President, before being appointed Provost and Senior Vice President in 2015.
A recognized innovator in higher education, Dr. Spang was the primary architect of New Jersey’s groundbreaking 3+1 Program, which allows students to complete three years at the community college rate before finishing their bachelor’s degree through Rowan University. Dr. Spang drove the initiative from concept to reality, working with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and New Jersey Presidents’ Council (NJPC) to secure legislative and regulatory support, and coordinating with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to ensure full compliance. As part of these efforts, Dr. Spang also spearheaded the innovative creation of the Advanced and Continuous Studies associate degree, a first-of-its-kind program structure designed to support the 3+1 pathway and expand affordable access to upper-division coursework. These pathways have now become a model and have been replicated at other colleges in New Jersey.
RCBC was the first institution to offer 3+1 courses and to graduate students through the program, and approximately one-third of RCBC’s enrollments are now directly connected to this pathway, yielding more than 1,700 bachelor’s degree graduates to date, and saving over $36 million in tuition costs. The initiative has been recognized for its transformative impact on access, regional workforce development, and the long-term vitality of Burlington County.
Dr. Spang holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering, and an MBA in Innovation and Technology Management, all from Rutgers University. Before entering higher education leadership, he achieved success as a process development engineer, senior research scientist, and commercialization manager in the advanced materials and specialty chemicals industry, where he gained extensive experience bridging research and market applications.
An active educator and researcher, Dr. Spang has taught materials science, engineering, and project management at RCBC, the State University of New York Maritime College, and the Keller Graduate School of Management in New York City. He continues to contribute to the body of knowledge in higher education innovation through presentations and publications informed by his leadership on National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA grants.
Guided by his belief that community colleges play a vital role in lifelong learning, Dr. Spang remains committed to advancing student-centered, career-relevant programs and expanding partnerships that redefine access and affordability in higher education.