The Inauguration of William C. Fiege

This October, Brightpoint will be inaugurating its eighth president, Dr. William “Bill” Fiege. Learn how we’re using this month to honor Dr. Fiege and his vision for the college, as well as celebrate the community he cherishes and now represents.

William “Bill” Fiege

A longtime educator committed to student success, Dr. William “Bill” Fiege became Brightpoint Community College’s eighth president in January 2024. 

Before being named as Brightpoint’s leader, Dr. Fiege served for nearly 12 years as the college’s vice president of learning and student success, overseeing operations for academic and student affairs. Prior to coming to Brightpoint, he held positions at Germanna Community College and Longwood University, where he held a variety of roles including division dean, speech communication faculty member, assistant director of alumni relations, and assistant director of athletics.

Dr. Fiege completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at Longwood University; master’s degree in speech communication from Bloomsburg University; and Ph.D. in community college leadership through Old Dominion University. He is currently a member of the ChamberRVA Board of Directors, Virginia's Gateway Region Board of Directors, and the Longwood University Real Estate Foundation. He also coaches the Ironbridge National travel softball team.

He and his wife, Renee, have two teenage daughters, both of whom are taking classes at Brightpoint with the goal of completing the uniform certificate of general studies (32 college credits) before graduating from high school.

Starting with my first class at age 22, my career focus has been on supporting students and helping them achieve and exceed their goals and aspirations. Now, as president of Brightpoint Community College, I am humbled and honored to continue my journey with a tremendous faculty and staff who genuinely care about our students and the vibrant communities we serve. With a passionate dedication for empowering through education, we will blaze trails for our students, so they may be successful at Brightpoint and in their future endeavors.

Dr. William "Bill" Fiege

President of Brightpoint Community College

Dr. Fiege seated outside

Beyond the Bio: Fun Facts about Fiege

  • He was born and raised on the beautiful Eastern Shore of Virginia.
  • His dad was also a president of a Virginia community college. Dr. John Christopher Fiege was the first president of Eastern Shore Community College, serving from 1972-1996.
  • His mom, Katharine Fiege, was his 12th grade high school English teacher. 
  • He taught his first college class when he was 22. The class? Intro to Public Speaking, at Longwood University. 
  • He is a longtime little league and travel softball coach. He led Chesterfield Little League to a second-place finish at the 2021 Little League World Series in Greenville, NC. 
  • His brother, John, taught him how to juggle when he was 13.
  • He loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.

The Inauguration Ceremony

Brightpoint's formal inauguration ceremony for Dr. Fiege will take place on Friday, October 18, at 10:30 a.m., outside on our Midlothian Campus. While this is an invitation-only event, a livestream of the ceremony will be available online. We hope you will join us in honoring our new president!

Community Inauguration Events

As part of our inauguration celebration, the college will be hosting several special events. In addition to gatherings that will honor some of our workforce partners and college retirees, we will be hosting three events designed to draw together students, faculty, staff, and the local community: Brightpoint Connect, UNITY Project, and Fall Fest. These events will be located on our Midlothian and Chester campuses throughout the month of October. To support virtual community members, certain event activities will be accessible online. Come celebrate with us! 

UNITY Project 

October 2 – 25

The UNITY project is a community art project that promotes human connection, an appreciation of diversity, and a realization that we all have something in common. Participants tie colorful yarn to posts that represent specific personal identifiers. As they select these identifiers, their yarn intertwines with others to create a web of interconnectedness. 

From October 2 – 17, UNITY will be open to the public on our Chester Campus, in the grassy area next to Goyne Hall and behind Discovery Hall. UNITY will be open to the public on our Midlothian Campus, in the quad behind Hamel and Trailblazer halls, from October 10 – 25. The project will be open to the public at specified times during these dates. 

Brightpoint Connect 

October 9 and 10, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Brightpoint Connect is for students who want to learn about Brightpoint’s campus and program offerings as well as connect with peers, faculty, and staff. Students will spend time on campus alongside classmates and enjoy food, music, and games, including a Brightpoint-focused scavenger hunt. They will also have the chance to get connected with clubs, student service departments, and outside vendors. Bookstore gift cards will be awarded to lucky activity participants.

Students will have the opportunity to attend Brightpoint Connect in Chester on October 9, or attend in Midlothian on October 10. 

Fall Fest

October 25, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Fall Fest is an exciting event for both the college and local communities. The event will incorporate an array of activities, such as crafts, a trick-or-treat trail, face painting, and a bilingual storytime. A haunted house will be open in The Lynn Theatre. Attendees can snack on popcorn and cotton candy or order a meal from a food truck. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. 

View a full calendar of our inauguration events. 

You can also follow us on social media to receive exciting event updates.