WHITEVILLE, NC — Local educator Allison Rockenbach has stepped into a new full-time role as a biology instructor at Southeastern Community College (SCC) for the fall 2026 semester, completing a journey at the institution that spans over six years.
Rockenbach, a Whiteville native, transitions into higher education following a successful tenure as a science teacher at Whiteville High School, where she led classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory experiments.
“I chose to work at SCC because I wanted to continue growing as an educator while working with students at the college level,” Rockenbach said.
Her ties to Southeastern Community College run deep. Rockenbach first joined the SCC community in 2020 as a campus science tutor before stepping into the classroom as an adjunct instructor during the 2025–26 academic year. Those positions paved the path to her full-time faculty appointment this semester.
A two-time graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Rockenbach earned her bachelor’s degree in science education with a concentration in biology in 2013 and completed her master’s degree in the same discipline in 2019.
This fall, she is instructing introductory and core sequence courses, including Biology 110, Biology 111, and Biology 112, out of her office and lab space in C-Building (Room 103) on the Whiteville campus.
“My interest in biology came from a genuine curiosity about understanding the world around me and how living things function,” Rockenbach explained. “I have also always enjoyed the hands-on side of science, especially being able to explore concepts through labs and experiments. I love that biology allows me to combine curiosity, discovery and hands-on learning, and I enjoy sharing that experience with my students.”
Rockenbach hopes to establish an encouraging environment where students feel comfortable asking questions as they work toward their academic and workforce goals.
Outside of academia, Rockenbach remains active in the local community. She resides in Whiteville with her husband, Paul Rockenbach, and their daughter, Sadie, attends Western Prong Baptist Church, and enjoys thrifting and daily two-mile walks.
Students looking to connect with Rockenbach can reach her by email at allison.rockenbach@sccnc.edu or by calling 910-788-6236.
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