The president of Mount Olive College stepped down Monday after 14 years on the job, and is preparing to take up a New Bern address.

J. William Byrd, 72, will continue part-time at the private college as its first chancellor, working from an office connected to the campus phone system and computer network in a home in Fairfield Harbour.

"With modern day communications, you can be anywhere as long as you have the equipment to work with and take care of business," Byrd said in a phone interview Wednesday.

In his new role as chancellor, Byrd will act as a resource for the new president Philip Kerstetter, 61, who took over the presidential post on Wednesday. Kerstetter was previously president and chief executive officer at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan.

Kersetter will take the helm over the college, which offers associates and bachelors degrees in its locations in Mount Olive, Goldsboro, New Bern, Jacksonville, Wilmington, the Research Triangle Park and Washington, N.C.

"I will be there so the college can take advantage of the relationships and experience I have built up over the years while serving as president," Byrd said.

As chancellor, Byrd will also be fundraising for the college, maintaining the relationships with donors he's already established.

"I'll continue to have a relationship with the college, but not have the full responsibility of the day-to-day," he said.

While Byrd was president, the college expanded to six locations across the state. A seventh is being established in Jacksonville to serve the growing military population, Byrd said.

"I guess it would be fair to say that this expansive programming began after I came to the college, but there were lots of people that contributed to making it happen," he said.

He was executive vice president when the New Bern campus was established in 1993 to supplement the Mount Olive and Goldsboro locations.

Since he was made president, the college has also set up schools in Wilmington in 1995, the RTP in 1997, and Washington in 2005.

Byrd added that the New Bern campus was the first to use innovative programming with online course selections and video conferencing.

"I have really appreciated our efforts at trying to develop innovative approaches to educating," Byrd said, reflecting on his years as president. "We are a unique institution in the way in which we do programming. In the process, we have opened our doors to a wider array of persons who need educational services."

Since he took the helm, there was also more than $50 million made in capital improvements during his term. A communication's center, a Wellness Center, an academic complex, a new residential housing facility, and additions to the athletic facilities were added in his term, according to a press release.

He has also grown the endowment and curriculum.

Laura Oleniacz can be reached at (252) 635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.