LCC grad's educational path started in the military

Lenoir Community College graduate Marc DeNeal’s educational journey was not a traditional straight path from high school to college. His education started long before he entered LCC in 2013 when he joined the US Navy after graduating from high school.

Originally from Baltimore, Md., where he grew up with his mother and his five sisters, DeNeal was educated in Baltimore City schools. “I struggled to be an average student. I had a lot of difficulty with English, writing, and reading,” he said. “Later in life, I understood that I was dyslexic and had attention deficit disorder. After graduating high school, I joined the Navy thinking that I would escape the classroom. However, I received a lot of classroom time which started in boot camp.” 

While in the Navy, he received formal training in Basic Hospital Corpsman School and Electroneurodiagnostic. “Hospital Corpsman school gave me basic nursing skills and Electroneurodiagnostic school gave me the skills to do EEG (brain wave test),” he said. “While stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital, I learned how to perform 40 different Neurodiagnostic and Sleep diagnostic tests.”

DeNeal was honorably discharged after eight years. At that time, he owned five sleep labs with a total of 15 beds in eastern North Carolina. “Sleep Analysis, Inc. operated for 10 years before I sold the business to a company in Phoenix, Arizona. During this time, I also received my calling into the gospel ministry. I was called to serve as the senior pastor of three different churches, two in North Carolina and one in Minnesota, totaling 27 years.”

He and his wife have five children - three are active military serving in the US Army, two are officers and three have college degrees. “We are proud of all of them,” he said. DeNeal and his wife, who is an RN/BSN, work together in Texas at a mission-driven safety-net hospital – Parkland Heath and Hospital System, where he is currently the operations director at Neurophysiology-EEG Epilepsy/Sleep Center. “I lead an impressive group of health care professionals known as ‘The Dream Team.’”

What brought DeNeal to LCC was his desire to obtain a Polysomnography degree with hopes of receiving credit for his 25 years in the field. At the time, there was not an avenue that would allow that so he completed his associate in arts degree. While at LCC, he received the Turner Scholarship and the C. Felix Harvey Scholarship. “The scholarships were extremely important, taking care of a family of seven. There was always something that was needed,” he said. “My work at that time was not always consistent. I was working nights in Elizabeth City. After getting off in the morning, I would drive to LCC three hours to get to class,” he said.

“As an older student with a lack of confidence, there was so many people (staff) at the LCC that was encouraging,” he added. “I don’t think I would have made it without the help of my instructors.”  

DeNeal earned his bachelor degree from Liberty University as well as his master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with his areas of study in Community & Public Health and Crisis Counseling. He is considering starting a doctoral program in August. He said working in some of the top hospitals such as Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, UNC, and Bethesda Naval has been most rewarding in his career.

“Attending college somewhat late in life is my earnest attempt to finally match my education with my many years of experience in the workforce,” he said. “Completing the Interdisciplinary postgraduate degree will fulfill a personal goal to bring educational validation to my dual professional careers in healthcare and pastoral ministry.”

“Liberty continues to add clarity to my understanding of who God is and strengthen my foundational belief and worldview. It also allows me to rightly apply the teachings of Christ in my life and the lives of others,” he said. “Truly, my dual professional careers can be summed up as a "Ministry that Prolongs Life." My efforts to gain knowledge and formal education in my perspective fields of study help others live healthier, spiritual lives in Christ.”