Three community colleges in Alabama are set to have a new president after Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Chancellor Jimmy Baker announced his appointments for the positions on Tuesday.
Dr. Joel Hagood will lead Bevill State Community College, Joe Whitmore is to run Snead State Community College, and Dr. Brock Kelley will take the reins Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in the coming months.
Whitmore and Kelley had been leading their respective institutions in an interim capacity since earlier in the year. Hagood will leave his position as superintendent of Walker County Schools to take the job at Bevill State.
Hagood begins on January 1, 2021, while both Whitmore and Kelley will have the word “interim” removed from their title on December 1, 2020.
Bevill State Community College has four campuses in Northwest Alabama, including one in Jasper, the seat of Walker County, where Hagood has been serving as superintendent.
“When you combine Dr. Hagood’s proven leadership with his local expertise you get an ideal candidate for Bevill State’s next President,” Baker remarked in a statement.
“[I]t’s an honor to lead a college with such history and purpose in our region. I am focused on continuing Bevill State’s legacy as a game-changer in education and workforce development,” stated Hagood.
Snead State Community College is comprised of three campuses in Marshall County, southeast of Huntsville.
“Mr. Whitmore has been a committed member of the Snead State family for many years and will be a capable leader for the college moving forward,” commented Baker about Snead’s incoming president.
“I look forward to continuing to work alongside our faculty, staff, and students as we chart our path forward,” said Whitmore.
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College has locations in Andalusia, Opp, Greenville and Luverne.
“Dr. Kelley’s dynamic leadership style and career-long commitment to helping students succeed makes him the ideal candidate to fill this role at LBW,” Baker promised.
Kelley, a Lurleen B. Wallace alum, said it was “a tremendous honor to serve my alma mater in this capacity,” adding that “LBW is a special place that serves unique communities across our service area and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our faculty, staff, and students as we continue our commitment to top quality education and skills training for all those we serve.”
The ACCS oversees 24 community colleges with 130 campuses across Alabama.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
