October 20, 2015 MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Dr. Mark Heinrich, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), today recommended and the ACCS Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of new presidents for Bishop State Community College, Central Alabama Community College and Gadsden State Community College. The appointments were announced during the Board’s October meeting, held today on the campus of Lawson State Community College in Birmingham. The approval by the Board of the three new presidents comes as the result of comprehensive, nationwide searches conducted for each position. According to the ACCS Department of Human Resources, more than 100 total resumes from across the country were submitted for the presidential vacancies. As part of the selection process, required background and reference checks were conducted for each candidate Heinrich interviewed. "The process undertaken by the Chancellor and his staff in the selection of these three new presidents was extremely comprehensive and one in which I know all due diligence was exercised by everyone involved," commented ACCS Board vice chairman Al Thompson. "I, and the entire ACCS Board of Trustees, feel confident that Dr. Heinrich has brought to us three very qualified, highly experienced individuals who will pick up the reigns at their respective institutions and lead these colleges as they continue to meet the needs of the students, faculty and staff, supporters and communities they will serve," Thompson added. Presidents appointed (alphabetically by institution) are as follows: Dr. Valerie A. Richardson, Bishop State Community College (pictured above); Dr. Susan L. Burrow, Central Alabama Community College (CACC); and Dr. Martha Griffith Lavender, Gadsden State Community College (GSCC). Appointed Interim President at Bishop State in August of this year, Richardson formerly served as vice president of Gadsden State Community College. Just prior to going to Bishop State, Richardson served as interim president of Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City. At Gadsden State, Richardson was also responsible for the Institutional Advancement and Student Services Divisions. She held various positions at GSCC, including Vice President, Acting President in 2008 and 2011, Dean of Institutional Advancement and Community Services, Associate Dean of Student Services, and Director of Veterans Upward Bound. Richardson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and sociology and a Master of Science degree in counseling education from Jacksonville State University. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Alabama. She is also a graduate of the Alabama Community College Leadership Academy and the Thomas Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership. Burrow has served as Interim President of CACC since her appointment in February 2013. Prior to coming to CACC, she served in numerous positions at Bevill State Community College, including Campus Dean for the Hamilton Campus, Dean of Academic Transfer Programs, Division Chair for Health Science for the Hamilton and Fayette campuses, college-wide coordinator for the Practical Nursing program, and nursing faculty member for the Practical and Associate degree nursing programs. Additionally, Burrow served as a faculty member of the Practical Nursing program at Northwest Alabama State Community College and Facility Senior Administrator and Family Nurse Practitioner for Baptist Health Center, Harrison Medical Clinic and Haleyville Health Care Center. Burrow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of North Alabama, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Mississippi. Lavender has served as Interim President of GSCC since September 2014. Prior to her appointment as interim president, she served as the college's Dean of Health Sciences. Lavender has also held administrative and faculty positions with the Lurleen B. Wallace College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Jacksonville State University and served as a visiting professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. Additionally, she has worked in administrative posts with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Anniston, Alabama. "I am excited and extremely pleased to announce the appointment of these three new presidents," said Heinrich. “As experienced administrators within the ACCS, each of them knows our System quite well. Their individual colleges and the communities they serve will continue to benefit from the wealth of knowledge, talent, experience and passion for serving students that they bring," Heinrich added. “I feel confident that they will continue to provide strong leadership as they help to move their colleges forward." View Full ACCS Press Release > About ACCS The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) consists of 25 comprehensive community and technical colleges, Marion Military Institute and the Alabama Technology Network (ATN). ACCS is committed to providing a unified system of institutions delivering excellence in academic education, adult education, and workforce development. ACCS serves approximately 250,000 people annually through all of its entities, with over 120,000 of those served enrolled in credit courses. About Bishop State Community College Bishop State Community College is a multi-campus, comprehensive community college serving more than 6,000 students annually in Mobile and Washington counties.

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Contact: Gloria J. Sterling Bishop State Community College Office: 251-405-7084 Email: gsterling@bishop.edu Contact: Janet Kincherlow-Martin, Interim Executive Director Marketing and Public Relations Alabama Community College System Office: (334) 293-4522 Cell: (256) 497-5318 Email: janet.martin@accs.edu .
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