Three Women Named President at Alabama Community Colleges

The Alabama Community College System has announced the appointments of three new presidents for colleges in the system. All three of the new community college presidents are women.

Martha Griffith Lavender was appointed president of Gadsden State Community College. The college enrolls about 5,300 students and women are 59 percent of the student body. Dr. Lavender has been interim president of the college since September 2014. Previously, she was dean of health sciences at the college. Dr. Lavender is graduate of Jacksonville State University in Alabama and holds a master’s degree and a doctorate from the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Valerie Richardson was named president of Bishop State Community College in Mobile. The college enrolls about 3,300 students and women make up 59 percent of the student body. Dr. Richardson has been serving as interim president of the college since August. She is the former vice president for institutional advancement and student services at Gadsden State Community College. Dr. Richardson holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and sociology and a master’s degree in counseling education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. She earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Alabama.

Susan Burrow was named president of Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City. The college enrolls about 1,700 students. Dr. Burrow has been serving as acting president since 2013. Earlier she was dean of academic transfer programs at Bevill State Community College in Hamilton, Alabama. Dr. Burrow is a graduate of the University of North Alabama in Florence. She holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi.