Patricia Sims has been named president of J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama. The community college, a member of the Alabama Community College System, enrolls just under 800 students. Women make up just over half of the student body.
Dr. Sims has 25 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. Most recently, she was the dean of the College of Education at Athens State University in Alabama. Before that, she was the director of student services management and dean of instructional and student services at Drake State for more than 12 years.
“My career as an educator, administrator, advocate, and community leader has prepared me for the role of president at Drake State,” said Dr. Sims. “I am passionate about the role Alabama’s community colleges play in preparing individuals for successful futures and I am committed to expanding this mission in the Huntsville community. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected to serve in this capacity and I look forward to working with Drake State’s faculty, staff, administration, and students to move the college forward.”
Dr. Sims holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Alabama, a master’s degree in secondary education from Alabama A&M University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.