January 4, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561
jkm@calhoun.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Taylor Selected as Calhoun's New Vice President

Calhoun Community College President Dr. Marilyn Beck has announced the selection of Alicia Taylor as the college's new Vice President for Instruction and Student Success. Taylor officially began her new duties Monday, January 4, 2010, and was hired through a national search to replace former vice president, Dr. Mary Yarbrough, who recently retired from Calhoun after over 35 years of service to the college.

Most recently, Taylor served as dean of Calhoun's Huntsville/Cummings Research Park campus, where she successfully led that site in the addition of day classes as well as a major $4.5M, 28,000 square foot renovation project which includes new state-of-the art classrooms, a new student center and bookstore, and over 5500 square feet of additional space for the college's Adult Education program. The project also included the construction of 300 additional parking spaces for the campus.

Prior to joining Calhoun, she was Director of Academic Programs at the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. With over 20 years of experience in the educational arena, she has also served as Interim Dean of the College at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, held several positions at Shelton State Community College, and served as assistant professor in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of West Alabama.

Taylor earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Mathematics Education from the University of Alabama and is presently completing requirements for her Ph.D. from Northcentral University (Prescott, Arizona).

She is involved in a number of professional and civic organizations. In 2002, she was named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers and in 2005 was presented with The Dr. T. Clifford Bibb Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Alabama Association for Developmental Education. Taylor is a member of several professional organizations which include the Alabama Instructional Officers Association, the American Educational Research Association, the American Mathematical Association for Two-Year Colleges, the Capstone College of Education Society, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Taylor is also a graduate of the Huntsville/Madison County Leadership program and currently serves on the program's board.

In her new position, Taylor will be responsible for providing leadership for Calhoun's instructional, instructional support, and student services units. She will also assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the college during the president's absence. "Calhoun is indeed fortunate to have the expertise of Alicia Taylor as we continue our work in education, workforce development and training in this community," commented Dr. Beck. "Her professionalism, outstanding leadership skills, commitment to student success and her knowledge of Calhoun and the communities we serve made her the ideal choice to fill the position of the college's vice president. I am excited about what she will bring to this position," Beck added.

###