<<go back
January 1, 2006

Calhoun Community College
President Marks Third Anniversary

Calhoun Community College President Marilyn Beck marks her third anniversary at the college this month. Dr. Beck made history in December 2002 when she was appointed through a national search as the fourth president and first woman to lead the college in its 57 year history. She officially took the helm of the institution on January 27, 2003 .

An Alabama native, Beck came to Calhoun after serving over 14 years as president of Lord Fairfax Community College in Winchester , Virginia . Prior to becoming president of Lord Fairfax, she served as dean of academic affairs at Lurleen B. Wallace State Community College in Andalusia, Al., and as a math professor at Auburn and Troy State universities. Beck holds a bachelor's degree from Troy State and two graduate degrees from Auburn .

As president of Alabama 's largest two-year college, Beck has led the institution in unprecedented growth during the last three years. Student enrollment topped the 9000 mark; the last two phases of the college's Aerospace and Advanced Technology Park , located on its Decatur campus, were completed; the Licensed Practical Nursing program, the first National League for Nursing accredited program in the state of Alabama, celebrated its 50th anniversary; the largest nursing class in the College's history was admitted during the fall of 2005; and new degree programs in Process Technology and Networking Technology along with certifications in several health-related programs were added to support local employer demand.

During the past year, the College was involved in a record $44 million in new construction and renovation projects, which included completed renovation of the Noble Russell building (Phase III of the college's Tech Park project) as well as completion of the College's new "One Stop" Center, allowing students to carry out their entire admissions, advising and registration process under one roof. Construction of the new 64,600 square foot, three-story Health Sciences Building continues, and is scheduled for completion in time for the 2006 fall semester. In December 2005, Calhoun broke ground for the new Math and Science building, which is projected for completion in early 2007.

A record $13 million in public and private grants was awarded to Calhoun in 2005. In August, news came that the College had been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for the creation of a regional Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), followed by the announcement in October that DOL had again selected Calhoun for a grant award, this time to the tune of $2.5 million to fund the new AHEAD (Alternate Health Education Asynchronous Delivery) project targeting careers in nursing, surgical technology, radiography and clinical laboratory technology.

Commenting on her first three years at the college, Beck said, "Much has been accomplished at Calhoun in the last three years, but none of our accomplishments could have been realized without the hard work, dedication and commitment of what I feel is the best faculty and staff body anywhere in the country.

Coverage of this release:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

Back to Menu