Faculty, staff and students are gearing up for the arrival of a new president at Jefferson Davis Community College.
Dr. Daniel Bain of Kansas, who is already setting up residence in Brewton, will take over the office of president at the Brewton-based institution next week, officials said.
Bain, who was selected from a field of more than 50 applicants, was named president for the college in November and will take the helm Tuesday, Jan. 3.
During an interview with a search committee in the selection process, Bain indicated he had done some research of his own on the communities, residents and students that the college serves on its Brewton and Atmore campuses.
“I like to visit with the people and see what is needed,” Bain told a search committee made up of community and college representatives. “I have lunch with students and get to know them to see what is going on. Part of the ability to improve depends on delivery. Student success is behind everything we do. I would love to be able to capitalize on what you already have here and use it to expand.”
Bain most recently served as president of Independence Community College in Independence, Kan., where he began in the position in 2008. Prior to joining the administration at ICC, he served as director of telelearning services at S. Louis Community College in Missouri from 1999 to 2008; and as distance education facilitator and faculty at Pitt Community College in North Carolina from 1994 to 1999.
He has served as a member of faculty at Columbus State College in Ohio; Delaware Joint Vocational School and Los Angeles-based Institute for Computer Technology.
Before joining the ranks of educators, Bain served as a management analyst for the City of Los Angeles. During his professional career, he has been involved with numerous community organizations including Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations and Rotary International.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Iowa; a master’s degree in vocational education from East Carolina University in Greenville, South Carolina; and a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education leadership and policy studies from the University of Missouri in St. Louis.
The search began after Dr. Susan McBride retired from the position last December. During the search, Dean of Instruction Kathleen Hall has served as interim president of the two-year institution.
Those who served on the search committee included Frieda Lowery, an accountant on the Brewton campus; David Quarker, masonry instructor and technical division chair on the Atmore campus; Robert Welling, drafting and design instructor on the Brewton campus; Gary Branch, president of Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette; Dean Argo, director of government relations and communications as appointed by the Department of Postsecondary Education; Dale Ash, vice president of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Atmore; Mike Godwin, an attorney with Otts, Moore, Coale, Godwin and Sterns in Brewton; Rosemary Jernigan, retired of Brewton; Carol Crook, retired of Atmore; and Tim Martin, president of Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority of Atmore.