The chancellor of the Alabama Community College System has placed Helen McAlpine, president of Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville on administrative leave and named Kembra Chambers as acting president. Dr. Chambers has been serving as dean of mathematics, natural sciences, and pre-engineering at Calhoun Community College in Tanner, Alabama.
Drake State Community and Technical College, founded in 1961, is a historically Black educational institution. Today, it enrolls slightly more than 1,000 students. African Americans make up 57 percent of the student body.
The Alabama Community College System did not give any reason for placing Dr. McAlpine on leave.
Before serving as dean at Calhoun Community College, Dr. Chambers was associate dean of instruction at Drake State Community and Technical College. She holds an associate’s degree from Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education from Columbus State University in Georgia. Dr. Chambers earned a master’s degree from Troy University in Alabama and holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Auburn University in Alabama.
I am inspired by women like this because it was totally unheard of when I was in college in the sixties. I am happy it is happening more and more today. I pray young folks will take advantage of having these women in their colleges and Universities and be encouraged to be their best in any positions.