The ACCS Financial Leadership Academy recently graduated its second cohort of financial leadership professionals across Alabama’s community colleges. Fourteen participants, who were selected by their colleges’ chief financial officers and presidents, completed the Academy last week. Since last year, more than 25 college employees have graduated.

The Financial Leadership Academy was developed to provide professional development and expert resources to current and future fiscal leaders across the Alabama Community College System. Graduates learn about restricted grants, financial aid, federal and state programs, capital project, bid laws and contracts, and several other factors that enhance their knowledge of the colleges’ financial operations.

The graduates in Cohort 2 are the following: Tanesha Richburg, Alabama Technology Network; Melissa Estes and Vanessa Looney, Calhoun Community College; Andrea Burks, Central Alabama Community College; Christer Sanks, Chattahoochee Valley State Community College; Katrina Harris, Drake State Community and Technical College; Keli Feely, Gadsden State Community College; Kasim Alzoubi, Jefferson State Community College; Alexis Robinson, Lawson State Community College; Candice Bond, Shelton State Community College; Aleysha Konesky, Trenholm State Community College; Mary Helen Ingram, Wallace State Community College; and Judy Jordan and Vickie Bell, Wallace Community College Selma.

The inaugural Cohort 1 of 2020 included the following: Amberley Clark, Bevill State Community College; Lisa Sawyer, Central Alabama Community College; Dexter Jackson, Chattahoochee Valley State Community College; Akeem Alexander, Drake State Community and Technical College; Paula Helms, Enterprise State Community College; Monique Silas, Lawson State Community College; Penny Watson, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College; DeAnna Harper and Rodney Bone, Northeast Alabama Community College; Jenelle Smith, Reid State Technical College; Vickie Barnes, Snead State Community College; and Marc Nicholas, Wallace State Community College.

The Financial Leadership Academy is the vision of ACCS Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker and was originally implemented at the Alabama Department of Education when Baker served as Assistant Superintendent of Education for Finance. Invitations for Cohort 3 are expected in July.