During his three years as Alabama State University president, one of Quinton Ross’s goals was to expand access at the historically Black college to underprivileged and underserved students across the state. His efforts are now award-winning.
The Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators awarded Ross its inaugural Charles Townsel Outstanding Higher Educational Leadership Award.
“I am humbled to have been awarded the Alliance’s first-ever Townsel Award for educational leadership primarily because the organization’s purpose aligns with one of my missions as ASU President—ensuring that underserved students in Alabama have access to higher education,” Ross said. “I want to thank the leaders of the Alliance and its members for the award, and also thank my leadership team at Alabama State University for helping make my vision a reality through hard work and innovative planning.”
However, it wasn’t simply Ross’s work with underserved students that landed him the award. In researching candidates and finalists for the honor, Dr. Fred Primm, executive director of AL-ABSE, said the selection of Ross was based on many factors.
“President Ross was the winner for this inaugural award for many reasons, which included his outstanding leadership during the COVID -19 pandemic, his fundraising expertise with alumni and the business community, and how well he has galvanized the ASU community and its students with an enhanced embodiment of leadership, excitement and school spirit,” Primm said.
There’s little denying that in his three years at the helm of ASU, Ross has steadied what was a listing ship. The university’s financials are in better shape — as evidenced by credit upgrades from ratings agencies — and enrollment, particularly among freshmen, is growing again.
