Chancellor Jimmy Baker on Wednesday announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Anthony as president of Lawson State Community College. Anthony has been serving as interim president at the college since September 2020.
Dr. Anthony has 30 years of higher education experience, recently serving as Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and Executive Vice President and Dean of Students at Lawson State. Prior to her leadership at Lawson State, Anthony served at Bessemer State Technical College, which merged with Lawson State in 2005. In addition to various other leadership roles within the ACCS, she served as Interim President at three other ACCS institutions: Drake State Community and Technical College, Shelton State Community College, and Enterprise State Community College.
“Dr. Anthony is a proven leader who cares deeply about student success and it is truly a privilege to appoint her as President at a college she knows so well,” Chancellor Baker said. “Lawson State students, faculty, and staff will be well-served by Dr. Anthony’s innovative leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others.”
Dr. Anthony earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Talladega College. She received both her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and her Master of Education degree in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership through a joint program at UAB and the University of Alabama. She was awarded UAB’s Department of Education’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2005.
“It is an honor to continue my service to the Birmingham and Bessemer communities in the role of President at Lawson State and I look forward to working alongside other community leaders to forge a better future for our region,” said Dr. Anthony. “I care deeply about the Lawson State community and I’m eager to continue our successful efforts to prepare students for their best possible future. Go Cougars!”
Dr. Anthony’s tenure as President at Lawson State Community College will begin on April 1, 2021.
