Bainbridge College
Interim Named to Post
By Marcía O. McRae Communications Director for BC
May 31, 2008, 08:26

Joan Simpson of Colquitt has been appointed director of the Bainbridge College Early County Site (BCEC) in Blakely effective July 1, 2008, BC President Dr. Tom Wilkerson announced to the college community May 28.

Joan Simpson is on the job as director at Bainbridge College Early County Site in Blakely.

Mrs. Simpson has served as BCEC interim director since January 2007, succeeding Dr. Bob Coker, who was the retired chair of the BC Technical Studies Division. He returned to BC to serve as acting director after Albany Technical College ceded the site to BC in July 2006. Since Dr. Coker’s retirement as acting director, Mrs. Simpson has served as the acting director, Dr. Wilkerson said.

“She has served with distinction, and I am pleased to recognize that service with this promotion to permanent director,” he said.

“The Bainbridge College story in Blakely has been one of enormous accomplishments these past two years. Our growth from the original 211 students at the beginning of our work there to almost 700 this past spring is but one sign of the good things happening in Blakely.”

Formerly a BCEC accounting instructor, who had taught full-time since 2001, she is a BC alumna with an associate degree in business. Mrs. Simpson was an adjunct instructor five years before teaching full-time at what was then Albany Technical College (now BCEC). She held a variety of management positions in business, serving as chief financial officer at Miller County Hospital and in agriculture related businesses in Early and Miller counties.

She holds a bachelor of business administration degree in management from Valdosta State University and a master’s of business administration with a concentration in accounting from Troy State University – Dothan. She has completed coursework for a doctorate from Touro University International in Cypress, CA.

A graduate of Leadership Early County 2003, she was named 2004 Rick Perkins Teacher of the Year for Albany Tech and is a Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor.

The Colquitt native is married to Don Simpson, owner of Simpson Trucking. She has one son, Chris Johnson who is married to Trish, and a grandson, Tyler, a student at Southwest Georgia Academy.