Chris Cox has been named president of Shelton State Community College and Danny Long has been named president of Enterprise State Community College. Both were serving as interim president at their respective institutions.
A Geneva native with almost 30 years’ experience as teacher, coach and administrator in K-12 and higher education, Cox started his career at Dale County High School. Since then he has worked at public schools in Geneva, Enterprise and Oxford, and served as interim president at Northwest-Shoals, Bevill State and Lurleen B. Wallace community colleges.
A Troy State University Graduate, he has a master’s from Alabama State University and a Ph.D. from Auburn.
“The opportunity to permanently join the Buccaneer family is one of the highest honors I can imagine,” Cox said. “The future of Shelton State is very bright because of the excellence of our education and training programs, our outstanding faculty and students, and our connections to the community we serve. We’re going to build and strengthen partnerships with K-12 schools, business and industry, and other colleges and universities so we can help our students and our community succeed like never before.”
“Chris’ tenure at Shelton State has already proven to be a game-changer for the students, faculty, staff and workforce region,” said ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. “I’m thrilled to see what happens next for residents, schools and business partners who rely on Shelton State to deliver.”
Long, also a Troy graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees and also with nearly 30 years of education experience, began his career as a special education teacher and assistant director of Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark, before moving to Enterprise High School.
During Long’s tenure at Enterprise State, he has helped develop specialized program in advanced composites, mechatronics, commercial driver license training, digital multimedia, EMS and medical assisting, industrial electronics and mechanics, practical nursing and more. He has assisted with major building projects on both Enterprise campuses and at the affiliated Alabama Aviation College.
Announcing Long’s selection, Baker said, “Danny knows the College, the communities it serves, K-12 and industry, and he knows what it takes to continue our mission of making education available for everyone.”
Long said, “Enterprise State and the Alabama Aviation College are where we are because of the strong investment of faculty, staff, community, K-12 and business and industry partners who give us insight on what they need and trust our willingness to be there when they need us,” Long said.
