Tucker elected chair of Council of Presidents

Livingston, Ala. – Dr. Ken Tucker, president of the University of West Alabama, has been elected to serve as chairperson of the Council of Presidents.

The COP serves in an advisory capacity to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). Tucker will serve for the 2020-21 term.

Tucker, who has been president of UWA since 2015, served as vice chairman of COP from 2016-19. Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., president of Alabama State University, was elected to serve as vice chairperson alongside Tucker. The two took office immediately upon their election.

“Dr. Tucker will bring a unique perspective to the COP in his role as president of a university in rural Alabama,” said Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. “Our strength will be in collaboration, and Dr. Tucker’s leadership will be essential in coordinating that alliance.”  

The COP advises ACHE on policy issues and budget development. It is composed of all public university presidents and chancellors, the chancellor of the two-year college system, and three two-year public college presidents appointed by the chancellor

“While Alabama’s public universities and two-year colleges span a vast range of academic offerings and unique campus experiences, consistencies do exist within our physical and philosophical operations,” Tucker said.

“It’s a distinct honor to be elected by my colleagues, and I look forward to working with Dr. Ross to help lead our efforts identifying, prioritizing, and communicating these items for ACHE.”