Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of stories on the five semifinalists for the presidency of LBWCC.

After recently finishing up 21 years as president of a technical college in South Carolina, Dr. Anne McNutt is looking for a new challenge.

McNutt, who served as president of the Technical College of the Low Country in Beaufort, S.C., from 1987 until August of this year, is one of the five semifinalists who will be interviewed next week for the open position of president at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

“I am very passionate about the community college experience,” McNutt said. “I enjoy working and believe in what the community college system tries to accomplish. Education is the key to a better life for a person, for the community and for the local business and industry.”

McNutt has lived in the southern United States for most of her life. She earned her bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University in 1967, and her master’s degree from the same institution in 1969. She earned her Ph. D. in higher education administration from George Peabody College for Teachers (now Vanderbilt University) in 1979.

McNutt spent five years as a high school teacher before becoming a member of the faculty at Northeast State Technical Community College in Blountville, Tenn., in 1973. She worked at a variety of teaching and administrative positions at various institutions before becoming president of TCL.

While at TCL, she was the chief executive officer of a multi-campus community college that served more than 8,500 students in a four-county coverage area and with an annual budget of $15 million. During her time as the college’s president, McNutt saw the institution add programs in radiologic technology, surgical technology, early care and education and physical therapy assistance, to name a few.

“I’ve had 21 years of experience successfully as college president at a college that’s not very different in size (compared to LBWCC),” McNutt said. “We’ve been able to develop new programs and be very active in fund-raising. I would want to bring a similar vision to Lurleen Wallace.

“I would work with the community and the college community to help develop that vision. I would want it to be the very best community college that it could be to serve the people in that area and the business and industry in that area.”

McNutt added that she would enjoy living in southern Alabama and is excited about the opportunity to be the next president at LBWCC.

“I’ve been a Southerner my whole life,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of visits to Alabama before and enjoyed them. I’m very excited about visiting the campus. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the right person, and hopefully it will be me.”