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T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Press Release - Gadsden State Community College
GADSDEN, Ala. – Dr. Chanel L. Fort has been appointed as the new dean of Academic Programs and Services. She replaces Dr. Farrah Hayes, who was named the director of the new Challenger Learning Center. Fort brings over two decades of diverse experience in leadership and program development to her new role at Gadsden State.
Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State said, “We look forward to
the positive impact Dr. Fort will make in shaping the future of our
academic programs and furthering Gadsden State’s mission of student
success and community development.”
Fort holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Health Services
Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; a master’s
degree in Human Services and Healthcare Administration from Capella
University; and a doctoral degree in Education, Global Leadership and
Change from Pepperdine University, which she completed in July.
Before joining Gadsden State, Fort served as the director of outcomes
assessment at Jefferson State Community College, where she led the
college-wide assessment and accreditation process for all four of its
campuses. From 2016 to 2021, she was the CEO and learning strategist at
Fortified Learning Solutions, an organization she founded.
Other roles Fort has held include adjunct instructor at Jefferson State,
corporate dean of health sciences for Education Corporation of America
and program director of Pharmacy and Office Administration Programs at
Virginia College. She has also worked as a grants officer for the
Alabama Department of Public Health and as a district pharmacy training
coordinator and pharmacy profit-and-loss analyst for Walgreens.
In recognition of her contributions to education and her community, Fort was named to Birmingham Business Journal’s “People on the Move” list in 2021 and was honored as an Education Design Lab designer in residence in 2022. As EDL designer she was recognized as one of the 12 leaders “reimagining the role of higher education in addressing racial and economic opportunity gaps.” In her role as a United Negro College Fund Institutional Change Agent for a local HBCU she received $1.1 million in funding for institutional transformation and innovation and was honored as a recipient of the UNCF Change Agent Award for Academic Improvement and Transformation.
As the dean of Academic Services, Fort will oversee all academic
instructional programs and services, including program development and
revision, library sciences, online instruction, and international
programs. She will also manage the Alabama Language Institute and lead
the development and implementation of strategic planning for academic
programs.
“I accepted the position at Gadsen State because the institution exudes
excellence in education practice, operations, people power and
leadership,” she said. “Accepting the position at Gadsden State also
allows me to share my wisdom in educational leadership and steer the
the vision of academics, which is my career passion.”
Fort brings a wealth of experience in both academic leadership and
community engagement with a strong track record in programmatic
accreditation, institutional partnerships, grant-funded initiatives and
educational improvement.
“My career has kept me at the forefront of educational practice, policy
change, and academic improvement,” she said. “My work in education and
workforce development extends beyond the two- and four-year college
systems and into city government, national accrediting organizations, and national nongovernment organizations. Collectively, these experiences will catapult my work as the dean of Academic Programs and Services.”
As the new leader at Gadsden State, Fort has her sights on several
immediate priorities.
“My first steps will be to conduct program reviews and evaluate the
outcomes for a better understanding of existing program sustainability and changing needs,” she said. “I will assess faculty qualifications to ensure that all courses are taught by qualified faculty members, and I will review the library catalog of sources and close any gaps in database access, missing and expiring contracts, and sources quality and library use. I will also grasp the community-based initiatives offered through the Alabama Language Institute, the Teaching and Learning Center, and the Fine Arts Division.” Fort said, “It is also important that I understand the historical impact of the College’s international program
to develop a concise vision for recharging the College’s global awareness.”
Fort’s approach to leadership emphasizes relationship-building and
collaboration.
“I plan to meet with the faculty, staff, and students through focus
groups to gather insights on professional development interests and
morale and student perspectives on academic support systems,” she said.
“Additionally, I intend to establish meaningful relationships and
inculcate leadership as a circle of support.”
Fort is enthusiastic about joining Gadsden State’s administration.
“Gadsden State is one of the most professional colleges I’ve been
associated with,” she said. “The professionalism has been spot-on from
the interview to onboarding. It is the level of quality in educational
excellence that I most appreciate. Gadsden State is also a community
staple with a tremendous reputation. I have friends who’ve graduated
from Gadsden State, and all speak highly of the College. For this
reason, I’m an immediate fan and grateful to be a Cardinal.”
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