Jimmy Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, has been named a Distinguished Community College State Director.

The award recognizes the contributions of heads of statewide community college associations or systems and their demonstrated support for Phi Theta Kappa throughout their district and state. Winners may receive this award only once.

Baker was nominated by PTK’s Pi Psi Chapter at Coastal Alabama Community College for his hosting of the Annual Chancellor’s Banquet for college presidents at the All-Alabama Academic Team Ceremony. During this banquet, he personally congratulates each of the All-Alabama Academic Team award recipients.
“By serving as an example for his support for the All-Alabama Academic Team program, Chancellor Baker provides an example to each college president,” the nomination read. “In turn, each college president serves as examples to the deans of the colleges throughout the state.”

Baker bases funding for the state’s colleges on the graduation and retention rates of students and the placement of graduating students. He supports transfer agreements between the Alabama Community College System’s colleges and four-year universities and encourages the community colleges to be actively involved in maintaining and expanding these agreements.