Dr. Ullysses McBride of Atmore was appointed Tuesday morning to serve as the interim president of Bishop State Community College in Mobile, effective immediately.

Alabama Community College System Chancellor Mark Heinrich announced McBride’s appointment. McBride will temporarily fill the position left open by the death of BSCC President Dr. James Lowe Jr., who passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18.

“Dr. McBride has been a servant leader in education for decades, and I am very grateful for his willingness to assist and provide strong leadership during this transitional period at Bishop State,” Heinrich said. “I have complete confidence in Dr. McBride’s ability to provide quality, dependable leadership to the college and to help them move through this very difficult period.”

McBride said that Heinrich recently reached out to him to serve in the position, and he was humbled to be asked.

“I did not seek this position out on my own, but I am happy to serve,” McBride said.

Over the course of his career in education, McBride has served in numerous capacities. He served as president of Reid State Technical College; dean at Faulkner State Community College; and department chair, professor and adjunct professor at Alabama State University and Troy University. McBride has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for both the University of South Alabama, and Knoxville College.

“I’ve spent half my life with four-year colleges, and the other half with community colleges, so I know how important they are for students and communities,” McBride said. “I think community colleges are a godsend.
There’s a reason they’re called ‘community’ colleges.”

McBride received his bachelor’s degree from Knoxville College, master’s degree from Indiana University, and a doctorate from Auburn University. He completed additional graduate studies at Troy University, Alabama State University, Clark University in Worcester, Mass., and the University of New York.

Bishop State Community College is a four-campus, comprehensive community college serving more than 6,000 students annually in Mobile and Washington counties.