Dr. Gary Branch is a 23-year-old kid in a 74 year old’s body.

Branch, the regional president of Coastal Alabama Community College, the new name of the merged schools Jefferson Davis Community College, Alabama Southern and Faulkner State, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Atmore’s weekly meeting.

Branch talked a lot about the process of the merger, and how he got into education. His first job was at the University of Georgia.

Branch said he remembers loading up his wife and son in a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle.

“I was 23, and I was so nervous,” he said. “I wanted to be a success, and I just didn’t know.”

Branch said he was also quite anxious, as anyone would be starting their first job.

“Georgia couldn’t have been a better place for me,” he said.

From UG, Branch worked in administrative roles at other schools in Georgia before starting his career in Alabama.

While in Georgia, Branch oversaw the formation of a new college, which he said prepared him for the merger that took place to form CACC.

He worked at then Troy State University for 10 years before going to Brewer State, now Beville State, in Fayette. After his stint in Fayette, Branch began his tenure at FSCC in Bay Minette.

Branch said the excitement he felt when driving down the road in his Volkswagen in 1965 is still with him today.

“I’m much better prepared for the consolidation; the challenge is still the same,” he said. “I’m just as excited and nervous and thrilled for this opportunity.”

The consolidation of JDCC, ASCC and FSCC was finalized in December after a 12-month process that included several meetings and a couple important approvals from state agencies.

Branch said he held meetings, appointed a steering committee and had 11 different consolidation committees dedicated to the merger.

He said through the effort of the committees, the school was able to get the Alabama Commission on High Education on board as well as the Southern Association of Colleges.

“The commission approved the consolidation 100 percent,” Branch said. “SACS voted 100 percent for the merger.”

Branch said the reasons why the consolidation is important are that it will help the college save money, and it benefits the communities and students.