Dr. Coleman Wallace joined the race for school board Thursday, officially announcing his candidacy for the Escambia County Board of Education.

Wallace finished the qualifying process Friday and will face off on the Republican ticket against the incumbent Democratic candidate Chuck Brooks for the board seat representing District 7.

Wallace’s background is in the field of education. His own education includes a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Temple University in Philadelphia and a master’s degree in theology from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wynnfield, Pennsylvania.

Professionally, Dr. Wallace has worked as an eighth grade English teacher; associate dean of undergraduate admissions, coordinator of minority recruitment, and dean of evening college admissions at Drexel University; and director of admissions, director of financial aid, registrar, and student ombudsman at the Antioch University Graduate School of Education.

Wallace is also an active member of his community. He has served as the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Moorestown, N.J., president inofthe New Light Missionary Baptist Union of Burlington and Camden counties, secretary and corresponding secretary of the Baptist Pastors’ Conference of Burlington County and Vicinity, corresponding secretary of the Bethany Baptist Association of South Jersey, and was the recording secretary for the Bethany Baptist Association Permanent Council. Wallace has also served as a member the executive board of the Black Minister’s Council of New Jersey and as the director of religious affairs for the Willingboro NAACP branch. He was an active member of the Moorestown Ministerium. Wallace currently serves as the president of Concerned Citizens of Atmore and also works as a volunteer chaplain at the Atmore Community Hospital.

In addition to his work in the community, Wallace has received numerous honors, including the Black Seminarian Fellowship, the United States Achievement Award, and being named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges 1997. In October 2003, The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club honored Wallace with the Global Ministry Humanitarian Award.

Wallace said he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve his community.

“I’m honored to be able to serve and serve I will,” Wallace said.

Wallace was born in Birmingham, the third of eight children to the late Thomas Wallace, Sr. and Bessie R. Wallace. He is married to Katrina (nee Richardson). They are the parents of Glyenda Wallace and Coleman M. Wallace Jr. and the grandparents of James, Domina?, and Coleman M. Wallace III.

Wallace served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1966.

Escambia County Board of Education District 7 is located in west Escambia County and encompasses most of Escambia County west of Highway 21.