Coastal Alabama Community College has named Dr. Lee Conerly its new dean of academic instruction, promoting an experienced educator and longtime college administrator who has spent more than two decades in higher education and secondary education.

Conerly previously served as the college’s associate dean of academic instruction, a position she held since 2020, a news release said. In that role, she provided ongoing guidance to academic faculty and oversaw onboarding programs for new faculty members.

She also led an initiative supporting student veterans, recognizing their contributions while helping connect them with resources and support throughout their college experience. Beyond her work at Coastal Alabama, Conerly has served as a reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Her experience at the college also includes serving as division chair of English, Humanities and Fine Arts and teaching English, humanities and speech courses. Before joining Coastal Alabama, she began her career teaching middle and high school English in Clarke County.

Conerly has also held leadership positions within the Alabama Community College Instructional Administrator Association (ACCIAA). She served as the organization's vice president from 2023 to 2025 before becoming president for the 2025-2026 term.

Her work in education and student success has earned several honors. In 2022, she received the Alabama Community College System Award of Excellence as Administrator of the Year. She was also named Coastal Alabama Community College Academic Faculty of the Year in 2018 and received the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Distinguished Administrator Award in 2024. That same year, she was inducted into the PTK Alumni Hall of Honor.

"Dr. Conerly has shown a long-standing dedication to student success, academic excellence, and faculty support," Dr. Aaron Milner, president, said in the release. “Because of this, I am confident in her ability to lead our academic instructional programs in this new role.”

Conerly holds a Ph.D. in Humanities from Faulkner University, a Master of Secondary Education in Language Arts from the University of West Alabama and a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Alabama. She also earned an Associate of Science from Faulkner State Community College, now Coastal Alabama Community College.

For more information about Coastal Alabama Community College and its academic programs, visit www.coastalalabama.edu.