Coastal Alabama Community College named Lonnie Burnett, who previously served as the University of Mobile president since 2019, as its new vice president on Tuesday, May 7.

Dedicating over 40 years and counting to education in southwest Alabama, Burnett will officially join CACC operations on June 1. The 1979 Mobile College graduate taught for Mobile County Public Schools for 25 years and was named Teacher of the Year five times. Burnett started at the University of Mobile in 2005, serving as both a professor and in several administration roles before being unanimously selected as the university's fifth president in 2019.

"During his tenure as president, Dr. Burnett led through a global pandemic, established new academic programs, including the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, completed several construction and renovation projects and implemented sound fiscal practices," CACC's press release stated. "Dr. Burnett was charged with overseeing a $30 million budget for the university. He also raised $3 million in new donations while supervising the stewardship of previous donors."

Burnett carries a bachelor of arts degree (University of Mobile), a master of arts degree (University of South Alabama) and a doctor of philosophy degree (University of Southern Mississippi). Beyond his commitment in the classroom, he has also written two books, presented at a variety of academic conferences and published several articles, book chapters and book reviews.

“Dr. Burnett has demonstrated a commitment to education and to students,” CACC President Aaron Milner said via Tuesday's release. “He brings with him over 30 years of exclusive experience in the classroom and 15 years of higher education administrative experience, and I know he will be an asset to our team. ... He has experience in a variety of areas that align with our strategic focus as we continue to advance Coastal Alabama Community College for the success of our students."