BAY MINETTE — When classes begin at Faulkner State Community College next week, two new deans will be at the helm of Instruction and Workforce Development & Technology.

Patty Hughston, former administrator over Career Technical Education for the Baldwin County Board of Education, is dean of Workforce Development & Technology.

The position is new and Hughston has big plans for the program.

"We already have in place dual enrollment, I would love to see that expand. I'd also like to see a K-12 to post-secondary program," she said.

She explained that in addition to preparing college students for the working world, she would like to work with the schools to encourage students to look at the variety of technical jobs available.

Hughston said the program will take two avenues, one allowing students to transition from a two-year program to the workforce, the other focusing on a two-year-program to 4-year to the workforce.

Despite the economic hardships facing Americans today, Hughston said there are jobs available for appropriately trained individuals.

"There are pockets of industry that are not laying off," she said. There are some adding employees with specific skills such as welding."

She said many of the students in the Faulkner State technology programs are workers who have lost their jobs and are returning to school to get trained in other areas.

"They are coming back to get retooled and retrained so they can find a job," she said.

"This is the direction that will sustain this state in these economic times," she said. "A lot of workers will land jobs where they can make good money and support their families."

Hughston said she is looking forward to the challenges and rewards of her position.

"I'm excited to be at Faulkner State. It's a wonderful school."

Emily Martin has been named Dean of Instruction.

Martin has been with Faulkner State since 1968 except for a three-year hiatus during which time she worked at the University of Mobile as the secretary to the Academic Dean.

She worked part-time in that position while she worked toward a bachelor's degree in business education.

Most recently, Martin was division chair and instructor in business administration, management and computer science as well as office administration.

"I have been a division manager for 36 years," Martin said. "I love to interact with people and help solve problems. What better way to serve the Faulkner staff, our county and the surrounding area than being the Academic Dean of the best college in the nation.

As Dean of Instruction, Martin will supervise the faculty who teach the Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees.

"These two degrees are designed to transfer to four-year colleges and universities," she said.

Though her experience as a division chair lends itself to her new position, Martin said there are significant differences in the two.

"The individual chairs have their full-time faculty and adjunct faculty to supervise. The Dean of Instruction has all of the division chairs,  full-time faculty and adjunct faculty to lead, motivate and supervise," she said.

The biggest challenge to that, she said, is time management.

"Every person who approaches my office for help or guidance will be treated equally, that is my philosophy. However, as Dean of Instruction, I still have a number of meetings to attend and programs of instruction on three different campuses," she said.

Martin said her focus is to help continue the excellence in education Faulkner State has earned a reputation for.

"My main goal is to be a positive force in this time of major growth at Faulkner State and to insure quality in every classroom."