Coastal Alabama Community College is proud to announce Dr. Lonnie Burnett as Vice President. Dr. Burnett, who has served as the University of Mobile’s 5th president since 2019 and, who has dedicated over 40 years to education in southwest Alabama, will officially join the Pack on June 1, 2024.
“Dr. Burnett has demonstrated a commitment to education and to students,” Dr. Aaron Milner, President of Coastal Alabama said. “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.”
A 1979 graduate of what was then Mobile College, Dr. Burnett taught for 25 years in the Mobile County Public School System where he was named Teacher of the Year, at the local school level, five times. Starting his time at the University of Mobile in 2005, he served as a Professor of History and in various administrative roles ranging from Department Chair to Associate Provost, to Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2019, he was unanimously selected as the 5th President of the University of Mobile. 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. 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.
Dr. Burnett holds 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) – all in his first love, History.
Dr. Burnett has extensive accreditation experience having served on 13 SACSCOC on-site visit teams, served as a QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) director, lead evaluator, and consultant. He has presented sessions at several SACSCOC conferences, and, most recently, he led the University of Mobile through a successful 10-year reaffirmation.
Although a teacher at heart, Dr. Burnett, in addition to his love for the classroom, has an impressive record of scholarly research, having written two books, published several articles, book chapters, and book reviews. He has presented at numerous academic conferences.
“I know Dr. Burnett will be a welcome addition to our team at Coastal Alabama,” Dr. Milner said. “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.”
He has been married to Mrs. Lynne Thomas Burnett for 44 years. He has a daughter, Lauren Burnett Wetzel who is married to Cody James Wetzel. He has one grandson, Alexander James Wetzel.
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Coastal Alabama Community College is a member of the Alabama Community College System and is the largest community college in the state by geographic coverage. Serving nearly 10,000 students, Coastal Alabama maintains an intentional mission of investing in the success of ALL students through credit programs, non-credit training programs, and Adult Education services. With locations in six counties and a robust dual enrollment and online population, Coastal Alabama fuels southwest Alabama’s workforce.
