A career spent assisting students achieve their educational goals is coming to a close for Gene Davis, who will officially retire on June 30, 2010, following 25 years of service at East Central Community College in Decatur.
Davis, who began his employment at East Central in 1985 as dean of students, has served the past 22 years as the College’s first dean of adult & continuing education.
His career in education actually spans almost 35 years and includes service at Winston Academy, Mississippi State University and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
“My career in education has been very rewarding,” Davis said. “The most rewarding part has been seeing non-traditional students succeed on the college level along with the students of all ages who earned GED diplomas and continued their education at East Central Community College.”
Davis said he will miss working with the ABE/GED instructors, adjunct faculty and staff of East Central Community College.
“Many special friendships have developed during my years at the College,” he said. “I’m especially appreciative of the support given to me during my tenure at East Central. As I begin a new chapter in my life with doors of opportunity being opened, I will always have a special place in my heart for East Central Community College and the ECCC family. ”
During Davis’ service as dean of students, the College experienced an increase in enrollment each year. Through his leadership, the first recruitment and retention task force was formed to develop and implement recruiting and retention strategies.
After a successful tenure as dean of students, Davis was named the College’s first dean of adult and continuing education in 1988. He quickly expanded the College’s academic and technical night classes throughout the district along with initiating the College’s Adult Basic Education/General Educational Development (ABE/GED) program by offering classes throughout the five-county area.
He has also served and has been chairman of various committees on the East Central campus.
Davis has held several leadership roles in the Mississippi Community and Junior College system, including his service as president of the Mississippi Student Personnel Dean’s Association, president of the Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Association, and member of the Mississippi Association of Adult and Continuing Education Board of Directors., He has also served on several Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation review teams throughout the southeastern United States.
He is also a recipient of the ABE/GED Supervisor of the Year award.
An avid outdoorsman, Davis is a former president of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, a 10,000-member conservation organization.
Davis said his plans for retirement include devoting more time to his church. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Louisville and serves as a deacon and secretary of the Diaconate.
“I am most excited about being able to spend more time with my family, wife, Midge, son Blake and dog, Brady. I also look forward to traveling and attending ECCC and MSU athletic events with my wife, Midge, who was previously employed at ECCC and is now working for the Athletic Department at Mississippi State University,” he said. “I also look forward to hunting and fishing with our son, Blake, who is an officer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation Law Enforcement Division.”
A Forest native, Davis is a graduate of Louisville High School and Mississippi State University, where he received bachelor’s, master’s and educational specialist degrees. He also attended then East Central Junior College and has completed additional coursework at MSU and William Carey College.