Valmadge T. Towner (Val) is serving as fifth president of Coahoma Community College and ninth superintendent of Coahoma Early College High School. He has served as President and Superintendent since July 2013.

He assumed leadership of Coahoma Community College after performing in numerous administrative and educational positions.  Earlier in his career, he served as  a college mathematics instructor, head college baseball coach, and as an assistant college football coach. In the K-12 educational realm, he was employed by Quitman County Schools as a principal and superintendent of education. Most recently, before returning to Coahoma Community College, he served as director of pupil services for Desoto County Schools.

Val graduated from Coahoma Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science. He also graduated from Alcorn State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, a Master of Education Degree in Mathematics and a Master of Education Degree in Administration. Additionally, Val received a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey and he was conferred a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi. 

VISIONARY

• Added over 10K square feet of instructional space to Health Science Division
• Totally revamped all athletic facilities.
• Secured funds for an extensive campus wide signage project and installed digital board signs in all athletic areas.
• Implemented a campus wide beautification project that involves landscaping and building upgrades.
• Constructed a Tornado Shelter (Safe House)
• Constructed a Security Fence for main campus
• Constructing New Student Services Center for Academics
• Led institution-wide strategic planning processes that resulted in a revised 5 year strategic entitled “Grow, Discover, Excel”.
• Led institution in successful mid-year (5 year) accreditation process
• Used empirical market data and quantitative methods to redesign outreach programs which led to record enrollment growth in evening class enrollment, online and dual enrollment.
• Revitalized the Coahoma Community College Foundation Board for the college by holding quarterly meetings and assembling new board members.
• Created a Presidential Advisory Board Group that includes a representative from each of our district counties to meet quarterly
• Designed and implemented a peer-based feedback appraisal process for all employees called CCC360 Feedback
• Created an Early College High School Advisory Group
• Created Recruitment/ Retention Team
• Redesigned the Office of Financial Aid to increase efficiency moved SAP process to financial aid office
• Restructured the Office of Admissions to increase efficiency and outreach
• Created partnership with local sheriff in order to increase efficiency, increase safety and pool resources by becoming one department.
• Created Institutional Response Team which consist of faculty and staff to identify problems associated with college and develop strategies to resolve negative issues.
• Implemented Marketing and Branding projects which increased activity on social media venues (ie: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and etc.) by decupling the volume of internet traffic on school social media accounts
• Completely redesigned the website for the college and added a comprehensive separate link for many divisions of the college.
• Created Retention/Recruitment team that meets bi-weekly.

INTELLECTUAL

• Facilitated the launch of the most extensive design of an Honor’s College program in the history of Coahoma Community College.
• Facilitated extensive redesign of Career Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and launched initiative to restore all designated areas of CTE facilities that had been abandoned for decades.
• Increased expenditures for direct academic initiatives by 100%.
• Created an Early College High School
• Designed and implemented first STEM summer camps for boys and girls between 8-12.
• Implemented MI-BEST with pathways to all Career /Technical Educations with the exception of barbering, cosmetology and childcare technology.
• Added evening programs for Barber/Stylist and Automotive Technology.
• Increased student attendance and retention in Career Technical Education division with mandatory retention seminars.
• Implemented Commercial Truck Diving, Diesel Equipment Technology, Diesel Equipment, Electrical Technology, CISCO /Apple Coding and Early Childhood Academy as short-term programs.
• Graduated first class in commercial truck driving with CDL certification.
• Expanded membership with Phi Theta Kappa and created induction classes each semester.
• Expanded the number of GED training sites in service area.

STRATEGIC

• As state revenue has decreased by over 10% in Towner’s tenure, budget expenditures have correlated with revenue budget reduction.
• A strong fund balance has been created and maintained.
• Reduced budget expenditures and issued over 10% pay increase to all staff (not funded by the state).
• Audited the following to reduce expenditures: all phone lines (cell and land), fax lines, copiers and printers.
• Implemented comprehensive and ongoing Inventory Audit program for all college inventory.
• Nissan, Toyota and Pharmaceutical industries have made substantial annual donations to Career and Technical programs.
• Completely redesigned evening class program, dual enrollment and online course offerings to ensure financial solvency
• Secured record level of external funds from alumni and friends
• Stabilized chronic enrollment decline and implemented strategies to have consistent enrollment growth each semester (frequently leads MACJC in enrollment growth by percentage per semester).
• Positioned the college as a regional leader in providing services to GED participants, dis-located workers and workforce training services for business and industry through MIBest, SNAP initiatives and Career Pathway Implementation.
• Added several new majors and courses to the division of academics and Career Technical Education.
• Voted in the top 5 of most safest schools in America each year.
• Practical Nursing Program reaffirmed with accreditation (1st time to do so with no deficiencies).
• Nursing Program consistently ranks in the top 5 among programs in Mississippi.
• Moved from non-accreditated to full accreditation with Respiratory Care Program. 
• Polysomnography (New Technical Program) reached full
• Associate Degree Nursing (1st time to reach full accreditation).
• Paramedic (recently reaffirmed accreditation).
• Added Track and Field as a sport.
• Successfully secured 501-3C status for national alumni association (1st time).
• Re-opened campus day care by partnering with Coahoma Opportunity Incorporated.
• Created campaigns/drives to secure funds (ie: Annual Soiree, Foundation 1949 drive, class competition campaign for homecoming).
• Increased the percentage of Career Technical Instructors who received NCCER Certification.
• Culinary Arts consistently ranked among the 10 culinary schools in Mississippi
• Created Employee and Student monthly spotlight
• Created Faculty and Staff honorees of the month.
• Increased MS-CPAS career technical programs passing rate by 18%.
• Increased the number of students/participants who received General Education Diplomas and Career Readiness Certificates.
• Partnered with local non-profit organization to secure a federal communication license and operate a radio station on campus 
• Secured nearly ten partnerships for educational programs with The Delta Health Grant
• Created nearly a dozen partnerships with RUS Grant
• Designed an education program through a sub-grant with the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
• Implemented an annual Presidential Leadership camp for area high school students through USAA.
• Launched pilot hybrid course offerings.
• Developed remediation and retention initiatives geared specifically to females through funds secured from a Women’s Foundation Grant.
• Launched Saturday courses program for general studies majors.
• Implemented canvas banner campaign.
• Increased staff for Branding/Communication department.
• Reached historical levels of engagement for social media venues.
• Launched a new radio station.
• Implemented complete makeover of schools website

ACTIVE

Recognized by Alpha Phi Alpha

Outstanding contributions to the higher education community (Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter)

Recognized by Coahoma and Mississippi Chapters of NAACP Exemplary leadership to higher education issues

Citizen of the Year for Leflore County – specifically recognized for church and higher educator articulation Greenwood, Mississippi

Honored Alumnus of the year Coahoma Community College

Featured person of the Year for Mahogany Magazine and highlighted for contributions to higher education Featured, Delta Council Publication as a higher education official

Featured, Ole Miss Alumni Spotlight Publication as an achiever in higher education

Featured, Clarksdale Press Register Annual Profile as a positive contributor to Coahoma County Featured, Delta Business Journal

Inducted in Kappa Delta Pi University of Mississippi Chapter

Delegate to Chinese Bridge Delegation; Hanban

China’s Office of Chinese Language Council International Partnership with the College Board

Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools National Council of State Supervisors for Languages

National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages and Chinese Consulates in the United States

Speaker, Rasberry Men’s Club, Indianola, MS “The situation is serious – Man Up through education and Job Training”

Speaker, 100 Black Men, Greenville, MS “Abating a Sitting on the Dock of the Bay Mindset and becoming Prepared”

Speaker, Progressive Art and Civic Club – Lizzie Coleman Day, Greenville, MS “Honoring those who have paved the way by equipping K-12 students to attend college”

Presenter, Common Core Institute “Creating a Clear Pathway from High School to College” Presenter, National Literacy Professional Development Consortium “Five threats to HBCU’s” Lecturer, Upward Bound Group for CCC “Extend Your Horizon with Education and Character”

Keynote Speaker

Education Day Georgetown College “ Whatever it takes-Preparing your Mind through Education”

Keynote Speaker

Alcorn State University, Alumni Mid-Winter Meeting “Against all Odds- Revisited…The Alcorn Story”

Lectured, Tanzania, Africa Africa Promise Village

Annual Lecture, Teach for America Summer Institute Training Sessions “The Right Stuff can come from Mississippi Delta Students too”

Annual Presenter, Early Literacy and Technology Conference “Bringing Out the Best in Students through Technology

Keynote Speaker

Arbor Day/Founder’s Day Celebration “The 1949 experiment – Educating the least of those…still” Coahoma Community College

Presenter, Honor's Banquet Mississippi Valley State University

First Mississippi Presenter Greenwood Voter’s League

Presenter

Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy “What to expect as an educational leader in the 21st century”

Guest Lecturer

Master's Level Educational Leadership “Exemplary leadership through the lens of Kouzes and Posner” University of Mississippi

Frequent Guest Columnist, Greenwood Commonwealth Newspaper

Annual Guest Lecturer Cultural Awareness Program

First Baptist Church of Oak Park, Illinois in collaboration with Oak Park / River Forest High School

Guest Lecturer

Minority First Year Students “Making the Most of your educational opportunities” Mississippi University for Women

Professional Development Leader “Kingonomics and educating Generation Z students” Winston County – Louisville Public School

Presenter, Southern Association for Community College Research “360 Feedback Approach” Trustee Board Member, SACSCOC

Past Board Member of Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS)

Jackson, Mississippi

Member, Mississippi Association of Educators Charter Member of Africa’s Promise Village

Member, Clarksdale /Coahoma Chamber of Commerce Member, Clarksdale Carnegie Library Board

Board Member, Northwest Regional Medical Center – Clarksdale, MS Chair, Moody Institute Trust Fund Board

Chair, Mississippi Community College Board Foundation

Member, Mississippi Community College’s President’s Association Southern Regional College Board – Advisory Council Member The College Board – Advisory Council Member Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber and Industrial Foundation Clarkdale Rotary Club, Exchange Club, Lions Club

Member, Association of American Colleges and Universities Member, National Association for Equal Opportunities in Education Member, Mississippi Association of Educators

Member, Advisory Member for White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in STEM

Member, American Association of Community Colleges Member, Southern Association of Institutional Research