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GADSDEN — Dr. Freida Hill, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, met with the faculty and staff of Gadsden State Community College Friday morning to announce the interim president for the college and express her appreciation to Dr. W. Darryl Harrison. She commended Harrison for his hard work and accomplishments during his presidency.

Harrison resigned unexpectedly last week. In an email to faculty and staff he cited family reasons for his resignation, which was effective Friday.

“The college has made great strides under his direction during one of the most difficult and challenging economic periods,” Hill said.

Dr. Valerie Richardson, vice president of institutional advancement and student services, will serve as acting president for 30 days. She served as interim previously when Harrison’s predecessor, Dr. Renée Culverhouse, resigned in 2008.

Beginning in December, Dr. William O. Blow will serve as interim during the search for the seventh president of Gadsden State. Blow is from Prattville and previously served as dean of instruction at Patrick Henry Junior College before it became Alabama Southern Community College.

More recently, he served as interim president of Alabama Southern.

Blow has also held leadership positions at the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, including two terms as interim director.

Harrison was appointed president of Gadsden State in November 2008 and began his term Jan. 1, 2009.

“We have seen a year of unprecedented enrollment growth along with record setting proration," Harrison said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "The faculty and staff of Gadsden State are meeting the challenge of serving students during these trying times and will continue to offer a quality education as the transition to the new president proceeds.”

The presidential search process will begin in January and Chancellor Hill expects to make a recommendation for president to the State Board of Education in April 2011.