Acting academic: The education of Amelia Pearson

Contributed Auburn Villager Amelia Pearson

Amelia Reid Pearson is in her fourth academic year as interim president of Southern Union Community College (SUSCC) in Opelika, a position that is the culmination of a vocational dream 30 years in the making.

Pearson has managed to calm the troubled two-year college, whose former president Roy Johnson was elevated to the position of two-year colleges chancellor and then fell to charges of corruption.

Two succeeding SUSCC heads--Joanne Jordan and Susan Salatto--lost their positions amidst allegations of legal or ethical scandal.

Pearson said any previous problems at SUSCC would be addressed on her watch, and former SUSCC vice president Rod Britt credits her for following through on that promise.

"I was vice president under Amelia, and I think her greatest success was helping to unify the college after a couple of tumultuous years," he said.

To understand the nature of someone like Pearson, one has to go back to the beginning. Of the three stages of Pearson's life, Act One began in Pearson's home place of Chattanooga, Tenn., as the daughter of the late Darrell Clark Reid and Jaucile Long Reid, who taught at Knoxville's School of the Deaf.

Pearson graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1973 with a degree in psychology and later earned her MEd. in counseling at Auburn, then stayed on to work for AU's Student Development Services. Later, she earned an Ed.D. at Auburn.

While working at AU, Pearson took a position as an adjunct faculty member at SUSCC. Her fiancé, Bob Pearson, attended SUSCC at the time.

Pearson moved on to Central Alabama Community College in nearby Alexander City, where she spent nearly 27 years. Her husband worked as director of information services for Russell Corp.

While at CACC, Pearson served in many roles, including adviser, instructor, division chair and dean.

"No matter what task was placed before her, Dr. Pearson tackled it with determination and enthusiasm," remembered Barbara Anne Spears, a colleague who is now dean of academic services at Trenholm State Technical College in Montgomery.

Act Two of Pearson's life opened in the late 1990s when she decided a doctorate would better prepare her for a college presidency.

"Amelia had decided already to some day get her doctorate prior to the time we started dating, but she put it on hold for a few years," said Bob Pearson. "When our children were in elementary school, and after she'd become a college administrator, she decided to go back to school."

He said she's a good example of a woman who has been able to juggle a professional career without sacrificing her family.

"I was supportive of this because it was something she wanted," he said. "It meant that I took over some of the household tasks such as paying the bills, doing the laundry, carpooling and helping with homework. Amelia worked all day, went to school, and still made it the important events in our children's lives. She always made it to the ball field and studied or wrote papers in the evenings after our children were in bed."

Daughter Laura joins her father in voicing praise.

"My mom has always come to absolutely everything my brother and I participated in: Sports, piano and voice recitals and band concerts," she said. "The only difference was that my mother brought her books along with her to our ball games."

The other big support in Pearson's life during this busy time was her mother, Jaucile Reid.

"I would come over to Alexander City to help out," recalled Reid, who had retired from teaching full time. "Amelia usually had classes two nights a week in Auburn. This meant she could make it to whatever the kids had going the other evenings. She might sit at the soccer field or softball field with a book in her hand, and when one of her children was playing, she'd stop reading and watch the game."

Two things that always come up when Pearson's name is mentioned are "role model" and "leadership." When it comes to advising other women, Pearson doesn't mince words.

"I advise them to be honest, hard working, assertive, prepared and fair," she said. "I don't think that a person must exercise power all the time to be the best leader. There're times I may be ‘the person in power,' but I find it best to empower others."

Those who have worked for her agree with that assessment.

"I worked for Dr. Pearson as an instructor at CACC once she became dean of instruction," Spears said. "She was of tremendous help to me and is a wonderful mentor. When the opportunity arose for me to go move on, Dr. Pearson was very supportive. One of her greatest qualities is that she encourages others to pursue their own successes, even if it means that they can no longer be a part of her team."

Even Dr. Stephen Franks, who competed with Pearson for the presidency of CACC, gives Pearson credit. Both made the top five, but Franks got the job.

"Amelia's an admirable example of leadership in Alabama's two-year colleges," he said.

Pearson said that when she first became a college administrator, men dominated higher education administration.

"There were certainly not many women presidents," she said. "In meetings I didn't always feel comfortable voicing my opinions, and I felt that the men dominated the decision-making in meetings. This certainly didn't mean that they made wrong decisions, but the women didn't have as much of a voice."

Now, she said, women have found their voices.

"Today it's very common to see women in leadership positions," she said. "I think we feel comfortable in our roles. Most leaders are strong people."

According to former CACC president Dr. Jim Cornell of Daphne, Pearson is in good company. Today, 10 out of 26 presidents of Alabama's technical and community colleges are female.

"Most strong women are secure in who they are and aren't intimidated by those around them," he said.

Pearson defines her own leadership style as democratic.

"My leadership style's one that tries to give people I work with an avenue of input," she said. "Good leaders don't always use power to get their way. If you give employees a voice in policy and procedures, they'll be much more likely to help shape your vision. I don't feel as if I ‘must' be in charge all the time, but if no one takes charge, I'll do so. I'm a decisive person. "

Pearson's husband agreed that conviction in her decisions is one of his wife's strong suits.

"She's a decision maker, and doesn‘t shy away from making hard decisions," he said. "She'll always do what she feels is right even if it doesn't make everyone happy."

For Pearson, Act Three of her life began when she left CACC in January of 2008 to become the interim president at SUSCC.

"When Chancellor Bradley Byrne called me and asked me to step in as interim president, I was shocked," she recalled. "I felt I was well prepared for a college presidency, but certainly wasn't expecting it. It was a challenge to change jobs and leave an institution where I'd spent most of my professional career."

Pearson said SUSCC is a wonderful place to work, with talented and hardworking people who have made her feel at home.

"The college community has opened its arms to welcome me," she said.

In closing, Pearson mulls over a comment American playwright and screenwriter S.N. Behrman once made: "At the end of every road you meet yourself," he wrote.

"I have come full circle," she said. "After I started teaching adjunct in Opelika for SUSCC, I loved it and thought I really wanted to leave the university setting to work in a community college. SUSCC was my choice, so I applied for a full-time job here back then and didn't even get an interview!"

Now, at the end of the road leading to the parking lot, her state car is in the space marked "president."

David Story, an educator and author, is an alumnus of Central Alabama Community College.