Pres. Ross Awarded Special Honor from Alliance of Black School Educators!
- Statewide award presented by the Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators (AL-ABSE).
- President Ross receives organization’s first Charles Townsel Outstanding Higher Educational Leadership Award.
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
A prestigious statewide education award from the Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators (AL-ABSE) was presented to Alabama State University's President on October 29.
The inaugural Charles Townsel Outstanding Higher Educational Leadership Award was presented to ASU President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., during the AL-ABSE's third annual state conference, which was held virtually from Birmingham this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ross said he was both surprised and honored to receive the Alliance's Townsel Award.
"I am humbled to have been awarded the Alliance's first-ever Townsel Award for educational leadership primarily because the organization’s purpose aligns with one of my missions as ASU President—ensuring that underserved students in Alabama have access to higher education,” Ross said. "I want to thank the leaders of the Alliance and its members for the award, and also thank my leadership team at Alabama State University for helping make my vision a reality through hard work and innovative planning."
ALLIANCE AWARD GIVEN FOR INNOVATION
According to Dr. Fred Primm, executive director of the AL-ABSE, the Townsel Award is presented to an Alabama educator whose outstanding intellect and educational acumen contribute to the betterment of minority students in the state through innovative leadership and being an effective advocate for positive change.
"ASU's President Ross was the winner for this inaugural award for many reasons, which included his outstanding leadership during the COVID -19 pandemic, his fundraising expertise with alumni and the business community, and how well he has galvanized the ASU community and its students with an enhanced embodiment of leadership, excitement and school spirit," Primm stated.
ABOUT THE TOWNSEL AWARD
In a written statement by the Alliance's state president, Dr. Jacqueline A. Brooks wrote that the award was named for the late Dr. Charles Townsel because he was one of the founders of NABSE, was an acclaimed superintendent of education and acted as a change-agent as one of the first senior African-American administrators at Birmingham Southern College.
"Dr. Townsel was known for making great strides in educating black children and citizens, and certainly ASU's Dr. Ross exemplifies all of the qualities and characteristics this award embodies," Brooks said.
ABOUT THE AL-ABSE
The Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators is an affiliate of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) and was founded and instituted in the fall of 2018 by several black educators from around the state of Alabama representing all areas of education.
On Oct 29, awards were presented at the Alliance’s annual meeting not only to President Ross, but also to educators from around the state who have accomplished phenomenal work in various educational arenas.
The several awards presented at the event were named after Alabama educational pioneers and "legacy makers" that included the first three national presidents of NABSE who coincidentally were all Alabama educators at one point: Dr. Ulysses Byas, Dr. Deborah C. P Wolfe and Dr. Charles Townsel. The Alliance also presented an award to honor the legacy of the late Alabama native, Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga).
Brooks stated that after reviewing President Ross's work, the award panel knew that he was its best choice.
"President Quinton Ross has had a deep impact in education, and particularly the education for black children and citizens in the state of Alabama. May he continue to till the soil so that we can all reap the bountiful output from his hard and earnest work," Brooks said.
You may find out more information about the organization at its website: https://www.al-abse.
News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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