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Joe Hampton is the new chair of the board of trustees at Stillman College. 

Hampton, president of Spire Energy for Alabama and Mississippi, graduated from Stillman College in 1997 with a Physics degree. 

“Becoming the chair of the board of trustees at Stillman is very humbling but also exciting,” Hampton said in a release. “Humbling when I think about the history of this great college and the many generations of students and faculty who were totally focused on providing equity and opportunity to people of color. Humbling in the sense that I lead a group of leaders whose focus is on strategically creating pathways for students to have the resources to become the future leaders of this state and country.”

Hampton had a long, but successful road at Stillman College, earning a full scholarship through the choir and completing a dual-degree program, obtaining an engineering degree from the University of Alabama. Hampton also holds a master’s degree in business from Troy University.

“My hope is for Stillman College to become the preferred HBCU destination for graduating high school students living in Alabama and the southeast region,” Hampton said. “I’m focused on supporting the President’s vision in growing the degree programs being offered to students; increasing student enrollment, updating campus facilities, and providing the athletics and social opportunities that attract future Stillmanites to our great campus. I’m also looking to connect with our Stillman alumni in order to increase our presence and support to Stillman.”

Stillman College has a strong alumni base in Dallas County: Keith High School Principal Tommy Tisdale Jr., his wife, LaTonia, Tisdale, Dallas County Schools System teacher  Zella Ford,  former Stillman College track coach Jake Irby, Salem Elementary School teacher Gladys Davis,  last year’s graduates from Selma  Tyriq Fells, Dorian McWilliams and Anthony Kemp of Selma and Shelby Boswell of Valley Grande and Selma Times-Journal Managing Editor James Jones.