Continuing Educational Professional Ann Wells Takes Helm at Bainbridge College

Ann Wells of Dothan, AL, came on board Aug. 3 to serve as director of the Continuing Education Division at Bainbridge College (BC). She brings 16 years of experience as a continuing education director, credentials that include being president of Alabama Association of Continuing Education, and a wealth of knowledge from having taught professional and business courses, having created programs, and from civic and community involvement.

With a strong background in business and industry, she served as continuing education director five years at Alabama’s Jacksonville State University (JSU) and 11 years in Dothan for Troy University’s Continuing Education (CE) Office. She earned her master’s degree and her bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from Troy and holds certification in Blackboard Learning Management System and International Distance Education.

She created the Troy University Dothan School of Auctioneering in 1996 and the JSU School of Auctioneering in 2003, both approved in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She said that she has always enjoyed going to auctions and decided to get into the profession along with her husband, Dwight, and son, Donnie.

“I am a believer in the fact that an auction school can bring people to a college campus that would not come for any other reason,” Ms. Wells said.

Since 1997 Ms. Wells has been an adjunct faculty member at Troy and at Chipola College and since 1984 has served as a real estate instructor approved by the Real Estate Commission for real estate pre-license and continuing education courses. She is also a consultant with CompuTaught, a division of Cengage Learning, and co-authored the Risk Management online course for Alabama Real Estate Licensees in 2008.

As CE director for Troy in Dothan, she increased program offerings from fewer than 10 classes to an average of 100 per term. She developed partnerships with other universities, state agencies and local boards. She co-founded University Partnership for Alabama Continuing Education (UPACE), which provides training sessions for the Alabama Association of County Administrators, the Alabama Association of County Engineers, and for the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police.

Creative in her work, the Alabama native planned and implemented JSU’s first Continuing Education class at Joe Ford Center in Gadsden, AL; successfully completed the SACS accreditation review of the CE Office; increased offerings of UPACE from a 40-hour to a 240-hour program for the Association of Chiefs of Police; facilitated the increase of the UPACE partnership to provide training to the County Revenue Officers and the E911 Certificate programs, and developed the Software Applications Certificate Program.

Ms. Wells also facilitated training programs for the Anniston Army Depot, East Alabama Regional Medical Center, and various businesses and industries, and increased the CE Office’s responsibility to include supervision of dormitories for summer programs and year-round athletic camps.

She planned and implemented three programs each year for East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and provided expertise for Troy in developing CE programs in Troy, Phenix City, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL. She expanded business and industry customized training for major industries, developed a variety of certificate programs through the Continuing Ed Office and approvals to offer programs for professional license renewals for accountants, attorneys, auctioneers, counselors, nurses, nursing home administrators, social workers, and real estate licensees.

She was active with Houston County Chamber of Commerce when she worked for the development of the Workforce Development Board and the Area Career Center. She was also active with chamber activities serving on several committees in Calhoun County.

A charter member and 1990 graduate of Wiregrass Leadership Institute, her professional memberships include Leadership Calhoun County 2003 and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. While at JSU, she served in the Calhoun County Human Resource Association and the Alabama Industrial Alliance.

She serves on Houston County Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Board and is a member of Dothan Exchange Club. She was president of Jacksonville Exchange Club in 2007 and served on Calhoun County Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Board.