About Us
Supporting Students. Strengthening Communities. Shaping Futures.
The Bishop State Community College Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bishop State, dedicated to expanding access to education and creating meaningful opportunities for every student we serve. Through scholarships, emergency assistance, and program support, the Foundation helps remove the financial barriers that often stand between students and their goals.
We believe that education is the key to empowerment—and that when students thrive, our entire community thrives. Each gift made to the Foundation directly supports student success, academic excellence, and the programs that prepare graduates to join and strengthen the Gulf Coast workforce.
Our Mission
To provide financial support that enhances educational opportunities for Bishop State students and advances the mission of the College. Through scholarships, fundraising initiatives, and community partnerships, the Foundation works to ensure that every student has the resources they need to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals.
What We Do
Scholarships
We award donor-funded and endowed scholarships that make college more affordable for students pursuing degrees and certificates across all four Bishop State campuses.
Student Support
Through the Student Emergency Fund, we provide rapid, critical assistance to students facing unexpected financial crises, helping them stay enrolled and focused on their future.
Program & Workforce Development Support
The Foundation helps fund innovative programs, workforce training, and campus initiatives that keep Bishop State at the forefront of regional workforce development.
Community Partnerships
We cultivate relationships with alumni, businesses, civic organizations, and philanthropic partners who believe in our students and in the importance of a strong community college.
Our Impact
Every dollar raised by the Foundation supports real students with real needs. Whether it’s helping a single mother afford textbooks, supporting a nursing student during a medical emergency, or providing equipment for a high-demand workforce program, the Foundation’s work changes lives every day.
With the generous support of donors and partners, Bishop State students gain the stability, resources, and encouragement needed to stay on their educational path and build successful, meaningful careers.
Why Your Support Matters
Many Bishop State students are the first in their families to attend college. Others balance school with full-time jobs, raising children, or caring for loved ones. Your support ensures that financial hardship is never the reason a student steps away from their education.
When you give to the Foundation, you invest in the future of our students—and in the future of Mobile and the entire Gulf Coast region.
Board Members
The Bishop State Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated community leaders, alumni, educators, and business professionals who are committed to advancing the mission of Bishop State Community College. Through strategic leadership, advocacy, and philanthropic support, the Board works to strengthen educational opportunities, enhance student success, and ensure long-term institutional growth.
Clinton Johnson
Chairman of the Board
Community Relations Manager, Alabama Power
Shonnda Smith
Vice Chairwoman of the Board
Deputy Executive Director of Public Works, City of Mobile
Olivier Charles
Ex-Officio Board Member
President, Bishop State Community College
Dr. April Berry
Board Secretary
Assistant Professor, University of Mobile
Joseph R. Dennis
Board Treasurer
Sr. Director of Safety, Health, Environment, & Quality, USALCO
Clarence M. Ball, Jr.
President and CEO
Ball HealthCare Services, Inc.
Kellie Hope
Regional Director
Business Council of Alabama
Rufus W. Hudson, III
Vice President
Commercial Banking, Regions Bank
Susan Jacobs
Vice President
HR & Administration
Ingalls Shipbuilding
C.V. Partridge, III
Vice President
Project Management & Sales
PATTI Marine Enterprises
Rodney Patrick
Interim Vice President
Human Resources
Austal USA
John Sipple
Chief Executive Officer
Southern Oil Exploration
Leonard Stewart
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Mölnlycke Health Care
John White-Spunner
President
White-Spunner Construction
Suntrease Williams-Maynard
Deputy City Attorney
City of Mobile
Ali Zeidan
Senior Engineer
SAP Functional Support
ArcelorMittal Calvert
For more information on Giving, Establishing Scholarships, Naming Opportunities, and Alumni Events.
Please contact the Bishop State Community College Foundation at:
As an independent 501(c)(3), Bishop State Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides funding and resources annually for scholarships, book grants, emergency funds, and other critical needs of Bishop State Community College.
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