Ingram State President to Resign, Interim Leader Appointed in Deatsville

J.F. Ingram State Technical College and the Alabama Community College System issued a notice on November 13 announcing that Annette Funderburk will step down as president effective November 16, 2025. The release named David Walters as interim president and confirmed that Funderburk will remain within the Alabama Community College System as Special Assistant to the Chancellor. The announcement was circulated by the college and ACCS and was reported locally by Elmore Autauga News.

Ingram State is headquartered in Deatsville and administers correctional career technical education programs across Alabama. Funderburk had served for multiple years within the community college system and had led Ingram State through program administration that connects vocational training to the state corrections environment. ACCS leadership acknowledged her contributions in the circulated release, and the system signaled an internal continuity by keeping Funderburk on staff in the central office.

For Autauga County residents the change matters because Ingram State operates locally while serving a statewide mission. Leadership transitions at a college that provides training inside correctional facilities have implications for program continuity, contractual relationships with corrections agencies, staff stability, and the students enrolled in career technical courses. Local employers who rely on graduates from correctional education programs and community organizations involved in reentry services also have a stake in how the interim administration maintains program quality and administrative stability.

Policy considerations for county leaders include ensuring oversight and coordination between the college, the Alabama Community College System, and the Alabama Department of Corrections. Funding decisions, reporting requirements, and program evaluation efforts could be affected by the transition period. Civic engagement by local officials and stakeholders can help shape a smooth handover and maintain transparency about program outcomes and resource allocation.

The appointment of an interim president typically signals a period for internal assessment and potential selection of a permanent leader. Autauga County officials, college staff, and community partners will be watching how the interim administration manages operations, preserves partnerships, and advances the vocational mission that links correctional education to workforce development.