The Chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system will address graduates at Troy University’s summer commencement exercises on July 26.

Some 524 students are expected to earn their degrees, of which slightly more than half will receive an undergraduate degree, 255 will earn their master’s degrees and one will earn the educational specialist degree.

Commencement exercises begin at 10 a.m. in Trojan Arena.

Mr. Jimmy Baker, a Coffee County native and Troy University Alumnus of the Year (2018), was appointed to lead the Alabama Community College System in March 2017, after having served as acting chancellor since August 2016. He had joined the system as governmental affairs consultant.

A lifelong educator, Baker was a history and social studies teacher, coached high school football and basketball at Daleville High School, and served as assistant superintendent and superintendent of Daleville Board of Education. He went on to serve as Coffee County’s superintendent of education. In 1979, he was appointed assistant state superintendent of education for finance and served in that role for four years.

After serving as president of an investment banking firm, Baker managed the gubernatorial campaign of former Gov. Fob James. He was appointed state finance director and assisted in the passage of the funding formula known as the “Foundation Program,” which he implemented as deputy state superintendent of education. Following the program’s implementation, he returned to the finance department during Gov. James’ administration.

A graduate of New Brockton High School, he completed undergraduate studies in business administration at TROY and earned a graduate degree in economics and education administration, and an educational specialist degree from Auburn University, where he was also certified in school administration. He served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves. He wife, Joy, is a retired teacher and the couple has two daughters and four grandchildren.