Dr. James D. Krudop, interim director of the Greenville campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College since March, will assume the role on a more permanent basis for the next school year.

&#8220We're very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Krudop's background and experience in that role,” Dr. Ed Meadows, president of the Andalusia-based school, said in confirming the move.

He is full time there in that role now, replacing Dr. Jean Thompson who earlier announced plans to retire in September. Dr. Michael Daniel had been named to succeed her, but he died unexpectedly Feb. 26, moving Dr. Krudop into the interim role in March.

&#8220He has excellent community connections in Greenville,” Meadows said of Krudop. &#8220He takes a lot of good experience into that important role and will be a good mentor to young faculty members on staff there.”

The new director, who was vice president and director of the school's MacArthur campus, has strong roots within the LBWCC system. He was involved in early construction stages of the Greenville campus in 1992, served as interim president of the Andalusia campus in 1991-92 following the retirement of Dr. William McWhorter and also in 2002-03 when Seth Hammett retired.

In his interim post at Greenville, he has overseen daily operation of campus activities and been actively involved in construction of a new technology center and a new conference center. He and Thompson have guided a fund raising campaign for those two facilities and he is now coordinating registration for future semesters and the second annual school golf tournament, slated Sept. 12 at Cambrian Ridge in Greenville.

Ironically, the fund-raising success and increased support and awareness of the school's mission has prompted Thompson to adjust her plans, postponing her retirement a year to remain as a fulltime faculty member teaching English composition and American Literature and serving as a campus counselor.

&#8220We're excited Dr. Thompson will remain with us,” Meadows said. &#8220She has worked hard as a good team member and will continue to be a good leader for us.”