President
Dr. Patricia G. Sims
Dr. Patricia G. Sims is the President of Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama, a position she has held since December 2018. She is the fourth president in the college’s sixty-three-year history. With over 28 years of experience in education, in both K-12 and higher education settings, she leads Drake State with a spirit of excellence and brings to the institution an in-depth knowledge of higher education and administration and an unbridled enthusiasm for student success.
Her leadership at Drake State has been marked by significant achievements, such as increasing student enrollment, securing both federal and private funding for the college, and becoming the first and only Historically Black Community College (HBCC) in the nation to secure NASA MUREP Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs) that support student research.
Dr. Sims is also recognized for her commitment to community engagement and educational equity. She was appointed by President Biden to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, where she advises on improving the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. Additionally, she serves on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Regional Energy Resource Council (REAC) and was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to the Board of Directors for the Alabama Port Authority.
Dr. Sims has been recognized for her work locally and across the state. She was recognized by Yellowhammer as a 2021 Woman of Impact in the state of Alabama and named by the Alabama Media Group as a member of the 2019 Class of Women Who Shape the State of Alabama.
Her academic contributions include publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national conferences, demonstrating her role as a thought leader in the field of education. Dr. Sims is committed to expanding access to educational opportunities and training that transforms lives.
She and her husband Themika have a daughter, Kirsten.
