Lauren Wilson Named Director of Wallace State’s Oneonta Campus
HANCEVILLE/ONETONA, Ala. –Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics announced the
appointment of Lauren Wilson as director of Wallace State’s Oneonta Campus this week.
Wilson, who has served as Assistant Superintendent of Oneonta City Schools, will begin
her new role on May 17, 2021.
“With her broad administrative experience in education and deep connections to Oneonta
and Blount County students and community, Lauren Wilson is the perfect fit for director
of our Oneonta Campus. We are delighted to welcome her to the Wallace State family,”
said Dr. Karolewics.
Since Wallace State was asked by city and county officials and community leaders to
locate a facility in Oneonta in 2016, Karolewics’ commitment to the area has been
steadfast – with programs and partnerships increasing by the year, the most recent
of which is a mechatronics program, and academic offerings that allow students to
complete a degree fully in Oneonta and online. The new Wallace State Oneonta flagship
Academic Center opened in 2019, and the original facility, now the Technical Center,
has undergone three expansions to meet increasing demand in welding, machining, and
now mechatronics. A new partnership with the Oneonta Career Center, now co-located
in the Wallace State Oneonta Technical Center, is expanding workforce development
services.
Wilson takes over for Wes Rakestraw, who will continue serving as Dean of Applied
Technologies at Wallace State. Rakestraw, who was named Director of the Oneonta Campus
in 2018, had been serving in this dual role since his appointment as Dean last year.
Oneonta campus technical and ESL programs expanded in Oneonta and the new academic
facility was opened during his tenure there.
Wilson will continue to build on that momentum and bring more activities back to campus
in the wake of the pandemic.
“I am very excited to begin this journey with Wallace State Community College, and
I thank Dr. Karolewics for entrusting me with this opportunity,” Wilson said.
Wilson, who is in her 22nd year in education has served in several capacities throughout secondary education.
Most recently as Assistant Superintendent she has overseen curriculum and federal
programs for Oneonta City Schools. She previously served as the Academic Accountability
Coordinator for OCS, principal of Oneonta High School, and before that as a principal,
assistant principal, and teacher in the Troup County School System in LaGrange, Ga.
She also worked as a School Improvement Specialist at West Georgia Regional Educational
Service Agency.
“My goal in education has always been to help prepare students for the next step,
and I have always worked closely with counseling and advising students throughout
the process of making postsecondary decisions,” she said. “After 22 years in K-12
education, I am looking forward to helping students in that next step as they begin
their college experience.
“I am also thrilled that I can continue to work with Oneonta City Schools, Blount
County Schools, the City of Oneonta and Blount County to continue to build partnerships
with Wallace State that will benefit both the schools and the community.”
Dual enrollment and other pathway programs are among areas of increasing opportunity
at Wallace State Oneonta. Dual enrollment has been proven not only to save students
money on a college education but also to improve outcomes and scholarship opportunities
upon transfer to universities. Credits earned at Alabama’s community colleges are
guaranteed to transfer to other state institutions as a result of the Alabama Transfers
statewide articulation system. New programs are being developed across all divisions.
“I look forward to enrollment and accessibility continuing to rise across all programs—adult
education, workforce, career technical, academic and dual enrollment. The Oneonta
Campus is a very viable option for students to begin their college education or to
work towards certification. I want students and the community to realize what learning
opportunities Wallace State can offer for all community members.”
Wilson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from the University of Georgia
as well as a Master’s degree and Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational
Administration from Troy University. She is married to Adam Wilson, and they have
two daughters, Kylie, 17, and Lily, 13.
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