J.R. Drake Technical College News October 5, 2012 Dr. Patricia Sims Named To Board of Forever Wild Land Trust Dr. Patricia Sims, dean of instructional and student services at J.F. Drake State Technical College, has been appointed to the Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees by Gov. Robert Bentley. Dr. Sims has more than 18 years of experience in the field of education. In 2009, she was promoted to dean of instructional and student services at Drake State after providing leadership to the Student Services Division for seven years. Her academic career includes an undergraduate degree from West Alabama, a master's degree in secondary education from Alabama A&M, and a doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. The Forever Wild Land Trust (FWLT) was established in 1992 and has since purchased more than 227,000 acres of land in Alabama for public use. The program has created state-owned nature preserves and recreation areas to provide for greater habitat conservation and public recreational opportunities. The FWLT's acquisitions have also created 220 miles of recreational trails within 21 new recreation areas and nature preserves, while providing additions to ten state parks and 17 Wildlife Management Areas. Local parks and recreation boards, as well as other programs, offer programs that often benefit from the existence of FWLT lands. The FWLT believes in public hunting access for all Alabamians. Nearly 143,000 acres of leased public hunting land have been removed from the Wildlife Management Area system since 1992. Currently, the board is focusing on acquisitions in central and north Alabama. Funding for the FWLT is generated by interest earned from natural gas royalties. Dr. Sims' term of service on the board will go through December. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.