ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – College of The Albemarle (COA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gena D. Southall as Dean of COA – Dare, effective April 13, 2026.
Dr. Southall brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, including academic administration, teaching and program development. She currently serves as Associate Vice President for Online Education at Magellan Learning Solutions. In her current role, she leads the development and delivery of online academic programs, supporting faculty engagement and student success while overseeing program performance, enrollment and operations.
She has extensive experience in educator preparation and accreditation. As Director of Educator Preparation at Elizabeth City State University, she led licensure programs, managed accreditation and assessment processes and served as liaison to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
At Longwood University, she served as Executive Director of Teacher Preparation and Director of Elementary, Middle and Liberal Studies Programs, where she led program development, ensured compliance with state and accreditation standards and supported student and faculty success across one of the university’s largest academic areas.
Her academic background includes 15 years as a professor of English Education at Longwood University. More recently, she has taught at College of The Albemarle and has served as adjunct faculty at multiple institutions.
At COA, she has contributed to institutional leadership as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and Vice President of the Faculty Senate.
Dr. Southall is a resident of Dare County.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Southall to College of The Albemarle, and especially to COA – Dare,” said Dr. Jack Bagwell, President of College of The Albemarle. “She brings a strong background in academic leadership and a clear commitment to student success. Her experience, along with her understanding of our region and our mission, will serve our students, employees and community well.”
Dr. Southall holds a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English education. She maintains teaching licensure in North Carolina and Virginia.
As Dean of COA – Dare, she will provide leadership for operations, instruction and community engagement at the location, supporting the College’s mission to serve northeastern North Carolina.
For information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at 252-335-0821, ext. 2420 or [email protected].