Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO of Tuskegee University, has been selected as a member of the 2026-2027 Leadership Alabama Class XXXVI, joining 71 other distinguished leaders from across the state.
Leadership Alabama, a statewide network of influential leaders dedicated to building greater understanding of Alabama’s challenges and opportunities, will formally launch Class XXXVI on October 14, 2026 and continue through May 2027, as participants engage directly with critical issues affecting communities throughout Alabama.
Dr. Brown’s selection for Leadership Alabama further underscores Tuskegee University’s longstanding role as a leader in education, innovation, and public service. For Dr. Brown, the appointment also reflects a core belief that leadership is rooted in lifelong learning.
“A leader never stops learning,” said Dr. Brown. “I look forward to learning with and from my fellow Leadership Alabama classmates as we explore the challenges and opportunities shaping Alabama’s future.”
Dr. Brown noted that Leadership Alabama’s emphasis on learning as a core component of leadership aligns precisely with the university’s focus on developing purpose-driven scholars prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving global economy.
“Mother Tuskegee has been shaping leaders right here in Alabama for more than 145 years,” said Dr. Brown, the first Tuskegee alumnus to lead the university. “Our founding principles were born from Booker T. Washington’s vision that Tuskegee should develop well-rounded scholars and citizens prepared to capitalize on education to create opportunities and find solutions that hadn’t existed before, to improve the communities around them throughout the region and across the nation, and to lead others with both humility and grit. We continue doing that today in what we call our Renaissance Era.”
Throughout the program year, Class XXXVI participants will travel to communities across Alabama, exploring the issues that influence the state's future while engaging with civic, business, educational, and community leaders. The experience is designed to foster meaningful dialogue, deepen understanding of statewide priorities, and inspire collaborative solutions to Alabama’s most pressing challenges.
In addition to the opening session in Montgomery, class members will convene in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile, where they will participate in presentations, discussions, and site visits designed to encourage thoughtful examination of both the opportunities and obstacles facing the state.
According to Kyle Buchanan, chairman of the Leadership Alabama Board of Directors, the program continues to serve as a catalyst for bringing together accomplished leaders who are committed to making a lasting impact.
“Leadership Alabama’s mission is to challenge, motivate and engage Alabama’s proven leaders for the good of our state, and Class XXXVI, as with all previous classes, is comprised of accomplished people who will continue to act, individually and in concert with one another, to move Alabama forward to help it reach its full potential,” Buchanan said.
Ashley Kaplan, executive director of Leadership Alabama, emphasized the significance of assembling a diverse group of leaders from every region of the state.
“Leadership Alabama is an organization represented by our state’s most respected and visionary leaders who are passionate about serving the people and addressing the issues of our great state,” Kaplan said. “Alabama continues to benefit from the collective actions and initiatives borne by this engaged group of leaders, and once again, it is an honor to gather such an esteemed and diverse cohort of knowledgeable professionals from throughout all regions in Alabama.”
As Tuskegee continues its Renaissance Era transformation, Dr. Brown’s participation in Leadership Alabama reinforces its commitment to excellence, service, and transformative leadership that is actively engaged in shaping a stronger future for Alabama and beyond.
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