J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College
The college was founded in 1961 as the Huntsville State Vocational Technical College. The campus opened September 1962 with one building built on 32 acres deeded by Alabama A&M University. Enrollment at opening consisted of 27 students in three programs: brick masonry, cosmetology, and auto mechanics.Â
The school desegregated in 1967, becoming the first desegregated postsecondary technical school in the country. The school was awarded technical college status in 1973 and took the name J.F. Drake State Technical College. In 2013, the college was again renamed after long-awaited state approval. The college is now officially known as J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Current President: Dr. Patricia Sims
Official website: www.drakestate.edu/
