Dr. James D. Krudop, a veteran administrator and educator, will assume the interim role as director of the Greenville branch of the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College upon the retirement of Dr. Jean Thompson, longtime director of the Butler County campus.

The director's role was to be filled by Dr. Michael Daniel, who died unexpectedly Feb. 26.

&#8220We're fortunate to have someone of Dr. Krudop's experience and knowledge step in,” Dr. Edward Meadows, president of the Andalusia-based school, said. &#8220He was heavily involved in construction of the facility at Greenville, knows our staff there and is known to the community.

&#8220He simply seems like the right man for the position.”

Dr. Krudop is currently vice president and director of the MacArthur campus.

As interim director, he will be involved in the campaign to name the new 30,000 square foot technology facility that is nearing completion, will oversee the move to that new facility, be responsible for its ribbon cutting ceremonies, have administrative responsibility for the second annual golf tournament at Cambrian Ridge Sept. 12 and oversee daily operation of campus activities.

The search for a permanent director has not begun, but Dr. Meadows indicated the new director would live in Butler County and be heavily involved in Greenville and Butler County activities.

&#8220We have several young, developing administrators,” Dr. Meadows explained. &#8220That will provide us a good place to start.”

The interim role is not an unfamiliar one for Dr. Krudop.

He served as interim president of the Andalusia campus between Aug. 31 and Feb. 1, 1991 following the retirement of Dr. William McWhorter; then filled the same interim capacity between June 2002 and January 2003 when President Seth Hammett retired.

Dr. Thompson, who has been director of the Greenville campus since 1992, will step aside, retiring to a part-time position on campus.

As director, she has been heavily involved in college and community relations, fund raising, teaching English composition and American Literature and supervising daily activities of the campus.

&#8220She has been a wonderful director,” Dr. Meadows said. &#8220Her commitment to the school and the communities has been exceptional. We're also pleased she will remain with us, working a reduced schedule that will enable her to pursue other interests as well.”

A member of the Greenville City Council, she has been active in the Greenville Rotary Club, the Greenville Arts Council and the Butler County Historical Society. She served a three-year term on the board of trustees for L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital and has been involved in a number of Green ville Chamber of Commerce committees.

Before coming to LBW here, she was district dean of students for the 18,000-student DeKalb College outside of Atlanta.

Ground breaking ceremonies for the current Greenville 11,300-square foot building on the 17-acre campus were held Oct. 6, 1992 with classes beginning there in the fall of 1993.