Renee Culverhouse Leaves Gadsden State Immediately

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Renee Culverhouse is leaving Gadsden State Community College immediately instead of waiting until December 31 as originally planned.

Culverhouse has been president of the northern Alabama school since 2001 and cited health reasons for her abrupt departure Friday.

She will be on extended sick leave for the rest of 2008.

She had announced her retirement last month, saying she suffers from several serious and potentially debilitating illnesses and they were progressing.

Chancellor Bradley Byrne appointed Valerie Richardson as acting president and she will become interim president when Culverhouse's resignation takes effect at the end of the year.

Richardson is currently Gadsden's vice president of institutional advancement and student services and has worked at the school since 1999.