Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Leadership and Educational Studies Alvis L. (Al) Corum (September 14, 1931-) was born in Leaksville (now Eden), North Carolina. He was the second of three sons born to Georgia and Robert Corum. His father was of American Indian ancestry and his mother was Caucasian. Corum graduated from Leaksville High School, Leaksville, North Carolina, in 1949, and he played professional baseball from 1949 until 1951. He is a veteran of the Korean conflict; he served in the United States Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class from 1951 until 1955. During his two 6-months' tours of combat duty he worked as a welder, damage controlman, and specialist in atomic, biological, and chemical warfare. Corum received his B.S. degree in physical education and social studies from Appalachian State Teachers' College (now Appalachian State University) in 1959, where he was a cum laude graduate. While at Appalachian State, he was twice elected class president and twice selected for the publication, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Corum received both his M.Ed, degree in educational administration (1961) and his Ed.D. degree in educational administration and curriculum, with a minor in government (1970), from the University of Miami, Miami, Florida. Dr. Corum is married to Jo Ann Absher, a magna cum laude graduate of Appalachian State Teachers' College, with a degree in English. They have two sons, Mark (1963-), and Jeff (1966). Employed by the Miami-Dade County Schools in 1959, Dr. Corum held various teaching, coaching, and administrative positions until 1969. He then became dean of Learning Resources at Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 1970 he accepted a position as dean and professor of Learning Resources at Appalachian State University. From 1984 to 1993, Dr. Corum was a professor at the university library, and from 1993 to 1997 he was a professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Dr. Corum's other university service included being a faculty advisor to the Appalachian State Native American Council, participation in the freshman orientation program, and representation of the university library at "Family Day." He also directed three workshops, all at Appalachian State: "Library Management" (1974), "Legal and Ethical Aspects of the New Copyright Law" (1978), and "Library Preservation" (1992). Among the honors received by Dr. Corum were selection for the "Outstanding Educators of America" publication, Appalachian State University (1971) and acquiring a Certificate of Merit from the Director of Indian Education, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Appalachian State University (1984). Corum's community service included involvement in the American Cancer Society's "Jail A Thon" in Boone, North Carolina, to raise funds for cancer research (1985) and organization of the Native American Pow-Wow at Watauga High School in Boone (1992). Dr. Corum has authored and coauthored the following publications: • Corum, Alvis and Hunter Boylan. "Policies and Procedures Associated with Minority Student Retention in Higher Education." Journal of the National Council of Educational Opportunity Associations Spring 1995. (Special issue sent to all members of the U. S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and state higher education agencies.) • Corum, Alvis. "Library Cooperation in North Carolina." Proceedings of the Alabama Community College Library Association 1975. • Corum, Alvis. "Functions of the Printing Calculator in a Mathematics Laboratory." Educational Resources Information (ERIC) 1970. • Corum, Alvis. "Myths, Media, and Measurement." Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) 1970 Dr. Corum retired in 1997 and was awarded emeritus status by the Board of Trustees. He is presently working on a book dealing with constitutional issues of freedom of expression within the University of North Carolina System (a legal case study titled: "Fired with Enthusiasm: In Defense of Free Speech"). He and his wife reside in Boone, North Carolina. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. -Dr. Kay R. Dickson
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