Harbin found direction at Wallace State Community College

This is one in a series of stories celebrating Wallace State Community College alumni during Community College Month in April.

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College psychology instructor Casey Harbin said he did not intend to become a teacher. After earning degrees in history and psychology from Auburn University, he planned to take the LSAT to become an attorney. Instead, he found his way into education via coaching.

He started as a substitute teacher while coaching the Cullman High School varsity boys’ soccer team, leading them to the final four in 2010 and 2012 before claiming a state championship in 2016. He later earned a master’s in education from the University of West Alabama and became a full-time instructor at the high school. He taught at the high school for a total of 11 years, “loving every minute of it,” before he began teaching at Wallace State.

Harbin is no stranger to Wallace State. His mother, Suzanne Harbin, is the Vice President for Advancement at the college and strongly encouraged her son to attend, taking advantage of free tuition offered to Wallace State employees. He came to WSCC as a dual enrollment student and continued taking traditional classes before transferring to Auburn.

“Wallace's dual enrollment classes provided such challenge. I also think I greatly benefited from the traditional courses at Wallace State during high school,” Harbin said.

It was while taking classes at Wallace State that Harbin found his direction.

“I can actually credit my entire career to Wallace State and one instructor in particular: Dr. Rebecca Reeves,” said Harbin. “It wasn't until I took PSY 200 at Wallace with Dr. Reeves that psychology captured my attention.”

Harbin worked with Dr. Reeves, who was chair of the Social and Behavioral Science Department until her retirement.

“I sometimes reflect on where I would be in life without her class and Wallace State,” Harbin said. “I definitely never expected that years later she would be my department head and leading me to the classroom where I would be teaching my very own PSY 200 course at Wallace State.”

Harbin’s students at Wallace State appreciate his teaching style, describing him as nice, informative and understanding.

“Casey Harbin is an excellent teacher,” one student said. “His class was one of my favorites.”

“My life has come full circle,” Harbin said. “I am forever thankful for the opportunity to be teaching the very same course at the very same place to which I owe my entire career and success in life.”

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of Wallace State Community College alumni throughout Community College Month.

Priority registration for the Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 semesters will begin on Monday, April 6, with summer classes starting May 16 and fall classes starting Aug. 17. Visit www.wallacestate.edu for more information or call 256.352.8236 or email lioncentral@wallacestate.edu.

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About the Wallace State Alumni Association

The WSCC Alumni Association serves more than 30,000 alumni and friends through membership benefits, professional development, and outreach opportunities. You do not have to be an alumnus to become a member of the Alumni Association. Please visit our website at https://www.wsccalumni.org/welcome.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.