ATLANTA -- University System of Georgia Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts announced last week that he has appointed Dr. Valerie A. Hepburn, currently assistant dean of the University of Georgia's College of Public Health, as interim president of Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick, effective July 1.
The announcement comes as CGCC President Dorothy L. Lord prepares to retire on June 30, after 17 years of service.
"We appreciate Dr. Lord's leadership of the college, particularly with respect to Coastal Georgia Community College's impressive enrollment growth and the role model provided by its well-regarded Coastal Georgia Minority Outreach Program," Watts said.
"We are extremely fortunate to be able to call on Dr. Hepburn's strong leadership skills during this
transition," Watts added. "Coastal Georgia Community College is undergoing a mission change from a two-year institution to a state college, and there is much work to be done as we strive to increase access to baccalaureate degree programs in southeast coastal Georgia via this campus."
"I am delighted that we have secured the services of Dr. Hepburn, given her outstanding background and abilities," said James A. Bishop, the member of the Board of Regents who represents the congressional district in which CGCC is located. "I am very excited about the college's new status as a four-year institution and the significant effects this transformation will have on our coastal community and throughout the region."
Hepburn, who is also an adjunct professor at Georgia State University and the Medical College of Georgia, was named to her position at UGA in 2007. She previously served as associate director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University from 2003-2007; director of the Division of Health Planning and director of planning and data management at the Georgia Department of Community Health from 2000-2003.
She has also been in leadership positions with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, including assistant commissioner and executive director of the Southwest Georgia Regional Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Board.
Hepburn holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from UGA (2006), a master's of public administration from Georgia State (1987) and a bachelor's of arts in political science from Agnes Scott College (1983).
Plans regarding the search for a permanent presidential appointee at Coastal Georgia Community College will be announced later.
The announcement comes as CGCC President Dorothy L. Lord prepares to retire on June 30, after 17 years of service.
"We appreciate Dr. Lord's leadership of the college, particularly with respect to Coastal Georgia Community College's impressive enrollment growth and the role model provided by its well-regarded Coastal Georgia Minority Outreach Program," Watts said.
"We are extremely fortunate to be able to call on Dr. Hepburn's strong leadership skills during this
transition," Watts added. "Coastal Georgia Community College is undergoing a mission change from a two-year institution to a state college, and there is much work to be done as we strive to increase access to baccalaureate degree programs in southeast coastal Georgia via this campus."
"I am delighted that we have secured the services of Dr. Hepburn, given her outstanding background and abilities," said James A. Bishop, the member of the Board of Regents who represents the congressional district in which CGCC is located. "I am very excited about the college's new status as a four-year institution and the significant effects this transformation will have on our coastal community and throughout the region."
Hepburn, who is also an adjunct professor at Georgia State University and the Medical College of Georgia, was named to her position at UGA in 2007. She previously served as associate director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University from 2003-2007; director of the Division of Health Planning and director of planning and data management at the Georgia Department of Community Health from 2000-2003.
She has also been in leadership positions with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, including assistant commissioner and executive director of the Southwest Georgia Regional Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Board.
Hepburn holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from UGA (2006), a master's of public administration from Georgia State (1987) and a bachelor's of arts in political science from Agnes Scott College (1983).
Plans regarding the search for a permanent presidential appointee at Coastal Georgia Community College will be announced later.