Dr. Ronnie L. Booth is Tri-County's New President

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 2315

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/2/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON -- Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, vice president for external programs at Gainesville College in Gainesville, GA, is Tri-County Technical College's new president. The College's Commission voted unanimously in favor of Dr. Booth following an executive session meeting Friday, May 2.

Dr. Booth will succeed Dr. Don C. Garrison, who after nearly 32 years of service, will retire July 31, 2003.

"All three candidates were extremely impressive in terms of experience, credentials, accomplishments in their careers and their experience with two-year colleges," said Dr. Mendel Stewart, who chairs the College's Commission.

"Dr. Booth stands out in his breadth of experience across all areas of the campus in terms of administrative responsibilities," said Dr. Stewart "His experience in key administrative areas will serve him well at Tri-County. His combination of experience and his professional and personal integrity are central to everything that he has done. Consistently, he is a person of great capability and devotion to doing things right and to doing the right thing."

Dr. Booth says Tri-County's solid reputation was what initially attracted him to apply for the job. "The College is poised to accomplish even greater things in the future. The possibilities are there, and I wanted to be a part of that," said Dr. Booth. The Aiken native says his desire to return to his home state and to be a part of the South Carolina Technical Education System again were factors, also. (Dr. Booth held positions as dean of students, assistant dean of students, and director of Financial Aid at Aiken Technical College.)

He has served in his current capacity at Gainesville College since July of last year. Gainesville College is a two-year college offering associate degree and two-year transfer programs for more than 3,200 students who come primarily from Hall County and surrounding counties in northeast Georgia. Dr. Booth is responsible for the Athens campus, which has an enrollment of 630 students.

Dr. Booth served as associate vice president for academic affairs for two years prior to being promoted to his current position. He held various positions in higher education before joining Gainesville College. He served as assistant dean of the School of Education for External Programs, associate professor of Education, vice president for Student Affairs and Continuing Education and vice president of Administrative Services at Piedmont College in Demorest, GA.

At Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA, he served as director of Admissions and Enrollment Management He also has held various staff positions in financial aid at the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and Columbia International University in South Carolina.

He holds a B. S. in Business Administration, an M. Ed. in Student Personnel Services and a Ph. D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policies from the University of South Carolina, and an M. A. in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

He and his wife, Sara, have two daughters, Erin, who is graduating from high school, and Ashley, a rising ninth grader.
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