Dr, Kendricks D. Hooker will become Augusta Tech’s new president Jan. 2, 2026.
Augusta Technical College’s new president brings leadership experience from a North Carolina technical school specializing in health care careers.
Dr. Kendricks D. Hooker will assume his new role Jan. 2, the Technical College System of Georgia announced Thursday.
“I am honored to join the Augusta Technical College family and excited to continue the college’s mission of providing high-quality, workforce-focused education,” Hooker said in prepared remarks. “Together with faculty, staff, students and community partners, we will build on the college’s strong foundation to prepare the next generation of skilled professionals for Georgia’s growing economy.”
“Dr. Hooker is an accomplished leader with a proven record of advancing student outcomes and building strong academic programs,” TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier said. “His deep commitment to education, workforce development and community partnerships makes him the ideal person to lead Augusta Technical College into its next chapter.”
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Augusta Tech Provost Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston has served as interim president since April as state officials launched their presidential search.
Previous president Dr. Jermaine Whirl was named the president of historically Black institution Savannah State University in February.
Whirl oversaw expanded course offerings and new partnerships with community leaders in helping Augusta Tech students embark on successful careers in fields such as cybersecurity and automotive technology.
With health care workers in high demand nationwide, Whirl helped Augusta Tech in 2023 to become Georgia’s only technical school to offer training rotations to nursing students at a working hospital, Piedmont Augusta’s Summerville Campus on Wrightsboro Road.
Since 2023, Hooker has been provost of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in Concord, N.C. Before Cabarrus College, he was vice president of academic affairs at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tenn. He also worked at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis., becoming dean of its School of Health Education and associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: North Carolina provost named new Augusta Tech president