Augusta University Will Have a New President Soon
Augusta University will soon say goodbye to Dr. Brooks Keel. He’s retiring at the end of the month after serving as the school’s president since July of 2015.
Today, the Georgia Board of Regents officially named Keel’s successor.
Dr. Russell T. Keen had been named the sole finalist for the job earlier this month, but now it’s a done deal.
Keen is no stranger to AU. He currently serves as executive vice president for administration and chief of staff to the president there. Keen has been employed by the University System of Georgia for the past 22 years.
Prior to joining AU, Keen spent 13 years working at Georgia Southern where he held several administrative positions, including vice president for external affairs and vice president of governmental relations and community engagement. He also worked as the major gifts officer at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia.
“My time on campus and in Augusta has prepared me for a seamless transition into this role, and I would be honored to continue the legacy of a president I consider a mentor,” said Keen after being named the sole finalist for the president’s job at AU.
Keen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an M.Ed. in higher education administration from Georgia Southern. He earned an Ed.D. in higher education management from UGA.
Keen begins his new job as Augusta University President July 1, one day after Keel retires.
Dr. Brooks Keel Says Goodbye to Augusta University Soon
After serving 9 years as Augusta University’s president, Dr. Brooks Keel will retire on June 30.
Keel has had a 40-year career in research and higher education administration.
The last 14 years have been spent within the University System of Georgia, serving as president of Georgia Southern University before being named president of AU in 2015.
Keel arrived at AU during a critical time in the school’s history. In 2013 the two legacy institutions, then known as Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University, merged into the short-lived and very unpopular Georgia Regents University. The community made it known it did not embrace the new name.
Following Keel’s appointment as president of AU in 2015, he oversaw a rebranding campaign that led to the school becoming Augusta University.
“Serving as the president of Augusta University has been the capstone of my career and one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Keel.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said, “President Keel’s lasting legacy of service and leadership will impact Augusta University and its campus community for years to come.”
