Commissioner Gretchen Corbin announced that Dr. Andrea Daniel has been named the next president of Athens Technical College.The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) voted during its monthly meeting today to accept Commissioner Corbin’s recommendation.

Dr. Andrea Daniel currently serves as Executive Vice President of Athens Technical College. She began her 19-year career with Athens Tech on the college’s Elbert County campus, transitioned to the main campus as registrar, and then moved into vice presidencies in economic development, external affairs and student affairs. During her time as Vice President of Economic Development, the number of companies with whom the college partnered for contract training more than doubled and included Caterpillar, Hitachi, Novelis, and Haring.

Dr. Daniel previously worked as a senior planning analyst for the Atlanta Regional Commission.  She holds a doctorate in Business Administration from Northcentral University, an M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in political science from Lander University. She has completed additional training in economic development and is a graduate of the L.E.A.D. Athens Class of 2008. Dr. Daniel, her husband Sterling and daughter Kimberlyn reside in Elberton.

“I am very honored and pleased to be selected as the fourth president of Athens Technical College, which was founded in 1958,” said Dr. Daniel.  “I look forward to leading our staff and faculty in providing students excellent opportunities to complete their education and provide companies with a qualified, trained workforce. I want to thank Commissioner Corbin and the search committee for this wonderful opportunity.”

Dr. Daniel succeeds previous president Dr. Flora Tydings. Dr. Gail Thaxton, president of North Georgia Technical College, has served as interim president of Athens Technical College, which serves 10 counties including Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Hart, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Walton and Wilkes.

“For many years, Dr. Daniel has been a leader in education and economic development and she has forged partnerships throughout the region. I’m looking forward to seeing Athens Tech grow even further under her leadership,” said Commissioner Corbin. “At the same time, I want to thank Dr. Gail Thaxton, who took time away from her presidency at North Georgia Technical College to lead Athens Tech with such expertise during this time of transition. Likewise, I want to extend my great appreciation to Dr. Mark Ivester at North Georgia Tech, who took the reins during Dr. Thaxton’s absence and continued to add to the college’s successes.”