Commissioner Gretchen Corbin announced that Dr. Alvetta Peterman Thomas has been named the next president of Southern Crescent Technical College, and that Dr. Victoria Seals will become the new president of Atlanta Technical College. The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia voted during its monthly meeting today to accept Commissioner Corbin’s recommendations to both positions.

Board member Frank “Chunk” Newman of LaGrange made the motion to accept Corbin’s recommendation of Dr. Thomas, and board member Anne Kaiser of Atlanta moved to accept the commissioner’s recommendation of Dr. Seals. The full board voted unanimously to approve the selection of both.

Dr. Thomas, currently president of Atlanta Technical College, becomes president of Southern Crescent following the retirement of Dr. Randall Peters, who has been the college’s president since 2010. Dr. Seals moves from her current position as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Gwinnett Technical College to the presidency of Atlanta Tech. Both appointments are effective Dec. 1, 2016.

“Dr. Thomas and Dr. Seals are high achievers who bring exceptional abilities in both academics and workforce development to their respective colleges,” said Commissioner Corbin. “Atlanta Technical College and Southern Crescent Technical College are top resources for skilled talent in their regions. I know they and their students will continue to thrive and reach new heights of excellence under these proven leaders.”
 
Dr. Alvetta Peterman Thomas has served at Atlanta Technical College since 1997 and as president of the college since 2008. Under her leadership, the college increased enrollment, expanded program offerings, developed global partnerships and expanded campus facilities. In 2012 the college was named the Technical College System of Georgia College of the Year.
 
Dr. Thomas previously served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at the college. Prior to her arrival at Atlanta Tech in 1997, Dr. Thomas served as Executive Director at Skills for Tomorrow Charter High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Instructional Support Services Coordinator at the Technical College System of Georgia, then known as the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education; Education Specialist at the US Department of Defense; teacher and curriculum specialist in the Savannah Chatham County Schools; and adjunct assistant professor at Alabama State University.

A member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2009, Dr. Thomas has been recognized by the Fayette County NAACP as a Champion of Change and with a proclamation by the Atlanta City Council. Among her numerous accolades are honors by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. House of Representatives. the National Women’s History Project, Atlanta Business League, Woman’s University and The Esquires, Inc. Most recently, the University of Georgia honored Dr. Thomas with the 2016 Graduate School Alumni of Distinction Award.

Dr. Thomas has shared her knowledge of best practices in postsecondary education in presentations at numerous regional and national conferences. She serves on the boards of Horizons Atlanta, the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, Metro RESA, as well as memberships in Civitan International, and the West End Rotary Club. She is also actively engaged with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Business League and the Leadership Atlanta.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the Southern Crescent Technical College community,” said Dr. Thomas. “I am humbled by the confidence of Commissioner Corbin and the TCSG Board. One of the best parts of my 19-year journey at Atlanta Technical College has been traveling with wonderful faculty, staff and students as well as committed community and business partners. They genuinely care about the college, and together we have done some amazing things. As I continue my journey, I look forward to working with a wonderful college and community. I am extremely excited about the future and the endless possibilities at Southern Crescent Technical College.”
Dr. Thomas and her husband, AJ, are the parents of two and the grandparents of three.

“Dr. Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position,” said Commissioner Corbin. “She understands the relationship between academia and workforce development inside and out. Under her entrepreneurial spirit and steady hand, I know that she will build on Dr. Peters’ many accomplishments at Southern Crescent. The college and our entire system has been the beneficiary of Dr. Peters’ long and distinguished career at TCSG, and our entire team joins me in thanking him for his service as well as welcoming Dr. Thomas.”
 
Dr. Victoria Seals joined Gwinnett Technical College in September, 2005 as an instructor for mathematics, advanced to Division Director for Arts and Sciences and was named Dean of Academic Affairs in 2011.  In addition to leading the growth of the Arts and Sciences Division, Dr. Seals helped guide Gwinnett Tech’s faculty and staff development program, as well as several student retention initiatives.

Dr. Seals began her teaching career in Athens, Ga. She was employed by Athens-Clarke County Public Schools for two years and Athens Technical College for six years. During her time in Athens, Dr. Seals also served as an assistant basketball coach for the Clarke Central High School girls’ basketball program and as a tutor/proctor for the University of Georgia Athletic Department.

She is a member of Leadership Gwinnett’s Class of 2011 as well as the 2013 class of the Technical College System of Georgia’s Executive Leadership Academy. She is also an active member of the American Association of Community Colleges, American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, Technology Association of Georgia, Women in Educational Leadership and the Greater Alpharetta Technology Network.

Dr. Seals attended Spelman College, where she was awarded a B.S. in Mathematics, and the University of Georgia where she was awarded an M.A. in mathematics, an Ed.S. in mathematics education, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

“As I transition into this exciting opportunity at Atlanta Technical College, I appreciate the confidence and support of Commissioner Corbin and the TCSG state board,” said Dr. Seals. “I am proud to have served Gwinnett Technical College’s students and faculty for more than 11 years and to have been a part of the college’s growth, both in the addition of a new campus in Alpharetta and in the development of innovative programming and industry partnerships. At the same time, I am excited about the privilege to work with the Atlanta Technical College faculty, staff, students and community. The college has an impressive heritage in serving students and forging business and workforce development connections. I look forward to what the future holds.”
 
“Dr. Seals’ deep experience in education, especially at Gwinnett Technical College, which is one of the largest colleges in our system, is just one of the many outstanding qualities she brings to her new position at Atlanta Technical College,” said Commissioner Corbin. Dr. Seals has long been a rising star within Georgia’s Technical College System and under her leadership, the Atlanta Tech team will continue to build on the great foundation that Dr. Thomas has laid.”