Ashley S. Dukes of Americus and Matthew Kennedy of Cordele have been hired as new full-time Academic Deans at South Georgia Technical College, announced SGTC President Dr. John Watford. Both will be reporting to SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs Julie Partain.
“Please join me in congratulating these two individuals,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “Both of them have been associated with South Georgia Technical College in a part-time capacity for a number of years and have done a tremendous job in those roles. We are excited to now offer them full-time opportunities and are expecting great things from them in their new roles. Student success is of upmost importance to everyone at South Georgia Tech and I am confident that our college will become even stronger as they assume their new roles.”
Dukes has been working as an adjunct Psychology Instructor for South Georgia Technical College for the past 11 years while also serving as an Intensive Support Coordinator for Columbus Community Services since 2014. She will be housed on the Americus campus and will be responsible for overseeing the Business Management, Business Technology, CIS, Accounting, Marketing, Early Childhood Care/Education, Associate of Education, Sports and Fitness, RN, LPN, Criminal Justice, Nurse Aide, Phlebotomy, Medical Assisting, and Culinary Arts program and instructors on the Americus campus.
She has worked as a Family Independent Case Manager for the Lee County Department of Family and Children Services, and as a Certified Nursing Assistant for Magnolia Manor. Dukes is a graduate of Americus-Sumter High School and has a Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. She has a Master’s in Psychology with an emphasis in General Psychology from Grand Canyon University.
Matthew Kennedy of Cordele is joining SGTC as a Dean of Academic Affairs for the Crisp County Center. He will be housed on the Crisp County Center Campus and will be responsible for both faculty and staff on that campus for day to day operations. He will oversee the Business Technology, Barbering, Criminal Justice, Nurse Aide and Healthcare/Dual Enrollment, Adult Education, LPN, Medical Assisting/Health Care, EMT, Automation, Early Childhood Care/Education, English, Math, Welding and Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Electrical Systems/Constructor, Culinary Arts, Air Conditioning, and CDL programs and instructors.
Kennedy has been employed as middle school math and social studies teacher with the Crisp County School System at Crisp County Middle School since 2012. In addition to his full-time position with the Crisp County School System, Kennedy has worked as an adjunct Math Instructor on the SGTC Crisp County campus and as a Driving Instructor for the college since 2018.
He has a Bachelors in Business Administration degree from Georgia Southwestern State University as well as a Bachelors in Middle Grades Education and a Masters in Middle Grades Mathematics from there. He also earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University.
As Deans of Academic Affairs, both individuals will be responsible for providing leadership, direction, and administrative oversight for academic programs, faculty, and instructional services. Responsibilities include supervising academic personnel, programs, and services; ensuring the consistent implementation, review and revision of academic policies, procedures, rules and regulations, promoting instructional programs to public and private organizations, and collaborating with Human Resources to coordinate faculty recruitment, hiring, credential verification, onboarding, and performance management.
The Deans will oversee accreditation, attainment and maintenance activities, recommend curriculum revisions, program additions and program terminations and ensure compliance with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and other applicable regulatory requirements. Additional duties include reviewing course evaluations, overseeing faculty and staff development plans, approving instructional purchases and curriculum materials, managing enrollment and registration processes, resolving student concerns and complaints, and all other duties as assigned.
The Crisp County Center Academic Dean will also be responsible for overseeing parts of the daily operation of the Crisp County Center campus in addition to normal duties.