South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of Business and Industry Services for the Crisp County Center Michelle McGowan has been named as the SGTC Vice President of Economic Development, announced SGTC President Dr. John Watford. Her new office will be on the Americus campus.
“Please join me in congratulating Michelle McGowan on her promotion to the Vice President of Economic Development position,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “This is a win-win for South Georgia Technical College and for the business and industry leaders in our service area. She has been heavily involved in the Economic Development arena since 2015 and been employed at South Georgia Technical College for nearly 27 years. She knows our area and the college and will continue to be a tremendous asset in her new role.”
“I am very grateful to Dr. Watford and South Georgia Technical College for this new opportunity,” said McGowan. “I have enjoyed working at South Georgia Tech and I am looking forward to continuing that relationship in this new role. I am very excited about having the opportunity to expand my role with the business and industry leaders in our seven-county service area. I hope to be an excellent resource for workforce development in this area.”
Michelle McGowan began her employment with South Georgia Tech in 1999 as the Director of High School Initiatives/College Connections. In 2015, she was named the Director of Business and Industry Services for the Crisp County Center and remained in that role for eight years. She was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and oversaw the Crisp County Center Campus operations in 2023. She continued to support the economic development community in that role.
As the new Vice President of Economic Development, McGowan will report to President Dr. John Watford. She will be responsible for developing new and continuing to support existing business relationships for workforce development, manage existing and create new business and industry training, identify service area needs, and provide workforce development consulting and training. She will also help customize service plans, coordinate state economic development incentive programs, maintain cost effective operations and other duties as assigned. She will also oversee SGTC Business and Industry Director Paul Farr and Partnership Coordinator Tami Blount.
As the Economic Development Vice President at SGTC, McGowan will also work with all other departments within the college including: academic affairs, student affairs, administrative services, institutional advancement and the SGTC Foundation offices as well as facilities.
McGowan has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology (Journalism Minor) and a Master of Science Degree in Administration from Georgia Southwestern State University. She also worked as the Director of Housing and Testing at Middle Georgia College, and the Family Self-Sufficiency/Resident Services Coordinator for the Housing Authority of Americus before joining South Georgia Tech.
She is a graduate of the Technical College System of Georgia Executive Leadership Academy, the Georgia Academy for Economic and Leadership Development Graduate, and has Career Pathways Leadership Certification.
“We are pleased to be able to promote from within and Michelle McGowan’s promotion should result in greater efficiency and overall effectiveness for the college,” said President Watford.