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Techncial College System of Georgia Names Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston as Interim President of Augusta Technical College

Congratulations Dr. Frank-Alston!


For Immediate Release

Augusta Technical College seal in Heritage Green composed of the words Augusta Technical College circling the top 3/4s of a circular outline. The word Georgia is centered at the bottom outside the circular outline, separated from the words Augusta and College by three stylized laurel leaves. The inner part of the circular outline is divided into three sections by lines forming a capitalzed Y. The upper section includes the image of an open book as seen from the bottom edge with the year 1961 above it framed by two small diamonds. The bottom left section contains an outline of a gear with the hollow center of the gear opening to the center of the Y. The bottom right section contains the outline of a caduceus.

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Technical College System of Georgia Names Dr.
Melissa Frank-Alston as Interim President of Augusta
Technical College


Augusta, GA - March 14, 2025

Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston, a Caucasian female with shoulder length brown and grey hair, smiles at the camera wearing a red dress jacket and red dress shirt patterned with black ivy./The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has appointed College Provost Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston as Interim President for Augusta Technical College, effective April 1, 2025.

Dr. Frank-Alston will assume leadership following the appointment of Augusta Technical College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl as President of Savannah State University by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

“Dr. Frank-Alston is a dedicated and accomplished leader with a deep commitment to student success and workforce development,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “Her decades of experience and leadership at Augusta Technical College will ensure a seamless transition as the college continues to provide high-quality education and training to students in the region.”

Dr. Frank-Alston brings nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, including nearly two decades at Augusta Technical College. Since joining the College in 2005, holding several key leadership roles, including Provost and SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness & Research, Senior Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness & Research, Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs. She has worked closely with faculty, staff, administrators, and local business leaders to secure more than $8 million in federal and private grants to support student success initiatives.

Dr. Frank-Alston, who earned her PhD in Workforce Education and Development from Penn State University, is also a graduate of several prestigious leadership programs, including Leadership Augusta (2007), the Technical College System of Georgia Executive Leadership Academy (2014), and the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence (2018). In 2018, she was recognized with the Pennsylvania State University College of Education Alumni Society Award for Leadership and Service.

“I am honored to serve as Interim President of Augusta Technical College and continue our mission of providing high-quality education and workforce training,” said Dr. Frank-Alston. “I look forward to working alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, and community partners to support student achievement and economic growth in the region."

“I have full faith in Dr. Frank-Alston’s abilities to continue the great work of this institution in partnership with our employees, our board of directors and foundation trustees," stated Dr. Jermaine Whirl.

Dr. Frank-Alston serves on the Columbia County Chamber Board of Directors and the Foundation Board of Directors for the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe.

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About Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary institution that provides academic and technical education, customized business and industry training, continuing education, student support, economic development, and adult education services to its service area (Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties) at a competitive financial value. Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit are provided through traditional and distance delivery methods. For more information, visit augustatech.edu.


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