Augusta Tech president is sole finalist to lead Savannah State

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Augusta Tech’s loss is Savannah State’s gain.

Jermaine Whirl, the innovative president of Augusta Technical College who’s raised the institution’s profile and made it a destination school, is a finalist to become president of Savannah State University.

In fact, he’s the sole finalist, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia decided Tuesday.

Whirl has spent nearly 20 years serving as a faculty member and istrative leader at public colleges and universities in Georgia and in his native South Carolina.

“I am deeply honored to be named a finalist for the presidency of Savannah State University,” Whirl said. “Savannah State has a rich history of producing world-class artists, educators, scientists, military leaders, corporate executives and public policy advocates. I look forward to working with the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater Savannah community to continue the legacy of the state’s first public HBCU.”

Whirl has served as Augusta Tech president since 2020.

He’s led the institution through enrollment and retention strategy changes that saw record enrollment of new first-year students this past fall and an increase in headcount between fall 2021 and fall 2024 of 20.3%.

He’s also overseen the launch of a unveiled a plan for student housing, among other achievements.

Previously, he was vice president of learning and workforce development at Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, where he also served as vice president of economic development and corporate training.

He also served as dean of Gwinnett Technical College’s School of Business and School of Arts & Design and as a dean at Savannah Technical College.

Whirl has been a full-time faculty member at two USG institutions: Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State College.

He grew up in Charleston and attended graduate school in Savannah. Several family are Savannah State graduates, most recently in December 2020.

“We prioritized finding a leader who values Savannah State’s historic legacy and embraces its modern role in moving this state and the region’s workforce forward,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Dr. Whirl understands the power of higher education and how earning a degree can transform a student’s life and prosperity. His enthusiasm and energy in doing that work make him an ideal candidate to lead the oldest public HBCU in Georgia.”

The coastal Georgia school has been struggling for years with declining enrollment and funding problems. It has also undergone layoffs, tensions between faculty and an and program cuts.

Whirl holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Winthrop University. He also holds an MBA in business istration from Charleston Southern University, an M.Ed. in adult education and community leadership from Armstrong State University (now Georgia Southern University) and an Ed.D. in organizational leadership from Valdosta State University.

Last year, Whirl was awarded Georgia Southern University’s 2024 George and Lucy Armstrong Alumni Award, as well as the Leadership Award from the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce. Georgia Trend also recognized him as one of 2024′s 40 under 40, a list of the most successful and civic-minded people in the state under the age of 40. Whirl participates as an advisor for many organizations, including as a member of the board of directors for the Warrior Alliance and on the Human Capital Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He and his wife, Marqueta, have two children, Jaylen Lee Whirl and Madison Renee Whirl.

Being named a sole finalist is typically a prelude to being named president of a public college or university in Georgia. Under state law, regents must wait at least five days before confirming Whirl’s appointment.

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