Dr. Jermaine Whirl of Augusta Technical College officially accepted the position of Savannah State University President and will start in April.
In the little over four years as the President of Augusta Technical College, he led a whirlwind of development that not only benefitted the student body of the college but served to connect educational opportunities to area businesses that will benefit the CSRA for years to come.
Growing the Augusta Tech enrollment:
“If you look at our fall enrollment numbers for the year 2022, we had 5,300 individuals enrolled at the college,” Augusta Tech President, Dr. Jermaine Whirl explained for ABD. “In 2023, we had 5,765. Our 2024 date is not finalized, but we’re sitting at 5,941. We won’t get the final data until October, but from 2022 with 5,300 to over 5,900, that just tells you that people are figuring it out, and they’re definitely coming to Augusta Tech.”
Whirl believes part of the attraction is the school’s ability to offer educational and training programs for careers in high-paying fields of employment. He said Augusta Tech prides itself in being a local workforce development solution.
On developing business partnerships:
Partnerships provide access, and Dr. Whirl was a catalyst for many of those, including Aurubis, Textron, John Deere, SRP, and Piedmont Hospital. At an ABD Business Conference and Expo in October 2023, Dr. Whirl said those partnerships provide access to students by giving them hands-on experience in preparing for the workforce.
In January, ABD reported that Augusta Tech would launch a business Boot Camp in March 2025.
“It is a 20-day boot camp offering individuals from the community to come in and learn skill sets to be able to be employed in construction jobs, specifically commercial jobs,” said Dr. Whirl.
Whirl said when construction of the new James Brown Arena became a reality, he knew it was a suitable time to offer the program locally.
Growing Augusta:
“Augusta Technical College is a driving force in the CSRA for enhancing workforce readiness and building economically stronger communities. Accelerate Augusta represents the next evolution of the college’s ability to promote economic development by serving as a launching pad for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators. We are honored to forge a strategic partnership with Augusta Technical College on this initiative, which will have a generational impact on our communities,” stated Eric Jenkins, CEO, SRP Federal Credit Union.
Insurance Assurance, a look at how cybersecurity can impact the insurance industry, and what tools are available to protect against it, was held at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center.
Sponsored by Augusta Technical College and Travelers Insurance Company, the program focused on cybersecurity insurance and threats. Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Tech, told ABD the program is the result of a relationship he developed while at Gwinnett Technical College.
“Dr. Jose de la Cruz reached out to me. He’s Senior VP of HR for Travelers Insurance, and he said, ‘We need to have a conversation about cyber and specifically in the insurance business, and cybersecurity attacks. There really hasn’t been a global discussion about the intricacies behind that, the trends we’re seeing, and then also the workforce we need to protect,’ Whirl explained.
Outlining just a handful of Dr. Whirl’s efforts, it’s no surprise, after a rigorous six-month search for someone to lead Savannah State University, that the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) named Dr. Jermaine Whirl president of Savannah State University (SSU), effective April 1, 2025.
Whirl, an Aspen Fellow, most recently served as president of Augusta Technical College (ATC), a role he has held since November 2020. Whirl’s career includes nearly 20 years of service as a faculty member and administrative leader at public colleges and universities in his home state of South Carolina and Georgia. He has previously worked at several institutions, including Greenville Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Southern University, and East Georgia State University.
He has a clear and strategic vision for Savannah State and its students, staff, and faculty, and we’re confident his leadership will usher this historic public HBCU into a new era of growth and prosperity.”
“I’m honored and humbled to accept the role of president of Savannah State University,” Whirl said. “I can’t wait to work with the campus community to build upon SSU’s proud HBCU legacy and advance our priorities of student success, academic excellence, leadership stability, and financial sustainability. Through collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, we’ll create new opportunities, strengthen the university’s impact, and position SSU for long-term success.”
Outside of his academic work, Whirl is an advisor for many organizations, including as a member of the board of directors for the Warrior Alliance, TD Bank New Market Tax Credit Advisory Board, Queensborough National Bank & Trust, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Inaugural 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board and the Human Capital Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He’s chairman of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, an honorary board member with the Morris Museum of Art, and a member of the Rotary Club of Augusta.
