Georgia Southern Vice President Named Interim President of Georgia Southwestern State University

November 21, 2014

Charles Patterson

University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby today named Georgia Southern University’s Charles Patterson, Ph.D., as interim president of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW).

Patterson currently serves as Georgia Southern’s vice president for research and economic development and dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. He also serves as chair of the Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation. He will assume responsibilities on Jan. 1, 2015 from current GSW president, Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D., who will retire Dec. 31, 2014.

“I am delighted that Chancellor Huckaby recognizes Dr. Charles Patterson for his outstanding work serving Georgia Southern,” said Georgia Southern University President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D. “Charles has my full support and that of the President’s Cabinet as he serves in this temporary appointment. Preparations are underway for current staff to step into interim leadership roles to ensure that ongoing strategic initiatives and campus services critical to our research and graduate education missions are continued at Georgia Southern.”

Patterson has been in his current role as vice president of research and economic development since 2011. He was appointed dean of graduate studies in 2009 and chair of the Research Foundation in 2011. Prior to these appointments, he served as associate vice president for research from 2008-2010 and executive director of the Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation from 2008-2011.

“Charles has an established career as a higher education administrator,” said Huckaby. “His leadership responsibilities have continued to expand at Georgia Southern, and I am confident he will serve the Georgia Southwestern State University campus community well. We appreciate Charles serving as interim president and expect this experience will further develop him as a leader within the University System.”

Prior to joining Georgia Southern, Patterson served in many capacities at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. His roles included instructor in the Honors College, assistant director of the office of sponsored programs and research project manager in the office of the vice provost for research.

Patterson received a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Mississippi State University in Starksville and a doctorate in biomedical sciences from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Involved in state and community affairs, Patterson’s engagement includes: founding member and president-elect of the Georgia Council of Graduate Schools; vice chair of the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce; founding investor in the World Trade Center, Savannah; and executive committee member of the Downtown Statesboro Revitalization Committee.