GEORGIA SOUTHERN ALUMNUS JERMAINE WHIRL LEADS SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Jermaine Whirl, Ed.D., (’10) is celebrating. At age 39, the new leader of Savannah State University is the youngest president of a Historically Black College and University in the country.

He started his college journey as an economics student, hoping to serve as an economist for the Federal Reserve Bank. But whispers of an old prophecy spoken by a pastor in South Carolina continued to follow him, guiding him toward his destiny.

“There was a minister in town from California,” Whirl recalled as he explained his fi ght with the raging fevers of the Kawasaki disease that ravaged his body as a child. His mother, frustrated by the hours her son spent in ice chambers, took him to church looking for a divine answer. “Simply put, he prayed for me and told my mother, ‘your son’s going to be fine.’”

The preacher said he felt something special about the five year old. “He’ll be a teacher one day,” Whirl recounted softly. “He’s going to be a great teacher.”

That’s what led him to start his journey through academia. He got his Bachelor of Arts in economics and then received a Master of Business Administration from Charleston Southern University.

All the while, those prophetic words from the pastor grew louder, rising from whispers to a deafening crescendo that would lead him to the front of the classroom’s whiteboard.

“It just hit me when I was working on my MBA,” he said. “I kept having vivid dreams of myself teaching in the classroom, answering questions, guiding discussions. It’s something that just suddenly made sense. And I couldn’t run away from it.”

This calling led him to what is now Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus to earn a master’s in adult education and community leadership.

Whirl credits professors like Patricia Holt, Ed.D., John Bartosh and Don Stumpf, Ed.D., as essential to his success. But there was one who distinctly stands out as being instrumental in shaping his future.

“It was Professor Kathie Fabrikant who strongly pushed me to get my doctorate,” he said, adding that experiences he had in the classroom also fueled him to push forward.

“I had such a great time as a student,” Whirl said, smiling as he reminisced on memories of dinner in the classroom with his cohort. “We’d have a full chicken from Publix, mac ‘n cheese, a real spread. We’d eat and then class would start.”

Those classroom relationships were crucial to Whirl’s educational development. He particularly enjoyed the camaraderie of working on plans for group service projects.

“That’s one of the best things I did while I was at Armstrong,” he said. “We created a health and wellness fair for the senior citizens in the area, which touched on advocating for adult literacy. We served hundreds of seniors that day, but getting to fundraise, coordinate and market the event was a very fulfilling learning experience, to say the least.”

His career continued to grow as he pursued a future in higher education. He held positions as a professor of management in the Parker College of Business on the Statesboro Campus, the dean of adult education at Savannah Tech and dean of the Business School at Gwinnett Tech near Atlanta.

“It was experiences like these that prepared me to step into the president’s shoes at Savannah State,” he explained.

The alumnus was serving as president of Augusta Technical College, a job he called a highlight of his career, before joining Savannah State. Whirl’s journey to the presidency has led him to a simple office, lined with bookshelves and neatly framed awards.

It’s a professional look for a Zoom call. But if you look closely, you’ll notice photos of his family in the reflection of his glasses, illuminated by the so glow of his computer screen.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have my wife’s support throughout my academic journey,” he said. “She gave up on her professional career to make our family work while I pursued mine.”

Whirl is armed with a strong support network that will help him as he becomes Savannah State’s new leader.

“When I look at Savannah State, I see the opportunity and the potential to be an anchor institution,” he explained. “There’s so much opportunity in this city and in this region. I want to ensure that we’re considered in the important conversations, given that we’re so close to a corridor of innovation in this city.”

“The state landed the Hyundai partnership, which is incredible. But now they need suppliers. I want to make sure Savannah State has a seat at the table for those discussions. When it comes to expanding the off erings of those suppliers and providing talent for the future workforce, I want them to think of Savannah State and the graduates we produce.”

Whirl is honored to have the opportunity to lead the university.

“I know a lot of people who went to college at Savannah State,” he explained. “So I know there is a lot of pride with the alumni base in that community. To be selected as the next president is an extremely humbling honor, one I don’t take for granted. They could have picked somebody else!”

But there’s also a personal point of pride for Whirl as he assumes the role of president.

“For me, as a Black man, to lead the fi rst Historic Black College and University established in the state of Georgia is truly a blessing,” he said. “Savannah State is an institution with a rich foundation of Black history. We’ve always had great presidents, and to sit where they have is an honor. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘We are still rising,’ and that’s exactly what I intend to instill in every student who attends Savannah State.”

—BRADLEY MULLIS