Communications

External Affairs Division

Dr. Donald J. Green Named President of Gordon State College

Atlanta — November 14, 2023

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The Board of Regents of the 性视界APP (USG) today named Dr. Donald J. Green president of Gordon State College, effective Nov. 15, 2023.

Green currently serves as Gordon State鈥檚 interim president.

鈥淧resident Green has made it his goal to realign Gordon State鈥檚 success with central Georgia鈥檚 economic future, helping to build a pipeline of highly skilled workers in critical professions for the region and state,鈥 USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. 鈥淏ased on feedback the board and I have received from the community and our students, faculty and staff, the college is well on its way toward making that happen. We鈥檙e grateful to have Don on board full-time as a Highlander as the college continues to help families access higher education and increase their prosperity.鈥

Before replacing Dr. Kirk Nooks at Gordon State in May, Green was president of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has 33 years of leadership experience in education, seven of them with USG. In September 2014, the board named Green the fourth president of Georgia Highlands College, where he served until taking the helm at Point Park in 2021.

鈥淕ordon State students can count on acquiring in-demand skills and credentials at an affordable rate that will help them take advantage the market and attract top employers,鈥 Green said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to work with our faculty and staff to help them find that success, and I appreciate Chancellor Perdue and the board鈥檚 support as we spread the word about this outstanding college and the value and benefit of a college education.鈥

About Dr. Donald J. Green

Prior to his service at Point Park University, Green at GHC oversaw initiatives and strategic planning that led to higher retention rates and significant enrollment growth. Green also expanded GHC鈥檚 degree offerings with multiple associate and bachelor鈥檚 degrees to meet the needs of rapidly growing career fields. Green鈥檚 leadership helped increase GHC鈥檚 economic impact to over $181 million. In addition to significant increases to the college鈥檚 foundation and student scholarship opportunities, he oversaw the addition of a 52,000-square-foot academic building focused on STEAM-based areas of study.

In 2020, Green was one of 13 college presidents across the country who received the Phi Beta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon award for outstanding work in support of student success. Recipients of the award are nominated by students on their campus and are only eligible to receive the award once over the course of their careers.

Before his time with USG, Green held leadership roles at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. At Ferris State, he worked to more than double the number of community college-based campus locations from nine to 19 and achieved an annual enrollment growth rate average of more than eight percent per year for his division.

Green鈥檚 higher education experience includes administrative and teaching posts at Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University, both in Grand Rapids, Mich. Green also previously ran a consulting firm advising corporations, governmental organizations and educational institutions on training and education.

Green holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in public administration from Michigan State University, a master鈥檚 in labor and human resource management from Ohio State University, and a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Western Michigan University. He and his wife, Cathy, have three adult children.

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