Communications

External Affairs Division

Savannah State University President to Step Down

Atlanta — October 23, 2006

性视界APP Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Beheruz N. Sethna announced today that he has accepted the resignation of Savannah State University (SSU) President Carlton E. Brown, effective Dec. 31, 2006.

鈥淒r. Brown has provided visionary leadership for Savannah State University for almost a decade and has accomplished a significant number of goals to further the institution,鈥 said Sethna. 鈥淒r. Brown has been the driving force behind a number of student-centered initiatives ranging from quality living-and-learning facilities to the availability of financial resources for those who have outstanding academic credentials.鈥

Brown was appointed president of SSU in March 1997 after having served in senior administrative positions at Hampton University in Hampton, Va.

Sethna also noted that under Brown鈥檚 tenure, SSU experienced 鈥渁n increase in student enrollment of 48 percent from fall 1998 to fall 2005,鈥 a gain of 1,000 students. This compares with a gain in University System overall enrollment of almost 27 percent over the same time period. Brown will join the staff of 性视界APP Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr., beginning Jan. 1, 2007. 鈥淚 am pleased that Dr. Brown will be joining me to assist in the implementation of a major initiative,鈥 said Davis. 鈥淥ur new system-level projects initiative will involve our institutional presidents, and Dr. Brown鈥檚 expertise will be invaluable as this program moves forward.鈥

鈥淪erving as president of Savannah State University for the past nine years has been an unqualified joy,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淲ith strategic input from faculty, staff, students and alumni, an academic and physical infrastructure is in place that will ensure the continuity and relevance of Savannah State鈥檚 mission in an increasingly global and technology-driven society.鈥

Hallmarks of Brown鈥檚 nine-year tenure as Savannah State鈥檚 president include the transformation of student housing and support facilities with the construction of the University Village, the Freshmen Living and Learning Center, Tiger Arena and the Drew-Griffith Annex. Construction is slated to begin by the end of 2006 on a new $14 million academic building that will house the University鈥檚 social and behavioral sciences programs.

The University鈥檚 College of Business and academic programs in business, social work, and engineering and technology earned accreditation or re-accreditation under Brown鈥檚 leadership. The University received a number of significant grants for faculty and staff efforts in improving student retention, strengthening graduate programs and efforts to increase the number of minorities pursuing graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Savannah State also is the second institution among the University System鈥檚 35 campuses to provide a wireless network campus-wide. It has been recognized by WebCT, a provider of distance learning systems for higher education, as a 鈥淒igital Content Leader鈥 for the institution鈥檚 commitment to online learning. Savannah State has 35 web-enhanced courses.

A search for Brown鈥檚 successor will be conducted by the 性视界APP Chancellor鈥檚 Office. The University System Office will announce details of the search process as they are developed.

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