President's Cabinet

Dr. Virginia M. Carson, President

Dr. Virginia Carson became President of South Georgia College (SGC) on February 1, 2009, after serving as SGC Interim President since March 1, 2008. Dr. Virginia Carson was Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) in Rome from 2001 until her appointment at South Georgia College. She served as Dean for Academic Services for Georgia Perimeter College’s (GPC) Clarkston campus from 2000 to 2001. During the 1999-2000 academic year, she was a Fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) at Northern Virginia Community College. She previously chaired the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, also on GPC’s Clarkston campus, where she was Professor of Mathematics.

Dr. Carson served on the SACS Commission on Colleges from 2005-2010. She represented Georgia on the SACS Executive Council and as chair of the Georgia SACS Trustees in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She was 2008-2009 President of the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP). Dr. Carson was awarded a Fulbright for International Education in Germany in 2004. From 1998 to 2003, she was the Editor of The AMATYC Review, the semi-annual refereed mathematics journal of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC). She served from 2009-2012 on the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Academic, Student, and Community Development and was for three years a member of the advisory committee for ACE’s Center for Policy Analysis.

Dr. Carson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Academy of Science and Technology. She is on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association.

Dr. Carson is a Rotarian and has served in numerous community organizations, including those connected with health, arts, criminal justice, and chambers of commerce. She received the Douglas Rotary “Service Above Self” Award in 2009 and was named 2012 Distinguished Citizen of Coffee County by the Alapaha Boy Scout Council. Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society presented Dr. Carson in 2013 the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction for college presidents. Dr. Carson holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and an M.Ed. and Ph.D. from Georgia State University, all in mathematics education.

Virginia and Francis Carson, a retired engineer, have three children, two granddaughters, and a grandson.

Dr. Carl McDonald, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Carl McDonald, Vice President for Academic Affairs, is a graduate of Auburn University (B.A.), Florida State University (M.A., Ph.D.), Georgia Southwestern State University (M.Ed.), and Emory University (M.Div.). Dr. McDonald has taught at Florida State University, Gordon College, Middle Georgia College, Emory University, and South Georgia College, and has been an academic division chairperson of Humanities and Learning Support. During his 27 years with the University System of Georgia, he has served as chairperson of the Learning Support Academic Advisory Committee, chairperson of the Educator Preparation Academic Advisory Committee, a member of the Chancellor’s Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, a representative to the System Council on International Education, the English Academic Advisory Committee, the Arts and Sciences Deans Committee. Dr. McDonald is a member of the Board of Directors for the local Chamber of Commerce and a past Rotarian of the Year.

Mr. Wesley Brown, Vice President for Student Success

In his position as Vice President for Student Success, Mr. Brown has oversight of Enrollment Services, Student Life, Residence Life, and Information Technology. The Enrollment Services area encompasses Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar and Records. Mr. Brown has over 32 years of experience in the field of instructional and computer technology. He holds an associate of science degree in education from South Georgia College, a bachelor of science degree in technical, trade, and industrial education, and a master’s in education in instructional technology from Valdosta State University. Wes is a 2009-2010 graduate of the University System of Georgia Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) and serves as the Implementation Coordinator for the College’s Lean Six Sigma methodology, for which he is certified a Black Belt practitioner. Prior to joining South Georgia College, he was an adjunct professor at East Central Technical College and former Instructional Technology Coordinator at Citizens Christian Academy. Mr. Brown served in the United States Navy for more than 16 years in the field of Aviation Electronics.

Ms. Valerie Webster, Director of Entry Programs and Planning

Ms. Valerie Webster has 12 years of experience as a college administrator and is responsible for several divisions at South Georgia College. In addition, she has more than 20 years of experience in higher education as a professor of computer information systems and programming, and 15 years of experience in community economic development initiatives. Ms. Webster holds a bachelor of science degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University. Prior to accepting her position as Director of Entry Programs and Planning, she served SGC as Director of Strategic Research and Planning, Director of Continuing Education and Public Service, and as an assistant professor in the Division of Business and Social Sciences. Named Rotarian of the Year in 1999, Ms. Webster has also been an active participant in the community with the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, Coffee Alliance for the Arts, Coffee Regional Hospital, CRH Health Services Board, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Douglas Rotary Club.

Dr. Randy Braswell, Director of Admissions, Records, and Research

Dr. Randy Braswell began his career with the University System of Georgia in 1978 as a work-study student at Georgia Southwestern State University. He was a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia prior to assuming the position of Research Assistant at UGA’s Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton (USDA). From 1988 to 1997, Dr. Braswell served as Director of Institutional Research at Gordon College in Barnesville. He joined SGC in 1997 as Director of Admissions, Records and Research, his current position. He was SGC’s Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs from 2004 to 2007, and Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Planning at Macon State College in 2007-08. Dr. Braswell has served on the USG Bookends Committee for joint enrollment and transfer, and on the Enhanced Advising Processes Committee. He has also been involved with RACRA, IRP, GACRAO, RACAA, and EPAAC. He obtained his associate’s degree from Andrew College, his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southwestern State University, and his master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He completed his Ph.D. at Georgia State University.

Ms. Walda Kight, Director of Community and Foundation Relations

A Douglas native, Ms. Walda Kight graduated with honors from both South Georgia College in 1993 (associate of science) and the University of Georgia in 1995 (bachelor of business administration). For the past 12 years, she has held various positions of responsibility in the banking industry. Most recently, she served as Marketing and Human Resources Officer with First National Bank of Coffee County. As Director of Community and Foundation Relations, Ms. Kight leads the College’s efforts to secure private gifts, promote scholarships, and enhance alumni activities. Active in the community, Ms. Kight serves as a member of the Eastside Elementary School Parent Advisory Board, St. Paul’s Catholic Church Finance Committee, and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was also a member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2008.