On February 11, 2025, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) named Dr. Jermaine Whirl president of Savannah State University (SSU), effective April 1, 2025.

Whirl, an Aspen Fellow, most recently served as president of Augusta Technical College (ATC), a role he has held since November 2020. Whirl’s career includes nearly 20 years of service as a faculty member and administrative leader at public colleges and universities in his home state of South Carolina and in Georgia. He has previously worked at several institutions, including Greenville Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Southern University and East Georgia University.

“As we welcome Dr. Whirl back into the USG family, we deeply appreciate the steadfast and dedicated leadership of interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander. Cynthia has laid a strong foundation for Savannah State’s future, one that Dr. Whirl is well- equipped to build upon. He has a clear and strategic vision for Savannah State and its students, staff and faculty, and we’re confident his leadership will usher this historic public HBCU into a new era of growth and prosperity.”

– Sonny Perdue,USG Chancellor

Whirl’s appointment follows being named the sole finalist the week before being named after a rigorous six-month national presidential search. SSU has been led by Alexander since July 2023, following the departure of President Kimberly Ballard-Washington.

“I’m honored and humbled to accept the role of president of Savannah State University. I can’t wait to work with the campus community to build upon SSU’s proud HBCU legacy and advance our priorities of student success, academic excellence, leadership stability and financial sustainability. Through collaboration, innovation and a steadfast commitment to excellence, we’ll create new opportunities, strengthen the university’s impact and position SSU for long-term success.”

– Dr. Jermaine Whirl, SSU President-Elect

“We commend the USG Board of Regents for their exceptional choice and confidence in selecting Dr. Jermaine Whirl as the next president of Savannah State University. Dr. Whirl’s unwavering leadership is precisely what is needed to propel the historic legacy of SSU as an HBCU into a new era of growth and prosperity .We at HCF anticipate this era of leadership under Dr. Whirl and pledge our unwavering support. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish him and the entire SSU community immense success.”

– Demetrius Johnson Jr., HCF founder, President & CEO

Savannah State was founded in 1890 as a result of the Second Morrill Act, SSU is the first public historically Black college and university in Georgia and the first institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. Initially located in Athens, it moved to Savannah in 1891 and became a member of the newly formed University System of Georgia in 1932. Known then as Georgia State College, the institution in 1950 changed its named to Savannah State College. The Board of Regents granted the school university status in 1996, and the institution became Savannah State University.

###