The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Brooks Keel president of Georgia Regents University (GRU) in Augusta. Keel will assume his new position on July 20.

“Brooks Keel brings a proven track record as a strong leader within our University System,” said Board of Regents Chair Neil Pruitt. “We are excited about the future of Georgia Regents University and the positive momentum Brooks will bring for the benefit of our students and our partnership with the Augusta community.”

“The selection of Brooks Keel reflects the comprehensive representation the GRU presidential search committee had from our Georgia Regents University stakeholders and the Augusta community,” said Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “We appreciate Regent Jim Hull, a life-long Augusta resident, leading the search process, and we thank the members of the search committee for their commitment.”

“I had the great fortune to earn both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Augusta, and I’m eternally grateful for the fantastic opportunities in research, scholarship leadership they have brought to my life,” said Dr. Brooks Keel. “I am honored and humbled to return to Augusta and rejoin Georgia Regents University at this exciting time.”

Keel has served as president of Georgia Southern University (GSU) in Statesboro since January 2010. Georgia Southern is a regional university in the University System of Georgia that educates more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students at the university’s eight colleges.

As president of Georgia Southern, Keel has focused on expanding undergraduate and graduate education through research and community experience. He has also worked to raise the national profile of Georgia Southern academically and athletically.

Under Keel’s leadership, GSU has launched the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology and the Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM Education. GSU also manages the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, which was transferred to the institution by the state of Georgia.

He also serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation, board of trustees of the Georgia Southern University Foundation and board of directors of the Georgia Southern University Housing Foundation.

Civically, Keel serves as the chair of the board of directors of the American Board of Bioanalysis. Some of the other boards he serves on include the Scientific Advisory Board of the AAB Proficiency Testing Program, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the board of trustees of the East Georgia Regional Medical Center.

Prior to joining Georgia Southern, Keel served as vice chancellor for research and economic development and professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge).

Keel received a Bachelor of Science in biology/chemistry from Augusta College (now Georgia Regents University), a doctorate in reproductive endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia (now Georgia Regents University) and completed post-doctoral work at the University of Texas Health Science Center (Houston) and University of South Dakota School of Medicine (Vermillion).