Albany, Georgia – Albany Technical College (ATC) announces the passing of Dr. Anthony O. Parker in the early hours of Monday morning, June 6, 2022. As the college moves forward with his objectives, he will be missed for his mentorship, friendship, and leadership. He served the college and Southwest Georgia for 27 years as the President of the college.
The passing of Dr. Anthony Parker is not only a tremendous loss for Albany Technical College but also a loss for the entire Albany community and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Dr. Parker was TCSG’s longest-serving president, assuming the role at Albany Tech in 1995.
From day one, Dr. Parker led the college with a servant’s heart whose top priority was the interest of his students. During his remarkable career at Albany Technical College, Dr. Parker was committed to helping each and every student achieve greatness and realize their dreams through the power of education.
Dr. Parker was a stalwart in the community and worked tirelessly to do everything he could for the betterment of Albany and the region. It is clear that education was Dr. Parker’s calling. From his first day as an instructor at Augusta Technical Institute in 1980, Dr. Parker dedicated his professional life to technical education serving in vice president roles at Southeastern Technical Institute and Aiken Technical College, and as assistant commissioner for Adult Education at TCSG before assuming the role of president at Albany Technical College.
Dr. Parker understood the importance of collaborating with the local Marine Corps Logistics Base to support the nation’s defense systems as well as working with regional business and industry. Dr. Parker was also a leader in Adult Education by helping to graduate GED students transition into a technical college program to gain postsecondary training.
Dr. Parker was also one of the first technical college presidents to raise $1 million in private funding to support capital improvements at Albany Technical College. He leaves behind a lasting legacy that will be felt for generations.
In the passing of Dr. Parker, the TCSG family lost a tremendous leader, mentor, and a dear friend. Our prayers are with Dr. Parker’s family and the Albany Technical College community.