Albany Technical College Holds Spring Commencement Friday Evening

May 31, 2012- ALBANY, GA- Albany Technical College will hold Spring Commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 1, 2012, 7pm, at the Albany Civic Center. A reception will precede the ceremony from 5 to 6:30pm in the Meeting Room at the Civic Center.

Almost 100 students are eligible to receive associate degrees; almost 300 diplomas; almost 50 technical certificates of credit; and more than 100 will receive their General Education Diploma (GED).

Keynote speaker for the evening ceremony will be Dr. George E. Cooper, retired president of South Carolina State University (SCSU). Cooper served as the 10th President of South Carolina State University. Under his leadership, SCSU reassessed its land grant mission and executed its mission in the context of changing societal needs, thus reaffirming the university's covenant with the public and expanding its focus on globalization.

With over 40 years of professional service in Higher Education, Cooper has served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Animal Science at Alabama A&M University, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Applied Sciences at Tuskegee University, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Agriculture and Home Economics at Tuskegee University, Animal Nutritionist with Winrock International Livestock Research and Training Center, and Animal Nutritionist with USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

Prior to joining SCSU, Cooper served as Deputy Administrator for Science and Education Resources Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. In this role, he was responsible for the coordination of over $140 million in grant programs in the areas of education, research and extension for land-grant universities in other eligible institutions.

Cooper holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Husbandry from Florida A&M University, a master's degree in Animal Science from Tuskegee University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana.