Augusta University leaders honored by ‘Georgia Trend’

Augusta University President Russell T. Keen, Georgia Cancer Center Director Jorge Cortes, MD, and retired U.S. Army Col. Eric Toler, executive director of the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, have been named to Georgia Trend magazine’s list of the Georgia 500, Georgia’s most influential leaders for 2025.

Each year, Georgia Trend selects leaders from around the state who are helping drive Georgia’s economy to new heights. Keen, Cortes and Toler represent three of the 15 Augusta-area honorees who were named to the list. Also included were two AU alumni, Jeff Arnold, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sharecare, and Jim Bailey, CEO of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard.

During fiscal year 2024, which ran from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Augusta University provided a $1.62 billion boost to the state economy – marking a 4.6% increase over the previous year – and generated 11,543 jobs. This is according to the University System of Georgia’s annual “Economic Impact of University System of Georgia Institutions on their Regional Economies in FY 2024.”

And the impact can be felt and seen from the 6,770 faculty and staff who work at the institution to enrollment numbers of students, which continue to surge. For the seventh straight year, Augusta University has been named one of the top 100 employers in the state of Georgia by Forbes’ annual list, “America’s Best-In-State Employers.” On top of that, for the 10th straight year, AU has reported an increase in student population with 12,337 students enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, marking a 6.5% increase over the fall 2024 semester’s enrollment of 11,584, and a 48% increase over the last decade, since 8,333 students were enrolled in 2015.

Keen assumed the presidency of Augusta University on July 1, 2024, bringing with him more than two decades of leadership experience within the University System of Georgia.

A native of Augusta and a proud first-generation college graduate, Keen is widely recognized for his ability to build strategic partnerships, engage stakeholders and secure critical resources to advance institutional priorities. Since joining Augusta University in 2015 as executive vice president and chief of staff to former President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, Keen has played a pivotal role in AU’s growth, including the landmark partnership with Wellstar Health System to form Wellstar MCG Health.

Under his leadership, Augusta University is advancing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen its research enterprise, expand access to education and deepen its impact across the state and beyond.

Beyond campus, Keen serves on several influential boards, including the Georgia Research Alliance Board of Trustees, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Augusta Tomorrow, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Peach Belt Conference Board of Directors — reflecting his enduring commitment to civic leadership and regional development.

“It is a tremendous honor to be included on this list with so many influential leaders from across Georgia, including Dr. Jorge Cortes and retired Col. Eric Toler and several Augusta University alumni and supporters, as well as members of the Augusta community,” Keen said. “At Augusta University, we are focused on driving research, empowering student success and engaging with our community. As the state’s designated health sciences university, our faculty are leaders in their fields, and our research leads to life-changing, life-saving discoveries. We prioritize student success, supporting our students both in and out of the classroom. Our students, faculty and staff make a real difference in people’s lives, not only here in Georgia but around the world.”

Cortes joined Augusta University as the director of the Georgia Cancer Center in September 2019.

As director, Cortes continues the Georgia Cancer Center’s mission of obtaining National Cancer Institute designation, while keeping the mission of “reducing the burden of cancer in the state of Georgia and across the globe through superior care, innovation and education” at the forefront of all endeavors.

He has over 230 grants and contracts from when he was principal investigator and has led the approval of five drugs currently available for patients with leukemia. Cortes has authored more than 1,200 peer-reviewed original research manuscripts with numerous other accolades to his name and practice.

Cortes has served as associate editor for Blood and serves on the editorial board of multiple medical journals; he is currently editor-in-chief of Blood Global Hematology, a new journal of the American Society of Hematology. He is the president of the International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation, president of the Latin American Leukemia Net, member of the National CML Society Medical Advisory Board, member of the International Steering Committee of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology and serves on the Augusta University Faculty Development Committee. He has previously served on the National Board of Directors of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is a graduate of the 2021 Class of Leadership Augusta Executive Forum and has served on the boards of the Augusta Symphony and Greater Augusta Arts Council. He holds the Cecil F. Whitaker Jr., GRA Eminent Scholar Chair in Cancer Endowment.

“I am humbled and grateful to be recognized and honored once again,” said Cortes. “Being a part of the Georgia Cancer Center means being a part of an institution filled with passionate people working toward the goal of being Georgia’s Cancer Center. A place where everyone can have access to the best possible cancer care, cancer clinical trials, cancer research and cancer screening opportunities.”

Toler spent 28 years in the military and joined Augusta University and the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in 2018 as executive director.

In his current role, Toler is responsible for managing a unique dynamic of government, academia and private industry with the mission to help solve the nation’s most complex cybersecurity challenges.

Toler previously served in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer, retiring with more than 27 years of leadership and national security experience. During his military career, he was a pioneer in leading and developing cyberspace operations capabilities for the Army and Department of Defense, serving in key positions within Army Cyber Command, U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency.

In his role, Toler is responsible for fulfilling the mission of the center to create an ecosystem of collaboration among government, academia, and private sector partners that helps solve the nation’s most challenging cybersecurity problems through innovative education, training, research and development and practical applications.

In addition to numerous military schools and training, Toler holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Henderson State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. He has numerous military awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and two Bronze Star Medals.

“I am extremely blessed to work with an amazing team on such an important mission, and I am both grateful and humbled that Georgia Trend continues to recognize our efforts to help protect our citizens, government institutions and businesses from cyber threats,” Toler said.