Augusta University
Russell Keen, EdD
President
- Augusta GA UNITED STATES
Dr. Russell Keen is an administrator with more than 20 years of experience in higher education.
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Biography
Georgia native Russell T. Keen, EdD, assumed the presidency of Augusta University (AU). Keen previously served as executive vice president for administration and chief of staff to the president at AU, where he held an executive leadership role since July 2015. In this position, Keen managed and allocated the university’s more than $1 billion budget, managed and coordinated its executive vice presidents and served as head administrator in the president’s absence. He has worked within the university system for more than 22 years. Previously, he also held leadership roles at Georgia Southern University and in fundraising at the University of Georgia.
From 2001 until 2015, he worked at Georgia Southern University, where he advanced from director of annual giving to vice president for external affairs. In these positions, Keen secured hundreds of millions of dollars in university funding from individual fundraising campaigns and state and federal grants. His roles included vice president of governmental relations and community engagement where he developed relationships with local, state and federal officials to enhance the success of the university and its advocacy efforts. He previously worked as the major gifts officer at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia.
Keen, a first-generation college student, holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University. He earned an EdD in higher education management from UGA in 2019. His family has been part of the Augusta community for generations.
Outside of his university work, Keen serves the community as a member of several boards, including the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Rotary Club of Augusta, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Conservative Policy Leadership Institute and the Government Affairs Council of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.
Areas of Expertise
Education
University of Georgia
Ed.D.
Higher Education Management
2019Georgia Southern University
M.Ed.
Higher Education Administration
2014Georgia Southern Universit
B.B.A.
Business Administration, Specializing in Finance
1999Affiliations
- Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Rotary Club of Augusta
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Conservative Policy Leadership Institute
- Government Affairs Council of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities
Links
Media Appearances
Augusta University President Dr. Russell T. Keen welcomed on his first day
WJBF tv
2024-07-01
From Dr. Keel to Dr. Keen, Augusta University staff and students filled the room right here in the Dr. Roscoe Williams Ballroom to welcome their new university leader. “Together, Augusta, we will break every chain and rise to new heights of success and achievement…,” Augusta University President Dr. Russell T. Keen said. Monday morning, Dr. Russell T. Keen rang in as the new president for Augusta University.
‘Education can change your life’: New AU chief shares vision
WRDW tv
2024-07-01
Monday marked the start of a new era at Augusta University: It was Dr. Russell Keen’s first day as president. Longtime President Dr. Brooks Keel retired last week, and Keen, an internal candidate to be his successor, has taken over. Keen is no stranger to the area. He is a graduate of Lakeside High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University and a Doctor of Higher Education from the University of Georgia. Keen has more than 20 years in higher education.
Community welcomes AU’s new leader
Augusta Business Daily online
2024-07-07
A reception to introduce and welcome incoming Augusta University President, Dr. Russell Keen attracted a full house on his first day in the job. Students, faculty, and staff lined up to greet Keen during a reception in the Jaguar Student Center prior to the ceremony to kick off his new leadership. Among those attending was Dr. Marc Austin, among the final academic hires by retiring President Brooks Keel. Austin told ABD he was pleased with what Keen has said about moving Augusta University into its next phase of development. “It was exactly what I would have hoped for, which is we’re going to continue to grow, but we’re going to do it in a way that supports our students,” he said. “I think that’s one of the big challenges for any university, and this president is the right president at the right time to take on that student-centric challenge that we all face.”
AU welcomes new president: Russell Keen
WFXG tv
2024-07-01
A new month means new leadership at Augusta University, as President Russell Keen begins his first day. In a presidential welcome reception, Monday, Keen introduced himself and shared some of his goals with students, faculty and community stakeholders. President Keen grew up in the area and says he’s extremely humbled by the opportunity. He tells FOX54 he started the day in the classroom and had this message for students. “If you’re a first-generation college student and you’re trying to figure it out, you might hear voices in your own head or from other people saying you can’t do it and it doesn’t matter," he says. "But, I’m living proof that an education can change your life and that an education can contribute to the community and the state of humanity if you just continue to do it and see it through.” The new president and first lady Karen Keen are enthusiastic about what’s to come. With the fall semester quickly approaching, catapulting the university forward is top of mind.
Via Cognitive Health opens new facility, enhancing care for Alzheimer’s patients
WJBF tv
2024-06-20
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and today marks a major step forward in the battle against the disease. Via Cognitive Health held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning for its much-anticipated facility. They are a nonprofit organization in the CSRA that has served families facing Alzheimer’s since 1996. They’ve only been able to do this at their location on Central Avenue, known as the Jud C. Hickey Center. But thanks to generous donors, they now have a brand-new facility to provide even better services. “We have had a long journey, and we’ve met with many, many different amazing partners throughout the community, throughout the country to try to design and plan a space that’s really going to meet the needs of what our program is and our curriculum,” said Executive Director Jennifer Pennington. Via Cognitive Health has been working to get the facility over the last 8 years, leading to a brand -new facility with several features. “We have built a gym for exercise, we have an art room, we have a work room where you might build a birdhouse or fix a bicycle,” said Janet McKnight. “We have a game room, we have a salon where you might get your haircut or shampooed that day. We also have a conference room where we’re able to give the families support through education and support groups.” According to Pennington, there are currently an estimated 10,000 people in the Augusta community living with Alzheimer’s, and 200,000 battling the disease across the state of Georgia. “It’s often very silent–people don’t like to talk about it a lot,” Pennington said. “People will just hide away in their homes, and they start to pull back from their normal social life–and that’s not what needs to be done.” City leaders attending the ceremony say it’s a step forward in caring for patients with the disease. “1 in 3 senior adults are diagnosed with this, and this is an issue that is affecting the lives of not only Georgians and Augustans, but our entire country and our world,” said Dr. Russell Keen. Keen is the incoming new President at Augusta University, and says the institution continues to do extensive research into cognitive health.
Dr. Russell Keen named Augusta University EVP for administration
Grice Connect online
2021-08-29
“I have been honored to work alongside Dr. Keel, the Augusta University leadership team, and my colleagues throughout the enterprise since 2015. The university has grown tremendously since then, and we continue to be excited for the future,” Dr. Russel Keen said. “We remain focused on innovative solutions and new partnerships to enhance the success of our students and faculty as we strive to reach our goal of 16,000 students by 2030.”
WRDW Morning Mix Mingle at the Mural
WRDW tv
2024-03-18
Mornig Mix at WRDW talks about the new Augusta University mural.
Augusta University presents new mural just in time for graduation
The Augusta Press online
2024-03-18
Arts students, volunteers and staff from Augusta University excitedly presented a brand new mural in Downtown Augusta on the corner of Reynolds and 11th Street. After months of planning, collaborating and painting, Augusta University’s Art and Design Department proudly unveiled the 151 inches high and 660 inches wide mural with hopes of making the community a little more colorful. As the mural is positioned directly across the street from AU’s partner, the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, Russell Keen, executive vice president for administration and chief of staff for AU President Brooks Keel, believes the piece will make community members proud of their university and its growing efforts. “This mural represents how far we’ve come in terms of community engagement as a university – how we’ve embraced the community and how it’s embraced us,” Keen said. “It shows how we can work together to beautify downtown and make it more appealing for everybody.”
Augusta University celebrates opening of storefront in JA Discovery Center
The Augusta Press online
2024-03-28
Augusta University celebrated the official opening of a storefront at the Junior Achievement Discovery Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday evening, March 27. Following the grand opening of the JA Discovery Center on Jan. 11, a statewide program created for middle schoolers, over 3,500 students from Richmond and Columbia County have enjoyed a day-long field trip to learn about business and financial literacy. In preparing for the future, middle school visitors are also taught about real world budgets and the benefits of pursuing higher education by visiting the Augusta University and Augusta Technical College storefronts. By applying concepts learned in classes, students from the CSRA are able to take part in simulated, immersive experiences with nearly 20 storefronts, thanks to the efforts of several volunteers. Russell Keen, executive vice president for administration and chief of staff for Keel, said various staff members collaborated to make the storefront a reality, and created a “fabulous” and educational simulation. “What we’re finding is that the sooner we can get it ingrained in children that they actually can achieve higher education, the more they can achieve their dreams if they just see it,” he said. “This allows them to really envision themselves through their education … and it’s really fun, which is cool.”
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