USG honors Keel with President Emeritus title

Former Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, who retired in June of 2024, has been named President Emeritus by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

The title was recommended by Chancellor Sonny Perdue and announced by Chris McGraw, vice chancellor of Legal Affairs, during the BOR’s October meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14. During McGraw’s introduction, he noted how Keel continued to lead “the consolidation process, where the former Augusta State University consolidated with Georgia Health Sciences University, and subsequently led the efforts to rename the institution Augusta University. He also led the university into its mutually beneficial partnership with Wellstar Health System as the Medical College of Georgia’s teaching hospital.”

Keel is a double Jag, having earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from AU’s legacy institution, Augusta College, in 1978 and a doctorate in reproductive endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia in 1982.

“This is a tremendous honor for someone who has given so much to our university and to higher education across Georgia,” said Augusta University President Russell T. Keen. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Keel at two institutions, and I’ve learned invaluable lessons from his leadership, wisdom and character. His legacy reminds us that we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and his impact will continue to shape our university for years to come. I’m deeply grateful to Chancellor Sonny Perdue and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents for bestowing this well-earned recognition on Dr. Keel.”

When he retired in 2024, Keel concluded a 40-year career in research and higher education administration, including 14 years in the University System of Georgia. He also served as president of Georgia Southern University from 2010-15.

Upon arriving in Augusta in 2015, Keel led a comprehensive, enterprise-wide rebranding campaign for Augusta University to unify two legacy institutions and to regain alumni, donor and community support. During his tenure, the university celebrated nine straight years of enrollment growth. Funding to the university from the National Institutes of Health increased 37% during that time, and the university’s economic impact on the state grew by nearly $1 billion, a 48% increase.

“President Keel’s lasting legacy of service and leadership will impact Augusta University and its campus community for years to come,” Perdue said. “He was a steadying presence for our students for more than a decade and played a key role in building up Augusta University’s research and reputation.”

During Keel’s presidency, more than 18,000 students graduated from Augusta University and 40 academic programs were added, including cybersecurity engineering (Augusta University’s first engineering degree), animation, biomedical systems engineering, neuroscience, digital and visual storytelling and sports management, among many others.

Other significant additions during Keel’s presidency include the founding of the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, Augusta University Online and the School of Public Health; the Transdisciplinary Research Initiative in Inflammaging and Brain Aging and the Immunology Center of Georgia; the four-year Medical College of Georgia Partnership Campus in Savannah; and major facilities projects like the new College of Science and Mathematics building, two on-campus residence halls and a major expansion of research laboratory space in the M. Bert Storey Cancer Research Building.

Keel also oversaw the partnership with Wellstar Health System that created Wellstar MCG Health. Through the partnership, Wellstar is investing nearly $800 million over a 10-year period in facilities and infrastructure, including more than $200 million allocated to the former Augusta University Medical Center, and capital for a new hospital, medical office building and ambulatory surgery center in Columbia County.