Savannah Graduates, a new community-wide initiative focused on creating a more educated workforce in Chatham County, has named former Savannah-Chatham school board president Joe Buck to head the organization.
Buck will meet with community leaders, work with members of the organization’s executive council and develop new partnership opportunities.
“I’m passionate about creating opportunities for anyone who seeks to better themselves through education and, in turn, to help build a stronger economy for our city and region,” Buck said. “I look forward to collaborating with the people of Savannah through area businesses, colleges, schools and organizations to help Savannah Graduates achieve its goal of creating a more educated local workforce.”
Trip Tollison, president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, said with Buck’s years of service and commitment to education, no one is more qualified to lead the Savannah Graduates effort.
Buck served as school board president from 2007 to 2014 and has been executive director of the Southern Association for College Student Affairs, president of the Southern Association for College Student Affairs and president of the Georgia College Personnel Association.
During his 39-year career at Armstrong State University, Buck has served as director of student affairs, dean of student affairs, vice president for student affairs and retired in 2006 as vice president for student affairs emeritus.
He is also president and chairman of the board of directors for Leadership Savannah and a former member of the board of directors for Leadership Savannah.
ABOUT SAVANNAH GRADUATES
Savannah Graduates leads a collaborative plan to increase the number of individuals with degrees and credentials for workforce development in Savannah-Chatham County. Funded by a Lumina Foundation grant, Savannah Graduates unites public and private partners to increase postsecondary education completion. For more information, visit SavannahGraduates.com.