Buckhiester leaving NGCSU

DAHLONEGA - After 31 years in the University System of Georgia and 28 years at North Georgia College and State University, Phil Buckhiester, the NGCSU vice president for Academic Affairs, will depart the university to
take a new position at a college in South Carolina.

In July, Buckhiester will become the vice president for Academic Affairs at Tri-County Technical College, an institution of approximately 5,000 students in Pendleton, S.C.

"Phil has devoted his career to North Georgia and it is a much better university because of his outstanding service," said NGCSU President
Nathaniel Hansford. "I cannot adequately express to him my sincere appreciation for his invaluable aid to me personally and his dedication to the University."

The president added, "Phil and Becky are dear friends to many people at NGCSU and in Dahlonega, and they will be greatly missed."

Buckhiester said that after so many years in Dahlonega, he and his wife Becky had a difficult time deciding whether to relocate.

"After several weeks of processing, searching, collecting information, and prayer, we finally concluded that this move is one we are supposed to make," he said. "The friendships at North Georgia and in the community are very special to us.

"We've been extremely fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of the North Georgia family and of such a caring community for so long. We're looking forward to the new professional and personal experiences that await us, and to living in an
area where we spent the first five years of our married life."

He explained that the move will put them closer to some members of their families, including his parents, who live in Piedmont, S.C.

From a faculty position at Valdosta State in 1976, Buckhiester came to North Georgia to teach and head the Department of Mathematics. In 1982, the department expanded to include Computer Science, and he continued to serve as department head until 1984 and again in 1987-1988, in addition to teaching.

He directed North Georgia's Academic Advisement Center from 1989 until 1995, when he was named associate vice president for
Academic Affairs. In 1998, he became acting vice president for Academic Affairs and was selected to fill that position permanently in 1999, and has served in that capacity until now.

Buckhiester earned his bachelor's of science degree in applied mathematics from Clemson University in 1969. In 1973, he received his
doctorate in mathematics from Clemson.

Among his honors received at North Georgia are the 1998 Phi Kappa Phi Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education Award, the 1994
President's Outstanding Service Award, the 1984 NGC Alumni Distinguished Professor Award, and he was named to Omicron Delta Kappa
in 1990. He is active in numerous statewide and national professional organizations.

During his career, Buckhiester received teaching and research funding from about nine grants, including some from the Eisenhower Education Act and some from Title II.

Buckhiester's professional activities and publications are extensive, as is the list of university committees on which he's served.

In addition, both Phil and Becky Buckhiester have been actively involved in the local community, including membership in the Dahlonega Baptist Church and in "Remember When," a band that has given benefit
performances over the years for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Holly Theater, NOA's Ark and the Folkways Center.